War notebook 14-18 by Constant VINCENT

1916 - 1

The 1st and 2nd (January 1916) rest but also we had a wedding. The 3 start on leave for 7 days. I hadn't been to our place since April 26 1915. I took the train at 1 p.m. to Savonnières. I went through Paris, where I arrived at 1 a.m. and left at 8 a.m. from Montparnasse, for arrive at 7 o'clock in the evening in Gémozac. My permission got more or less well spent. On the 11th I went for a walk in Libourne where I was very well received. On the morning of the 14th, I took the train again with a comrade of Mortagne. We had a good trip. In Paris, we went walk, because we had arrived there at 9 o'clock in the evening. On the 15th I leave Paris at 1 o'clock in the afternoon, and I went to sleep in Vitry-le-François, and left on the 16th at 8 am. At 10 I got off the train. I was leaving for Bazincourt where I left, when in Aulnois I learned that the division was gone. So I set off with the telephone operators of the division (southwest). I have traveled more than 25 kilometers without being able to find the battalion, so I slept in Bienville (on the banks of the Marne) in a post with guardrails. The 17 departure 6 hours. It's cold, but the weather is nice. I must join that day at all costs. I am passed by Prez, Troisfontaines where there some good people bought me a good coffee and given a liter of wine. Then I caught up with the Battalion at Voillecomte where we quartered.

Tuesday 18 departure 7 a.m.: passed through Montier-en-Dizier and several other small countries. We were confined to Joncreuil. On the 19th departure at 7 a.m.: passed through Chassericourt, Margerie, Chapelaine, Brienne where we were quartered. On the 20th it rains. Departure 7 a.m.: passing through Saint-Ouen, Lhuître, Grandville, Dosnon, Trouans-le petit. At three o'clock in the afternoon, we arrived at Camp de Mailly, where they were quartered in barracks and other barracks. We were lying on mattresses and we had blankets at will, not without need because it was cold. During this four-day march (90 km), we went through several departments. Party of Bazincourt Meuse, passed through Haute-Marne, Aube, Marne and back to Aube. The camp of Mailly has nothing very beautiful. It is an immense plain planted here and there of pine wood. I will always keep a memory of this country because that's where I had my first punishment since I was in the regiment, including 12 days in prison.

The 21 rest. On the 22nd the evening battalion exercise. Sunday 23 the weather is very nice. The evening, regimental exercise. We came home when it was already dark and marched with the music.

(postcard stamped January 23, 1916)

Dear Constant,

We haven't heard from you since you left. All is well but all is sad as in the past.

Your sister Angèle

The 24 on duty at the police station. Tuesday evening, the 25th, assembly of the division, which at three o'clock was reviewed by several generals, including that of the army and army corps, on the parade ground. On the 26th, shower rest. On the evening of the 27th, battalion maneuver. On the 28th, fine weather, a division maneuver which was completed early. The morning of the 29th battalion exercise, the evening rest. Sunday 30 night exercise: departure three o'clock, return 10 o'clock. I am daytime. The 31 in the evening, exercise.

On the 1st we prepare to leave Mailly. The 2 departure at 9 o'clock: passed by Trouans-le-petit, Dosnon, Arcis-sur-Aube where we embarked and from where we left in the evening at 5 o'clock. On the 3rd at 1 am we were in Mussey (west of Bar-le-Duc) where we disembarked. We went to stay 9 kilometers from the latter, in Beurey. The 4 review and it rains. On the 5th the rain continued and we went to the exercise. Sunday 6 rest. I went to mass. Monday 7 exercise at Trémont where there was 47th artillery. The shooting evening. Tuesday 8 shower at Robert Spain, where the 3rd battalion is stationed. On the 9th it was very cold and it was snowing. We went shooting. The 10th vaccination, so I'm very sick.

