My Grandfather Eldie Bonner Henderson of SC volunteered to go to war in April 1917. Joining the Big Red One he fought in this battle and se ersl others. He was in the 3rd Machine Gun Battalion attached to the 28th Inf Regiment. He was seriously wounded in July 1918 at the battle of Soissons but survived to return to fight at St Mihiel and the Meuse Argonne offensive. After the Armistice he was stationed in Koblenz Germany as part of the American occupation force. I still have his discharge papers listing the ballets he fought in and some other personal effects and photos. He never spoke of the killing during the war just the lighter sides of the war and the misery of trench warfare. He passed away in 1988.
My Great Grandfather was also at Cantigny. He wrote that he fired his first shells at the enemy there. He too was seriously wounded at Soissons, was shot in the head and had to crawl back to friendly lines. He was sent home after and lived until 1981.
I've play golf many times at Cantigny Golf Course outside of Chicago. The piece of land that it sits on was named by Robert R McCormick, publisher of the Chicago Tribune who led the first division at the Battle of Cantigny.
That’s what I love about historians, one will say the yanks did bugger all, another makes out they the saviour of the western world. Truth is in the middle of course, the allies didn’t really their American soldier on the ground, (the Germans failed offensives crippled them and that didn’t require doughboys) they just needed the mighty industrial and monetary support that the Americans could provide.
The British Army had committed 100% of their reserves and could not replace their losses by this time in 1918. Entire regiments were being disbanded and the troops divided up among the remainder of the force to bring the divisions up to operational strength. The French were bringing in African colonial troops and filling their ranks with African American soldiers. If the war had continued into 1919, the US Army would have become the largest allied force.
@@johnferguson7235 The British army didn't reduce in size during the war. They had extra soldiers being transferred in from other areas of the world where the fighting had finished. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recruitment_to_the_British_Army_during_the_First_World_War#/media/File:All_ranks_army_size.jpg 90% of British soldiers were alive at the end of the war.
The final offensives in June and July against the French were largely stopped by Americans. I don't think the USA won the war, but they definitely stepped in at the crucial moment to bolster the French and make sure the war wasn't lost.
My Grandfather died there on June 7, 1918. He was a PFC, age 26, 16th Regiment. He never saw his son. I am honoring him today.
Needs more on the actual battle of cantigny
My Grandfather Eldie Bonner Henderson of SC volunteered to go to war in April 1917. Joining the Big Red One he fought in this battle and se ersl others. He was in the 3rd Machine Gun Battalion attached to the 28th Inf Regiment. He was seriously wounded in July 1918 at the battle of Soissons but survived to return to fight at St Mihiel and the Meuse Argonne offensive. After the Armistice he was stationed in Koblenz Germany as part of the American occupation force. I still have his discharge papers listing the ballets he fought in and some other personal effects and photos. He never spoke of the killing during the war just the lighter sides of the war and the misery of trench warfare. He passed away in 1988.
My Great Grandfather was also at Cantigny. He wrote that he fired his first shells at the enemy there. He too was seriously wounded at Soissons, was shot in the head and had to crawl back to friendly lines. He was sent home after and lived until 1981.
Well done...Routed in the purpose and complexities of Cantigny and WWI while not ignoring the personal costs.
Been to this museum in Wheaton many times. Love going
I've play golf many times at Cantigny Golf Course outside of Chicago.
The piece of land that it sits on was named by Robert R McCormick, publisher of the Chicago Tribune who led the first division at the Battle of Cantigny.
Excellent lecture, very informative. Perhaps Roger Brooke has a hard time staying focused. This was 1st rate all the way, thanks for uploading it.
I enjoyed this very much. Sheds some more light on the AEF.
Great lecture. Thank you.
Good talk.
Good. Would have liked to hear a little more about the actual battle.
I know the family of Curd Earls well, he was killed in the battle of Cantigny.. he's buried in the American Cemetery at Somme France..
Isn't The Battle of the Bulge the largest ever fought by the U.S. Army?
No, the Meuse-Argonne offensive is. 1.2 million American troops involved.
No Q&A?
there was nothing about actual battle . wth
That’s what I love about historians, one will say the yanks did bugger all, another makes out they the saviour of the western world. Truth is in the middle of course, the allies didn’t really their American soldier on the ground, (the Germans failed offensives crippled them and that didn’t require doughboys) they just needed the mighty industrial and monetary support that the Americans could provide.
The British Army had committed 100% of their reserves and could not replace their losses by this time in 1918. Entire regiments were being disbanded and the troops divided up among the remainder of the force to bring the divisions up to operational strength. The French were bringing in African colonial troops and filling their ranks with African American soldiers. If the war had continued into 1919, the US Army would have become the largest allied force.
@@johnferguson7235
The British army didn't reduce in size during the war. They had extra soldiers being transferred in from other areas of the world where the fighting had finished.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recruitment_to_the_British_Army_during_the_First_World_War#/media/File:All_ranks_army_size.jpg
90% of British soldiers were alive at the end of the war.
The final offensives in June and July against the French were largely stopped by Americans.
I don't think the USA won the war, but they definitely stepped in at the crucial moment to bolster the French and make sure the war wasn't lost.
@@CJ87317 the question?
What would the outcome , had become "without" the USA?
Be honest with yourself.
War is stupid