Diary, 1917 November 27 - 1918 July 14

Diary page 1: Handwritten title page:

Diary

Denton E. Brome, Jr.

U.S. Naval Base Hospital #1,

Brest, Finistere, France

28 - February - 18

Diary page 2: [Handwriten notes including list of groceries and their cost.]

Diary page 3: Entry for 28 February 1918

Having a bad bronchial cold I wake up coughing at 4 A.M. and dress to go down to mumps barracks for some treatment and relief. Dobell's Cough Mixt. #2, I & glycerin on throat - relief. Fixed base-ball catcher's glove. [M. ----] reads more French with me from 5 to 6. Usual ward routine till noon. Obtained special liberty pass and go out a little before 2 and eat at Y restaurant. Buy a [---] (Swiss watch) - guaranteed by jeweler. Hair-cut. Write to Estella at Y & drink chocolat [---] - meet Cook and later eat at Y restaurant with Montgomery, Kiles, Frien & Cook. Get laundry [---] & some testaments from a Y secy, (I do not know his name, but he took mine). Return in rain to barracks and later go to the social evening in nurses dining-hall-barracks for cards or dancing. During the day, talked to a French farmer and learn his prices for eggs & vegetables. Feb goes out with rain, snow, hail. au revoir.



Diary page 3: Entry for 1 March 1918

Cold, windy. Rainy, stormy, morning and rain (showers) all day. Details changed, but I still stay in mumps ward. Freda D. is with me and Allen. Usual ward routine in morning till noon. Clean peacoat with gasoline, shave and prepare to go out with Bert Smith to see a British Hosp. Train at the Brest station. We did not find the train, but we saw a troop-train. Snow [---] during entire afternoon. I attend Social Hour in the nurses dining-hall-barracks in evening. My cold still bad-coughing.



Diary page 3: Entry for 2 March 1918

Captain's inspection at 10, so it meant some bustling, Freda and Kinner are detailed today to help with me in barracks. We also have Wd. 12 where two nurses have the mumps. We scrub down and mop both wards before 10. In afternoon the liberty party is made into a working party which goes to the nursery nearby and to the frght. station to unload 3 flt-cars containing a portable barracks, given by Le Croix Rouge Americain for a recreation hall. It sounds tres bon. Party works from 2 till 6. Supper at Y with [Leddy]. Dance a little at the Social Hour, turn in at 9:30. Sleep soundly.

Diary page 4: Handwritten title page:

La Chapelle

Le Petit Lycee de Brest Rue d'Aguillon

Dormitory for corpsmen. Mumps ward. Convalescent ward.

Ticket stub pasted on [Bernheim. Contract June 21, 1917. Specification No. 1160. Philadelphia Depot....]

Diary page 5: Entry for 3 March 1918

Snow [squalls]. Normal ward routine till 10. Attend religious service at Y. Chicken dinner from Swift at hosp. Rainy, so no liberty till later. Restaurant Moderne with Skinner & Bert Smith. Return to hosp. and play a game of five-hundred at social hour. Turned in at 9:30. Slept soundly.

Diary page 5: Entry for 5 March 1918

Usual morning work. Gibbons detailed to ward; he is from the sick-bay-influenza. I go out on the White-ambulance to the Navy dock with Behman, then out to Pontanezen Barracks with 10 mumps patients - about 3 miles. Busy in aft. wrote to father, #62. A usual afternoon. Sexton, H. A. - 1, rather sick with mumps, 101.4, a bit weak. Gave him an effective enema in evening. He seems to be resting easily tonight. - About 14,000 troops came in on 3 transposrts, 120th, 121th & 125th Infantry, I saw go by. Receive 2 letters from mother, a post-card from father and a bundle of papers from father. Rainy all day.

Diary page 5: Entry for 7 March 1918

Usual morning work. In afternoon I go out to St. Pierre and return along the road on the edge of the harbor. Over 40 ships were in the harbor. A beautiful day for a walk. Diner [sic] at the YMCA restaurant. Tres fatigue, but I expect to attend the party given by Dr. Rushmore in the nurses' dining-hall ce soir. Bright clear day.

Diary page 5: Entry for 8 March 1918

Usual morning. Aft. the ward was moved to chapel. It meant a great deal of hard work and I am very tired tonight. 2 enemas today. 8:40, so this is all. Bright clear day.

Diary page 6: Pasted in:

Program for the Army and Navy Minstrel Show. In celebration of Washington's birthday, 22 Feb 1918. Base Section No. 5, Municipal Theatre.

