Hotchkiss Gun

Anti-Aviation machine gun mounted in the trenches. The crew: Cpl. Clarence Hayes, gunner, Pvt George B. Hugenson and Pvt. John G. Speede, Loaders. This is a Hotchkiss Gun Co. C, M. G. Btn (in an unidentified Camp) near Germany.”

Photo courtesy of Indiana War Memorial Archives

 

  Harry Williams Heacox, Pvt, Distinguished Service Cross, Marion County, Indiana

Co. I, 334th Reg., 33rd Div. “The distinguished service Cross cited by Major Bell and General Pershing. On the day before the armistice was signed on the Metz front, near Bois d’Arville, Private Heacox, put a German machine-gun nest of action taking command of this company, after all his officers and noncommissioned officers had been killed, leading them to their objective. He volunteered to go forward with Lt. Milton E. Wilson of Kirkland, Illinois, who was killed going forward, and put the machine-gun nest out with his rifle.

When he returned to his company with all the commission and noncommissioned officers being killed, there were only 30 men left of the original Co., who had been previously killed and wounded by this German gun nest, who he lead forward, gaining their objective. When orders came for the evacuation of the position only 18 men remained for Heacox to lead. Heacox began service in the front lines when picking Companies of his Regiment now being with the Australians in Amiens. In the early part of September 1918, the Australians were transferred to the American front on the edge of the Argonne Forest where they served until October 15 when they were transferred to Metz, where he was wounded and distinguished himself on November 10, 1918.”

Wounded by shrapnel in his left arm, hospitalized St. Mihiel, Toul, Savenay, Brest, France and Greenhut Hospital, New York.

 

 

 

Feeders of Front Lines

Airplanes dropped ammunition for machine guns in forward positions

Freedom’s Triumph, Photo courtesy of Indiana War Memorial Archives

 

 

William Edgar Rice, Sergeant Bugler, Co. K, 335th Infantry, 84th Div., Vanderburg County, Indiana

“Cited with Croix de Guerre, July 1, 1918 at Soissons by Marshall Petan, 5 th French Army, for services rendered at Soissons with Signal Section of 1 st Moroccan(?) Army

Wounded, Cantigny, April 28, 1918 in left leg by machine-gun. Wounded at La Petite Boise October 28 by machine-gun in Argonne Forest. Hospital treatment: Base #5, Paris, Field hospital #26, Noyer, France.

1st Wound, two machine-gun balls in left leg

2nd Wound, three machine-gun balls in right thigh

Battles: Cantigny, Chesprey, Chateau-Thierry, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, Sedan.

 Herbert Wes McBride, 139th Machine Gun Battalion, Marion County, Indiana

Commissioned Captain, Musketry Instructor, 38th Canadian Infantry Battalion, January 14, 1915 at Ottawa, Ontario. Resigned commissioned and entered as Private, 21st Canadian Infantry Battalion (Machine-gun Section) at Kingston, Ontario.

Trained Kingston, and Barriefield until May 5, 1915., Sailed for England (for Montréal on SS Metagama) May 6, 1915. Landed at Plymouth, Devonshire, England, May 14, 1915. Trained at West Sandling Camp, Kent, England until September 13th.

Sailed from Southampton, September 13 and landed at LeHavre, France, September 14, 1915, proceed immediately to the front, arriving front-line trenches near Messines, West Flanders, Belgium, September 19, 1915. Moved to Wyschaete-St. Eloi sector, ( Ypres salient), October 8, 1915. Remained in Ypres salient until June 20, 1916. Promoted: Lance Corporal September 19, 1915, Corporal October 15, 1915, Sergeant December 26, 1915, 1st Lieutenant May 31, 1916. Return to England June 20, 1916 and acted as instructor, 39th Canadian Infantry Battalion at West Sandling Camp. Made several trips is conducting officer, taking replacement troops to France during July and August, and as messenger (King's Messenger) between London War Office and Hdqtrs. 3rd Echelon, Rouen, France.

