LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2008 Feb Grand Format Book & Manuscript #682  / 

56227

World War I - Red Cross Archive of Death

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Militaria Start Price:260.00 USD Estimated At:500.00 - 1,000.00 USD
World War I - Red Cross Archive of Death
<B>World War I - Red Cross Archive of Death Reports.</B></I> An extensive archive of 29 reports all related to the 91st Division offensive occurring between September 25 - November 3, 1918 in Argonnes and Belgium along the Western Frontier. The reports are dated May 18, 1919 through August 18, 1919 and were prepared by the American Red Cross, 8.5" x 11", totaling more than 200 pages. Each report begins with a listing of casualties in the order of death; followed by a detailed account of how the deaths occured. The reports state that they were prepared for the purpose of explaining to the relatives of the deceased the where and how their loved one's death occurred, and was originally accompanied (not present) by a map or sketch showing the regiment's movement. From a report dated July 14, 1919 and titled: "<I>A REPORT ON THE DEATHS, IN ORDER OF TIME, IN COMPANIES A,B,C, AND D, 347TH MACHINE GUN BATTALION, IN THE ARGONNES BELGIAN OFFENSIVES OF THE 91ST DIVISION... The 347th machine gun battalion, a well-officered outfit of brave western spirits, first went into action on themorning of September 26 </B></I>[1918]<I> from a point a little southwest of the ruined village of Avocourt... Upon this morning the whole 91st division attacked along a front slightly less than three miles wide, lying between the villages of Avocourt and Vauquois. Simultaneously many other divisions attacked along an east and west line, the 91st being about the center of this American offensive, which was the beginning og the great Argonne drive that did so much to precipitate the total defeat of Germany... The tremendous artillery preparation of the night before had so paralyzed German resistance for several miles back that the division as a whole covered about five miles on the first day, suffering about 400 casualties... On the second morning, September 27, the 91st attacked the villages of Eclisfontaine and Epinonville... The Germans, having lost five miles on the previous day, resisted vigorously at both villages, and in the second day's fighting the division as a whole had about 150 men killed and several hundred wounded. The 347th, however, lost only four... Private James G. Clayton, of company D, was carrying ammunition to a machine gun when he was struck in the stomach...</B></I>" The narrative continues much like a plot unfolding in a novel, describing each death, and providing information of where the bodies lay. A few accounts include comments relayed by their fellow soldiers. Content is too extensive to include and should be reviewed for content.<BR><BR>The archive also includes a small archive of 9 typed letters by Harry B. Critchlow, who served on the 363rd Ambulance Co., 316th Sanitary Train. The letters are all written stateside, but there are also two postcards sent from France, notifying his family of his well being. Also a contemporary typed manuscript titled: "Who Won the War", by William H. Johnston and John J. Black Pershing, being a compilation of letters and reports by Johnston. Overall condition is very good.<BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Flat Material, Small (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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