Mailly Camp - Officers' Mess

Camp de Mailly - The Soup at Plumard

On the 11th (February) it freezes and snows, in the evening alert. That day the officers had left to reconnoiter a sector, which we were to occupy a few days later. But along the way, they were turned around. Also from this day on we foresee that something awaits us. Because since For a long time already we talked very often about Verdun, and since we were in rest in the Meuse, we said to ourselves that there must be a small part of it for us. (Excerpt from "Verdun, the 1st shock to the 72nd Division": "The date of the assault was initially set for February 12, but bad weather prompted the Germans to postpone it to the next day, then the bad weather continuing, it was postponed day by day until the 21st. Except on the evening of the 11th, deserters who said they were Poles, terrified by the future slaughter, alerted the French.)

The 12 leaves Beurey at 9 a.m., and despite the fact that most of them are still sick since we had been vaccinated on the 10th, everyone must wear his bag and do 15 kilometres. We went through Trémont, Combles, Bar-le-Duc, Behonne where we stayed. On the 13th, a Sunday, departure at 7 a.m.: passed through Vavincourt, Petit-Rumon, Erize-la-Brûlée, Rosne, Erize-la-Grande, where we stayed.

On the 14th rest, it rains. That day a lot of people passed by, coming villages surrounding Verdun. We could imagine a little bit the retreat from Charleroi. These people leaving without knowing where and carrying with them barely their necessities, having abandoned everything in their departure precipitate. All this left us in uncertainty. On the 15th he makes a superb weather, departure 9 am. We traveled 10 kilometers to go to cantonment at Deuxnouds. February 16 alert at midnight. We are given cartridges and at 2 o'clock we leave. We did 4 kilometers to reach the big road that leads to Clermont. There, at daybreak, we were taken by the cars that took us 3 kilometers beyond Verdun, everything passing through the latter. From there, we went to Fort de Tavannes, which was only a few kilometers away. We left the same day around 11 a.m. to return to Verdun, to the Jardin-Fontaine barracks. During the day we had rest, in the evening we were able to go out for a while in town. 18 rest. Review by Colonel. We couldn't get out of the barracks, we stay always recorded. The 19 departure 8 hours. We went to the barracks Chevert, which were only a few kilometers away (to the east). It is raining that day. Sunday 20 the weather is very nice, we have a rest. All the day the cannon sounded louder than usual.

Geographical location of Verdun on the Franco-German front in 1916

The Verdun fronts on February 21, February 26, June and December 15, 1916 - geographical location of the Bois des Caures

Outbreak of the Battle of Verdun, Bois des Caures

(February 21 - March 1, 1916)

JMO of the 60th RI, Verdun February 1916

Monday 21 alarm clock 2 hours. We went 2 kilometers away to take the train, because we had to go to work all day at some (distance) from the first lines. When we are on the train, most of them are happy and sing. Yet it's cold and we have to spend the day almost without eat, because no one had been informed of this departure. At 7 o'clock we are arrived (at the coast 344). It has frozen hard and it is cold. We have to go through the guts where we have water and ice up to your knees. We barely made it a hundred meters that a violent bombardment from the Boches starts, so in an instant the shells fall close to us. We don't move, we wait for them to fall on us.

Something that happened soon after. It's been barely 10 minutes since we are there that a large caliber shell falls right into the trench where we are, where 18 are affected including 12 dead. Despite the shells that never stop to fall, we manage to leave behind through the trenches full of water and ice cream. It's cold. Also after doing some kilometers, we stop and make a fire to warm up while waiting the orders, because the colonel, who also left in the morning on reconnaissance, only came to join us late in the evening. Finally around 8 o'clock we returns to Chevert where there we could change and have supper.

The 22 departure at 3 o'clock. We went to take our pitches alert to the right of Bras where we spent the whole day. The bombardment is continuous. Verdun receives shells, as well as the surrounding villages. access roads and railways going from Verdun to the front lines has become impossible, given the violence of the bombardment. The Boches attack and advance, annihilating most of the regiments that are on the front lines, and making us a number of prisoners. In the evening the situation became alarming. There first line is broken. Artillery no longer fires because most guns are demolished or buried and refueling has become impossible. At 9 hours we receive the order to go up. On our way we meet the 363rd where a real chaos reigns. The gunners all turn around. We meet also a few wounded hunters who were able to escape the Boches and who say that nothing remains of the first lines, and that soon we will meet the Boches, because at that time we were on the main road which leads to Beaumont passing through the Bois des Caures, from which we were only 500 meters away (these are the hunters of Colonel Driant whose Army then made a hero).