Assigned to 18 Canadian Infantry Battalion, September 15, 1916, and reported for duty near Courcelette, Picardy, September 28, having previously participated in an engagement which resulted in the capture of Combles, as a volunteer machine-gun officer with the 1st Gloucestershire Regiment.

Wounded and sent to hospital, October 10th – 12th, to England October 27th in back to France, December 5, 1916, reporting for duty with 18th Battalion in trenches in front of Bully-Grenay, opposite Lens, remaining there until January 28, 1917 when we shifted to Neuville-St. Vaest, opposite Vimy Ridge.

Invalided out to England, February 22, and discharged for physical disability with rank of Captain to date from November 9, 1916.

Return to United States on SS St. Paul, leading Liverpool, April 7, landed in New York, April ?, 1917.

Hospitals: British Red Cross General Hospital #12; St. Pol; Lady Murry’s, LeTreport; Miss. Pollocks, 50 Weymouth St., London; Queen Alexandria's Military Hospital, London; Canadian Eye and Ear Hospital, Folkstone; several field hospitals at Warloy, Doullens and Frevent, numbers unknown.

Decorations: British Military Medal, June 2, 1916, presented by King George V, Buckingham Palace London.

French Medaille Militaire, November 9, 1915, presented by General d’Oissell at Bailleul, March 17, 1916.

French Croix de Guerre with palm, award of September 25, 1916; presented October 16, 1916, at St. Pol by General (now Marshall) Foch.

Battles and engagements: Loos, September 25, 1915, Ypres salient: The Bluff, St. Eloi, Hooge, Hill #60 & Sanctuary Wood, the Somme: Combles, Courcellette and Regina Trench, Arras Sector: Colonne and preparations for Vimy Ridge attack. Took part in numerous trench raids and all above sectors.

Wounded: November 9, 1915; February 27, 1916, and October 10, 1916 “officially” and slightly and several other occasions, gassed, more or less severely, numerous times, burned and bruised by shell fire many times.

 

"An American battey of howitzers ready to fire upon the Huns from the ruins of a town in France. This was one of the first United States official photographs of the American advance in the Argonne, a district that is not all forest by any means, but comprises much cultivated territory and many towns and villages that have been wrecked by ruthless German fire."

US Signal Corps Photo, America's War for Humanity

Andrew Nicholas Irrgang, AEF, Ripley County , Indiana

Distinguished-Service Cross, Military Medal ( Great Britain), Croix de Guerre (France)

“Corporal Andrew Irrgang, Machine Gun Co., 120 th Infantry, distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against the enemy of the United States at Bellicourt, France on September 29, 1918.

“He had been separated from the rest of his platoon near Bellicourt, France, Sept., 1918. He kept his squad together and broke up an enemy machine gun nest, capturing the gunners and guns. As his own gun became disabled, Corporal Irrgang turned a captured machine gun around and fired one thousand rounds of ammunition, covering the advance of the infantry. He then continued to lead his squad forward under the artillery and machine gin fire.”

Wounded by shrapnel, both legs, right arm & scalp,

The Gatling Gun, a forerunner of the Machine Gun was invented by a doctor and inventor, Richard J. Gatling in Indianapolis, Indiana. He observed that the majority of dead in the Civil War died of illness rather than gunshot wounds and his invention was to help save lives.

 "It occurred to me that if I could invent a machine - a gun - which could by its rapidity of fire, enable one man to do as much battle duty as a hundred, that it would, to a large extent, supersede the necessity of large armies, and consequently, exposure to battle and disease [would] be greatly diminished."   The Gatling Gun, Paul Wahl and Don Toppel, Arco Publishing, 1971

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Jordan_Gatling

Clarence Shert, Private, Machine Gun Btn., Jefferson County, Indiana

“I have heard and read a great deal about open warfare and know I'm going through it, you can imagine how awful it is.

