Philip A Embury Journal #1

climax I got hold of a bunch of thistles in pulling out some hay. So I said that it was home or bust. Pink said he couldn't do it, but I persuaded him to go on until we struck a hay field afar then I knew I could get him to go on as it looked very much like rain. We both staggered into camp at a quarter to five in the morning with our feet so swollen that we could hardly get off our shoes. We hadn't had a meal for two days, with the exception of breakfast in Reims the morning before. But there wasn't one moment that either of us regreted

the adventure as we felt amply repaid by either seeing the cathedral or Reims, and seeing that we saw them both and also got to the front line trench within a hundred ft. of the Germans, and got a chance to stick our heads up for a moment and take a peak at their lines and a village about four hundred yards away. We were happy and said that we were ready for peace any time, as we had seen enough.

Friday August 31, '17.

Stayed in camp all day, and slept most of the time. Completly all in. Dick got his apointment as 1st Lute in artilery.

Saturday September 1 '17

Eight o'clock convoi from Bazoch to Celles. Made two

trips. Last ram got home at 10 P.M.

Sunday Sept. 2 '17,

Worked on car. Heard that the U.S. would take the service over in a week or two. Beautiful moonlight night. On guard from 9 P.M. till 4:30 A.M. German avion planes very low over camp early in the evening. Dropped baums on Fere. The heaviest canonading that I have heard so far all along the front. One teriffic explosion that shook the earth and baricks. The concussion made a big wind through the baricks. Must have been a mine. French had heavy gains all along the Chamam des Dames.

Monday September 3 '17.

Got up at eleven. Went on convoi at 3 P.M. Carried trench torpedos from Bozoches to Chateau Soupear. Beautiful moon- light night. Had a three hour wait at Souper as there were thirty cars there to be unloaded. We were the twentieth car. Went and looked at the ruined chateau by moonlight. It was a most wonderful structure, but is now in total ruins. The village of Soupir looks like one would expect the ruins of Pompei to look. Got home to camp at 4 A.M.

Tuesday Sept 4 '17.

In camp all day. Four permissionares left. Heard that the U.S. was definately going to take over the service.

Wednesday Sept 5 '17

Eight o'clock convoi from Bozoches to Perriere through Soissons. Walked to the edge of the plateau where I could overlook the French and German lines. Very interesting watching the shells break along the lines. Got home at 4 P.M. Very low, feeling a little sick.

Thursday Sept. 6 '17.

Camp all day. On the dish washing squad with Penland & Higgans.

Friday Sept. 7. '17

Eight o'clock convoi from Brain to a yard outside of town. Herb ran into a cart with two soldiers, & threw one of them out & nearly upset the cart. We locked wheels which headed us for a big ditch and would have gone in if it hadn't been for a rock pile.