The bombardment is terrible. The road is not passable and is strewn with corpses, dead and wounded horses. We see everything, broken carts. It is something that is painful to see. And at 11 o'clock we reached the edge of the Bois des Caures (Bois le Fays, southern edge of the Bois des Caures). Instead of the French, we found the Boches there.

We had to attack immediately, but as we had no more artillery left, the attack was postponed until the next day. The 5th company remains in reserve.

On the 23rd at 1 o'clock in the morning, we go to the soup. As well as badly we eat a little. As I myself accompanied the chore despite the shells fall, I ate with a good appetite and drank a good shot of pinard while waiting other events. At 7 o'clock, we go up to the Bois des Caures, at the location of the eighth company, which it advances into the woods and is to attack at noon. It is very cold, the snow is falling. The bombardment is still very intense, also any communication with the rear has become almost impossible. Onne don't know what's going on. Around 11 o'clock we set off in the woods to join the 8th Company and attack with it at noon, when underway on the way we meet the Boches advancing in large numbers on us. He us there is only one thing left to do, return to the starting point. Are we going to make it, that's what we wonder, because we receive gunshots from all the sides. Finally in a quarter of an hour we are there. But the 8th company is all whole prisoner, and on the 5th there are several dead and wounded, including the Lieutenant Boivin, who at that time commanded the company. He was replaced immediately by Second Lieutenant Schmidt. The day thus ended but it was far from being cheerful.

On the 24th it is still cold and the snow is falling. Like the day before, you don't have to eat, and you start to feel hungry. And like for three nights we haven't rested, so to speak, we're beginning to feel tired. Despite that we work with good heart to make a trench, because at every moment we expect to be attacked.

By extraordinary luck, two photographs reached us from this episode (which I discovered in November 2022) :

February 24, 1916 - "The morning lull between the attacks of the night and those of the day", company Cordier of the 2nd Zouaves, located a few meters from the 5th company of Constant. Full picture

February 24, 1916 - Same company Cordier. Full picture

Situation today of Beaumont in front of the Bois le Fay / Bois des Caures) and take several companies prisoner, but are immediately chased away by our machine gun fire (the 57th is located on the west side of the road facing Beaumont). At this time any communication to the rear for us is impossible. Not a piece of artillery from us fires, too the position is not pleasant. Despite everything, we are holding out until midnight. Nevertheless the Boches attacked us 7 times from 4 a.m. to midnight, but as we do the simulacrum of charging with the bayonet, they are afraid and withdraw. We only have one hope left, that of being prisoners.

On the 25th around one o'clock everything is calm as much on one side as on the other, and as we received the order to leave, we take advantage of this tranquility to leave. Everything is going well. At daybreak we return to Belleville, an abandoned country and bombarded. Nothing is missing here, it's a real pillage. We're making a bomb frantic because we came out of this furnace, we do not know by what fatality. On this day the reinforcement troops have come and can stand up to the attacks Boches which continue more and more terrible.

(Note: During these days of struggle, on February 24, Léon Rondeau de Jazennes, 8th company, friend of Constant, was taken prisoner by the Germans. He died of illness in captivity on March 31, 1916.)

Sunday 26 departure 4 hours. We think we are going to the rear when we are made to go up in reserve behind the 44th which is at Fort Vaux (map of the trenches). In the morning it snows and everything is calm but around noon the bombardment begins again, so we saw something frightening. On 27-28-29, we remain in the same location and the bombardment is continuous. Every moment there are dead and wounded. Wednesday 1st (March) we dig communication casings. Everything is going well. During the night we were relieved by the 409th.