“We were in a large woods a short time ago, and our artillery was all around us. The Boches shelled the woods night and day. We get it again, everyman had his own dugout, protection against shrapnel. You could scarcely take two steps for fear of falling headfirst into a dugout.

“I am sitting out in front of my dugout writing this letter and old Fritz is sending 5” shells over in front of us about 50 yd. from here. If he lowers his elevation, I will do the groundhog stunt.

“You read in the newspapers how the French people are driven from their homes on short notice. Well, as we were moving up to this front, we passed family after family running from the dangers zone, and believe me it was simply awful to see them go by, not only forty or fifty, but hundreds of them. Some in motor trucks, some in wagons with their children, with probably only enough clothing and food to last them a few days.

“The less fortunate ones were pulling their wagons, caring stuff on their backs and on wheelbarrows. I saw one old woman have a wheelbarrow loaded with some provisions lying by the roadside. The poor soul had given out. It made my heart ache. Another case, and old man and dog were pulling a spring wagon and old woman pushing it. I don't know how they made it upgrades. They left their homes and all they had. They will probably come back someday, but only see their homes all destroyed.”

 

The Colt-Browning .30" machine gun was adopted at the start of WW1. It weighed less then 25 lbs and was adapted for use on airplanes.  It was gas operated, belt fired and could fire 500 rounds per minute.

Indiana War Memorial Museum collection

 

Corporal Robert L. King, Jefferson County , Indiana

Camp Cody , New Mexico :

“Since coming here have been assigned to a machine gun company. We drill here as squads. There are eight men in the squads, including the Corporal. I have been acting as Corporal, ever since I landed here. Every Corporal has to give commands for his squad, which is not very easy thing for me to. But even at that, I like it.

We're been taught how to kill the Germans and we sure ought to get some of them with these machine guns for they shoot 600 times a minute. It takes two-men to feed in the bullets, we are not supposed to get in the trenches with the infantry but slightly to the rear, for we shoot over the infantry's heads. We are stationed at both ends of the trenches.

I don't think I could have gotten into any part of the army that I would of liked better then this. We do not have rifles, but will have a pistol and a large knife to defend ourselves in hand-to-hand fighting.

There are 30,000 soldiers here are in only a few of them have guns, the rest have clubs, which they used to kill jackrabbits. When the boys are off duty they form a large circle make a drive for jackrabbits. They get as many as 40 or 50 at a time, and it sure is lots of fun.

We are well taken care of in this camp, there is no need to worry about me for I never had such an appetite as I have now, and they sure do feed us well and it all taste good and plenty of it.

For supper we had roast beef, sweet potatoes, gravy, rice pudding, prunes, blackberry jam, bread and cocoa. Sometimes we have oyster soup and cranberry sauce, and sometimes more than this to eat. No one needs to go hungry. I never expected to give such meals of the army.

As I know of nothing more to write to you at this time, I will close and hope to receive the mail from you soon.

As ever, your son, Robert"

 

 

"Machine gun team of an American balloon company at work on the French Front, trying to get an enemy airplane. These anti-aircraft guns are known as 'Archies'".

America's War for Humanity

 

Sergeant Wilbert Kendall, Sergeant, Co. A, Machine Gun Bn., 2nd Div., Decatur County, Indiana

"First local boy to return from France, having started big drive over there year.

Sergeant Wilbur Kendall landed in Greensburg at 10:35 this morning fresh from the battlefield of France and enjoys the distinction of being the first Decatur County soldier who has return from service overseas since the war began.

Sergeant Kendall told of the dead German near the front line American trenches and how an American covered the body with dirt. When the job was completed, the Huns feet were still visible and card bearing the words, “rise your country needs you” was pinned thereon. He said the same to be applied here and that everyone should rise to do their part in the great struggle for freedom.

