Feb 04, 2016 - Sale 2404

Sale 2404 - Lot 285

Price Realized: $ 1,375
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 500 - $ 750
(WORLD WAR ONE.) Joyce, Paul A. An unpublished memoir and unit history of the 7th Machine Gun Battalion. [20] manuscript memoir pages plus [7] memoranda pages. 8vp, original boards, worn, front board creased; moderate dampstaining and wrinkling throughout. Np, circa 1919

Additional Details

Paul Albert Joyce (born 1897) of Wilkes-Barre, PA served as a private in the 7th Machine Gun Battalion of the 3rd Division, 4th Corps, 3rd Army of the American Expedition Force. This unpublished memoir / battalion history was apparently written shortly after his service. His battalion, like many of the American troops, arrived in France and was almost immediately thrown into the Battle of Chateau-Thierry, described vividly here: "The Germans were making their fast advance in their effort to take Paris so this battalion had a big job on their hands . . . to save Chateau Thierry from invasion of the Huns. . . . being the first Americans to enter Chateau Thierry. . . . 1st Lt John T. Bissell was ordered to cross the bridge over the Marne River to take up machine gun positions and to hold same against the invading Huns. . . . His platoon was subjected to heavy enemy shelling which forced him to retreat toward the bridge. . . . The bridge was blown up by the French by this time. . . . When Lt. Bissell and his men neared the bridge they were again subjected to heavy machine gun and shell fire and Lt. saw all his men fall, as he thought killed. These men, all but six, later reported to their respective company. Thinking his detachment all killed and the Germans had possession of the bridge, Lt. Bissell . . . made an ineffectual attempt to cross the river by swimming . . . under both hostile and friendly machine gun fire. . . . E.W. Cobbey 7th Machine Gun Battalion caused firing to stop, crossed the bridge and conducted Lt. Bissell across." The heroics of the 7th Machine Gun Battalion were an important factor in this major battle. With a typed transcript.