A 210 shell hits the command post of Lieutenant-Colonel Driant (Bois des Caures - reconstitution)

On February 21, at 4:45 p.m., the Bois des Caures is nothing more than a pile of rubble (Bois des Caures - reconstitution)

Excerpts from "Verdun - le premier choc à la 72e DI" concerning the 2nd battalion of the 60th RI (with detailed maps, pdf format)

To the south-east: north of Toul

(March 2 - April 10, 1916)

On the 2nd (March) at dawn we arrive in Oudainville (Haudainville), where is the whole regiment. There we are accommodated in barges which are on the channel. Apart from the planes which came to throw bombs at us, we were calm.

On the 3rd we are told that we are leaving the same evening. So all day we clean our belongings. That day I was nominated for to be appointed sergeant. The 4 to 4 hours we went up in cars. We are passed through Souilly, Heippes, Issocourt, Chaumont-sur-Aire, Rembercourt (the Sacred Way), country half destroyed by the bombardment in 1914. At 4 o'clock in the evening we left it to go and stay at Villote-le-Pot (Villote-devant-Louppy). Sunday 5 departure at 8 am to stay in Louppy-le-Château. THE 6 it's snowing. 28 kilometer walk. Departure 6 a.m.: passed by Laimont, Mussey (west of Bar-le-Duc) where we landed in 1916 coming from from the camp of Mailly, Haironville and several other small countries. walking was very tiring, because there were no less than 25 to 30 centimeters snow depth. We were confined to Rupt-aux-Nonains, a country where we had passed in December 1915 and where we had been very well received. On the 7th the weather is fine, we have a rest. The 8 washing of linen and review of the cantonment. Thursday 9 departure 8 am: passed by Bazincourt where we had had 25 days of rest in December 1915, Lavincourt, Stainville, Ménil-sur-Saulx, le Bouchon, Dammarie, Morley, Couvertpuis, Hévilliers, Ribeaucourt where we stayed. We did 28 kilometers that day and yet it was still snowing. The 10th departure at 9 a.m.: passed by Houdelaincourt where the 9th marching battalion was stationed of the 13th Infantry. Then Delouze, Rosières-en-Blois where we stayed. The day was pretty good, but the night snow fell.

Saturday 11 departure 7 a.m.: passed through Badonvilliers, Epiez, Burey-en-Vaux, Vannes-le-Châtel where we stayed. In the evening I went to company of two comrades to visit the Vannes glass factory where glasses of all kinds. I found this very interesting, so I had a pleasant evening. Sunday 12 departure 9 am. The weather's nice. We went to stay in Colombey-les-Belles, where I had been in 1914 beginning of the mobilization, being in the 57th. The 13 rest. That day we have had in the company a reinforcement of 325 men coming from the marching battalion of the 55th. The 14 rest. The weather is good. That day I learn that I am appointed sergeant.

The 15th fine weather. Departure from Colombey-les-Belles at 7 am. We went to stay in Toul in a barracks. The 16 departure 7 hours. We crossed the city of Toul to go and stay in Bruley where we spent a few good days off. On the 17th installation and review of the cantonment. On the 18th we did some exercise. That day we had reinforcements from several regiments of the 5th body. Sunday 19 taking up arms and decoration of the Flag of the 60th century by the General Dubail. The 20 exercise to distract us. The 21 shower and rest. On the 22nd I am on duty. In the evening we celebrated our appointment as non-commissioned officers.

On the 23rd departure from Bruley at 1 o'clock, arriving at 5 o'clock at Grosrouvres, where we were quartered. The rest of the day rest. On the 24th morning exercise, evening review. The 25 departure 5 hours. We went to work in front of Grosrouvres, on the edge of the main road from Nancy to Saint-Mihiel. Returned in the evening at 6 o'clock. The same day we had a new platoon leader, second lieutenant Catelon, who was evacuated for illness in September 1916 after our first attack on the Somme, and was killed some time later at the divisional depot while riding a horse. He was a family man. The 26th same work as the 25th. The 27th too. On the 28th we were vaccinated. On the 29th complete rest. The 30 cleaning and review. Bombardment of the village (Grosrouvres, near Toul) day and night, so we could not sleep peacefully. On the 31st in the morning we returned to work. In the evening departure from Grosrouvres at 6 o'clock. We went back a little further to the barracks in La Reine wood, where we weren't bombarded.