He paid special tribute to General Pershing, and said that he was idolized by the men of the Army. He also took occasion to praise of foreigners in United States Army and declared that “Wops” as they were familiarly known, constituted the division that saved Paris. Speaking of the French people Sergeant Kendall said that despite their great sacrifices they were not broken by the war and he would fight to the end for a victorious peace. He praised them for their hospitality and said that they're willing to share with the allies. He said he was glad to be back in the states were he could get three square meals a day and then he said the Americans on the fighting line were not always favored that way.

In speaking of the Red Cross, he said the people could not give too much to the organization for noble work that is being carried 'over there'. If you heard that wounded man lying all night in a wheat field and crying for aid, like I did you would understand” he said in closing."

Walter Grant Grubb, Corporal, Co. D, 115th Inf., 29th Div., Daviess County, Indiana

He volunteered to locate a machine gun that was holding up the advance of his company & was one of the party that successfully attacked the machine-gun nest, thereby allowing the company to continue its advance. Bois de Consenvoye, Oct. 10, 1918.

Benjamin Harrison Harrel, Sergeant, Co. K, 131st Inf, 33rd Div., Marion County, Indiana

Upon discovering an enemy machine gun nest, under heavy fire, he flanked the position, captured the machine gun & thirty-one prisoners, one of them an officer, killing two of the enemy who tried to escape.

Ernest Franklin Hess, USMC, Gunner, Ripley County

“Wounded at Belleau Wood. Struck in left thigh, both arms and left eye. Hospitalized for five weeks to recover and fitted with glass eye.

“Came over in a Hospital ship in a Casual CO. We sent on arrival to the Naval Hospital at Portsmouth, Va. For two months. Was sent to the Marine Barracks at Norfolk Va. for one month.

“Served as gunner on an outpost when wounded at Belleau Wood, June 23, 1918.

“Service in the trenches at Verdun consisted of raiding, extending excavations of trenches and building roads. Was under constant shellfire and subject to gas attacks almost every night.

“Had only a week’s rest after the Verdun trenches until sent to Chateau-Thierry. Advanced eight days in this attack, doing hand to hand fighting with nets, rifles and machine-guns. (French ‘sho-sho’ guns). Marched back for rest when relieved by 7 th Infantry. A barrage was put over the first night after this relief. The 7th Infantry fell back for this, the Germans rushed in and retook all the Marines had gained in the eight days. “The 6 th Marines were sent immediately to relieve the 7 th and went again into battle about 8 or 9 AM, June 2, 1918. They succeeded in retaking Belleau Wood, advancing four kilometers. They continued the advance for twenty-odd days until the entire wood was taken and held.

“Private Hess carried a wounded Lieutenant from a hill in Belleau Wood to a First Aid station in a ravine. The Lieutenant was then carried by the First Aid men to a Field Hospital. Both of these men received medals for this action. Orders to all Marines were to drag wounded out of further danger, so this action was in the line of duty. Nearly all soldiers served their comrades in this way.”

Chester Cole, 139th Inf. Machine Gun Bn., Ripley County , Indiana

“I was all trained for overseas service when I got my leg broken. I had my uniform, gas mask and all. I was so disappointed I couldn’t go with the rest of my company. I was two months in the hospital and two months more on crutches. Then I was turned down for overseas service and they made me a corporal and set me to training men for the service. I wanted to help in some way to serve my country and will as long as I live. I enlisted and am so glad of it.”

Andrew Nicholas Irrgang, Cpl, Machine Gun Co., 120th Inf., 30th Div. , Ripley County, Indiana

After being separated from the platoon, he kept his squad together & broke up a machine-gun post, capturing the gunners & the gun. As his own gun had become disabled, he turned the captured gun around & fired 1,000 rounds, covering the advance.

 

 

Browning Machine Gun

The American forces initially used the French Chauchat gun in the early stages of the war. As production was increased, there were eventually 57,000 of the 45 lb. Brownings in use.

Indiana War Memorial Museum Exhibit

 

 

Daniel Leroy Jack, Private, Co. F, 362nd Inf, 91st Div., Adams County, Indiana

He rushed with two other soldiers over open ground, exposed to the fire of the enemy artillery & displayed the finest courage in charging a machine-gun nest, killing two gunners, wounded two others, & captured five prisoners as well as the piece.

Gailard G. Nail, Sergeant, Co. A, 7 th Engineers, 5th Div., Wabash County, Indiana

Under heavy & continuous machine-gun fire, he held stubbornly to their position, securing an enemy machine gun & ammunition and courageously advanced against enemy Infantry. Wounded Oct. 15, 1918.

Thomas D. Smith, Sergeant, Infantry, Tippecanoe County, Indiana

Entered service May 3,1918. Stationed at Camp Ferres. Ga.. and Camp Upton, N.Y. Sailed for overseas duty, a member of 52nd Infantry, Headquarters Co” 6th Bn, Signal Corps. Saw active service on the front lines. Was awarded the Croix de Guerre with three other comrades for bravery, having gone under shell and machine gun fire at the risk of life to remove a German electric wire, in order that the remains of a Lt., killed by contact with it could be removed, and the way cleared for the patrols. Was wounded in the right hip. Born in Lafayette, Ind., May 6, 1896; son of Thomas D. and Fannie B. Smith. Wife is Mabel Smith. Home is Lafayette. Ind.

Hiram Quincy Cox, K. I. A., Grant County, Indiana

“Hiram Quincy Cox., 1st Class Private, 5th Machine Gun Battalion, 23rd Infantry.

He died brave fighting for his God and HIS COUNTRY. He was a Christian.

Headquarters, 23rd Infantry, 2nd Div., Camp Travis, Texas, Headquarters, 5th Machine Gun Battalion, Camp Travis, Texas

Private Cox was a member of Co. C, 5th Machine Gun Battalion and was attached to the Marine Brigade during the capture of Bouresches Squad of which he was a member, did some valuable work in this attack, and the survivors were personally thanked by the Commanding General.

Private Cox was killed by an enemy machine gun bullet after Bouresches was taken and while lines were being consolidated. He was a brave and capable soldier and a credit to the 2nd Division."

Eustace P. Stuart, 1st Lt., 5th Machine Gun Battalion

Edgar William Tatman, 1st Lt., Shelbyville, Shelby County, Indiana

“Enlisted May 11, 1917. Entered Officers Training Camp at Fort Benjamin Harrison . May 15, 1917. Commissioned 1st Lt. of Ordnance, United States National Army - August 22, 1917. Study the manufacturing and operations of machine guns at the government arsenal school in Washington DC and Utica , New York. Studied and tailored this work in Springfield, Massachusetts. The charge of troops at Camps Cox and Jackson.

In France:

Studied and taught the synchronization of machine guns and bombing and methods of dropping bombs from airplanes at Ordnance Armament School near Juan de Mont., about 50 miles from Nantes. Had charge of the salvage of small arms at Mehun e Yeine.

Is the author of a book on aerial bombing. Was to leave November 11, 1917 for the front to engage in the work of dropping bombs from airplanes. Discharged August 22, 1919."

Charles William Whitehead, Sergeant, Infantry, Tippecanoe County, Indiana

Entered service June 26, 1916, stationed at Indianapolis, Ind., in Co. C, 2 nd Indiana Inf. Sent to Rio Grande, Tex., and transferred to 2nd Indiana Machine Gun Corps. Sent to Ft. Harrison, Ind., where he was mustered out of service Feb. 28, 1917. Reentered the service again in the late war in March, 1917. Stationed at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., for Government Depot Work. Was transferred to Indianapolis, Ind., to instruct training corps men in the use of Louis Machine Gun. Received his promotion of sergeant and sent to Camp Shelby, Miss., where he acted as supply sergeant,152nd Inf., until October, 1918. Saw service overseas and was at the front when the armistice was signed. Born at Wea Plains, Ind., Sept. 30, 1898, son of Charles F. Whitehead. Home is West Point, Ind.