The 1st (April) good weather, great activity of the planes. Work all day. That day our section chief received the military medal in Andilly, where the Colonel was. The 2 and 3 same work as usual. Great aircraft activity and artillery duel. The 4 revaccination. The 5 complete rest. 6 as well. 7th good weather: exercise in the morning, work in the evening. On the 8th I am daytime: in the morning exercise, in the evening rest for me. Sunday 9 in the morning exercise, in the evening beating of the covers and review of weapons. On the 10th in the morning at work, but we had barely arrived when we received the order to to return. Departure from La Reine wood. At 6 o'clock in the evening we went to confine ourselves to Lucey. At 11 o'clock in the evening we had Christmas Eve at a good old woman's, but her wine was even better than her.

The war in Lorraine - Grosrouvres

Verdun - La Voie Sacrée (The Sacred Way)

French observation balloon, nicknamed "saucisse"

French and German aircraft used in the skies over Verdun in 1916

Back to Verdun

(April 11 - May 19, 1916)

JMO of the 60th RI, Verdun April-May 1916

(undated)

Dear Constant,

A bit of our news which is always very good and I think it's the same from you. I think we make you travel. It's probably because of the Verdun offensive, what do you expect, we have to expect everything. Nothing new at the moment. Receive a hello from the whole family.

Hélène B.

On the 11th at 7 a.m., we were in a car. We went through Toul, Pagny-sur-Meuse, where on August 19, 1914 we took the train to go to Belgium. At that time I was in the 57th. Thence Ligny, Bar-le-Duc, Erize-la-Grande, Souilly. We landed 9 kilometers from Verdun. We are went to confine himself to Bellevue, a really disgusting little country where there were no inhabitants. And yet we had to travel 15 to 20 kilometers after leaving the cars, and that at night and without having to eat. We passed through Houdainville where we had been quartered on March 2, 1916. On the 12th it rains, we have complete rest. On the 13th it rains, reconnaissance of the sector. In the evening we relieved the 140th Infantry at the Laufée redoubt (to the east of Fort de Tavannes and Verdun). Although we were bombarded all along the road, everything happened without accident. But really we found ourselves in a bad hole in water and mud up to our knees, and from which we could only get out at night, since we had a continuous bombardment. On the 14th I was at the observation post. The bombardment was continuous all day. Saturday 15 the rest day, in the evening we carried pickets to the Bourvaux farm, where the 1st platoon of the company was located. Always an intense bombardment. That evening around 10 a.m. a reconnaissance was made in the direction of Bois Carré by 30 men commanded by Midshipman Nigoul who was appointed second lieutenant in September 1916 and was seriously injured by a bullet in Champagne in November of the same year. The result of the reconnaissance was nil and without accident.

Sunday, April 16, in the evening, I went to take up a position with 15 men 800 yards ahead of our front line. The next morning I was lucky to be relieved at 4 o'clock and not angry, you can believe it. On the 17th from 7 am to 11 am, work where we were well bombarded and where for one more second I no longer existed.

From 1 a.m. to 6 a.m., two chores at the Mardi-Gras battery. The 18 same work as the day before. The 19th guard at the observation post. I was relieved in the evening. On the 20th the rest day. All night we did chores. We carried stakes and wire. I had never seen a job so painful, so I would have given my life for nothing to see myself with 25 men in knee-deep in mud and under terrible bombardment.

Finally with courage we got out of it again. Friday 21 the rest day, in the evening I went to liaison post and patrols at midnight. On the 22nd I am ill. Sunday 23 in the evening I accompanied the soup chore at the Mardi-Gras drums, a place that was continuously bombarded, so you can see what a pleasure. At midnight we were relieved by the 7th Company.

exit from the Tavannes railway tunnel

remains of Fort Vaux after the war

The defenders of Fort Vaux, near Verdun

delousing session

We went to reserve at Fontaine Tavannes. The 24th was good weather, so we began to revive a little, because after such fatigue we were almost all exhausted and covered in mud. At 11 o'clock in the evening we were relieved by a battalion of the 415th. Everything went well. On the 25th we arrived in Haudainville at 6 o'clock in the morning. All day rest. The 26th work of cleanliness and cleaning of the cantonment because we have never seen anything so dirty. On the 27th at 2 o'clock in the morning alert, but we did not leave. During the day we continue cleaning. On the 28th in the morning review of the cantonment by the Colonel, in the evening washing chore. The 29th drill and grenade launch. We are told that a few days later we have to go back up to attack. That same day about ten shells fell on Haudainville. Sunday 30 fine weather: exercise and review. Since we came down from the trenches a third of the regiment had been evacuated due to illness, so we were wondering whether or not we were going to come back up and attack.

The 1st and 2nd (May) daily exercise. On the morning of the 3rd, grenade launching in the Meuse, which allowed us to do some good fishing at the same time as having fun.

The same evening we are informed that the brigade is relieved and leaves to rest. The 4th departure from Haudainville at 10 a.m. in terrible heat. We had about 15 kilometers to do before taking the cars. On the way we met the 2nd battalion of the 57th (in Landrecourt), so I saw many old comrades as well as my old Captain Couraud with whom I talked for a while.

Commander Couraud (Source : B. Labarbe)

Constant embarked in front of the wood of the Queue de Mala (intersection D163 / Voie Sacrée southwest of Verdun).

4 km further north there is today the Memorial of the Voie Sacrée.

Another example of boarding of the 60th RI in trucks, but in Sept/Oct 1917: photos 1, 2, 3

At 4 o'clock in the evening we were in the cars. We went through Bar-le-Duc, Sermenaize. At midnight we disembarked at Etrepy where we stayed for several days. Etrepy is a small country located on the edge of the Marne-Rhine canal. It was demolished and burned in 1914. At the time of the Battle of the Marne the Germans did not come any further. The 5 wakes up at 7 a.m. and immediately sets up the cantonment. The company was commanded at this time by Captain Rolland, who was far from comfortable. Since the beginning of the campaign he had been a supply lieutenant. He had just been appointed captain and had taken command of the company 2 days before being relieved of the Laufée sector. On May 6 in the morning it rains. We continue the installation of the cantonment. Sunday, May 7 complete rest, at 9 a.m. mass. The 8 review of equipment effects. On the 9th I am day: same work as the day before. May 10 hygienic walk on the main road leading to Vitry: passed by Vignecourt, country three-quarters demolished and burned. We followed the canal to return to Etrepy. In the evening at 1 o'clock exercise of the fire engine where we had fun. At 2 o'clock departure for the walk. Passed by Heiltz-le-Maurupt where we stopped for a quarter of an hour. We visited the church which had its interior burned and demolished in 1914 during the battle of the Marne. The other houses were three-quarters burned. From there Minecourt and we returned. On the 11th in the morning, walk through the fields where we saw many graves of Frenchmen and Boches killed in the battle of the Marne. The evening passed by Minecourt, pretty little country, Vignecourt and returned following the canal. On arrival there was music. At 8 o'clock in the evening departure of several leavers. On the 12th morning shower, evening walk in Pargny-sur-Saulx. On the 13th walk to Vignecourt, in the evening it is raining. Sunday, May 14 all day rest. In the morning we went to mass. The evening with four of my comrades, we went to dinner in Jussecourt where we had a little fun. We came home at eight o'clock, afraid of being punished.

Monday 15 it is raining so rest. On the 16th in the morning review of weapons by the chief gunsmith, in the evening walk: passed by Bignicourt where we visited the church whose roof was crossed by two 75 shells in 1914. Only one burst. Continued to Buisson and turned around. In the evening there was a departure of leavers. On the 17th I am daytime. In the morning, bridging exercise in Pargny, in the evening rest. On the 18th in the morning throwing of grenades, in the evening concert at the third battalion. I am sick. The 19 sick. For company all day exercise. March 20: passed by Buisson, Bignicourt, evening rest.

1916-2

1915

1917-1918

1914-1