Diary page 6-7: Tipped in:

4 paper cigar bands

Diary page 7: Entry for 9 March 1918

Usual morning. In aft. Bert Smith, Bob Skinner and I go to Plougastel via [K---] and Bac. 2:10 train from Brest station, walk to ferry. across to Bac, then over a hill to Plougastel. Beautiful scenery and a wonderful spring day. In Plongastel we stop for refreshment, war-bread and cheese. Visit the church, a beautiful baptismal fount [sic], a calvaire in the yard nearby. Returning we reach Brest at about 7:30, completely tired out and sleep soundly.

Diary page 7: Entry for 10 March 1918

Carry coal for stoves, hurry & clean up, attended religious service at Y. A beautiful spring day. At midnight the clock was set an hour ahead for daylight saving. Have Sir Walter Scott's Lady of the Lake, hope to have time to read it.

Diary page 7: Entry for 11-12 March 1918

Too busy - many new patients.

Diary page 7: Entry for 13 March 1918

Work all morning but rate a trip on an ambul[ance] to the [Nancy] P.O. - 3 sacks of mail - none for me. New patients about noon, pneumonia, rheumatisim - some very sick men - 2 passed out in the night of 13th-14th. I study the Handy book some for exam (?) 15th; I wonder what McCormack will ask, if he asks anything much.

Diary page 7: Entry for 15 March 1918

McCormack said Mr. Hinnant had made an error about the date of exam, that I could not be examined. It will probably come on the first of April. It is disappointing, but it will come in time. On liberty evening - eat a little and take la premiere [lecou' de Francais. MMe. [---] est la instructor. I have bought a violin.

Diary page 8: Pasted in:

Cartoon (exised from a printed source and attached to the page with small pieces of pink hospital dressing tape); caption reads, "Gee! I passed in French at College, too." Brome's handwritten note reads, "How often I felt the same!"

Diary page 8-9: Tipped in:

2 Tramways Electriques de Brest ticket stubs

Diary page 9: Entry for 16 March 1918

C. O.'s insepction - all OK - except stoves - either shut all drafts at top, open at bottom - or - open at top, close at bottom. Damn it - I had closed at bottom, one open at top. Miss Mustard returns to chapel mumps - tres bien - Ellis and 5 [apprentices] return from Camp [Coquidon]. He is to be with me in chapel. Cook - operated on yesterday, feeling rough this morning. Brady has diphtheria.

Diary page 9: Entry for 17 March 18

Work early A.M. Attend Y service - Dr. Freeman, Pasadena, Cal. Sermon on David & Goliath. Baseball game at Pontanezen Barracks at 2, team goes out in truck (white). Return, eat supper at hospital, un salad Russe & chocolat at Y restaurant, short walk - back to hospital at 7:15. Return to hear Dr. Freeman again. Bright sunshiny day. Dr. Freeman came & sat at the table where I was at Y rest. & I was talking with him. The Liberty Quartette sang at the service. Wrote to grandmother.

Diary page 9: Entry for 18 March 1918

Dr. Freeman - Sund. Eve - Music - The violin was like life. The G, heavy, low & deep, being work, the D, play, lying between G & A, love, from which the whole instrument was tuned & which when out of pitch, made the entire life out of harmony; the E was [---], so important in any real man's character.

Diary page 9: Entry for 19 March 18

U.S. Navy Base Hospital No. 1 A.P.O. 7116, A.E.F. From: Denton E. Brome, Jr., Hospital Apprentice 1st Cl., U.S.N.R.F. To: Commanding Officer Subject: Request for recommendation as candidate qualified for Ensign's School at Annapolis. Reference: Bureau of Navigation Circular Letter No. 26-18. 1. Believing that I am qualified for the course as outlined in the above reference, I respectfully request your recommendation for nomination for the Ensign's School at Annapolis.

Usual day. Y restaurant for a bite, 2nd French lesson yesterday. Bert is ill - seems like chills & fever, but not seriously so.

Diary page 10: Taped in:

Handwritten letter from Brome to Mlle Doyere, written on YMCA letterhead; 24 April 18. Attached to the page with a small piece of pink hospital dressing tape.

Diary page 11: Entry 20 March 1918

Usual work; 2 bed-patients. 3rd French lesson 6:30-7:30. Return to hospital before 8. Read R.L. Stevenson & John Galsworthy's Joy in afternoon & shave one patient. Bert Smith is much better. A bright clear day - I rate a fine, [shower] bath today - no mail.

Diary page 11: Entry 21 March 1918

Quite the usual morning. Bert better. Biggs feeling good. I rate some liberty at 1 & go out with Jack [Rubensohn] to le chateau de Mme De Rodelec. The estate was large. The Countess spoke english well & invited us in to see the grounds, we met her just outside. We accepted but soon left, by climbing over a high stone wall & down steps to the water-front & then going out in a small bateau around the break-water. Fine, sunny day. Some wharf-urchins in swimming, rather cool (H20). Returning, we drink lemonade & back to Mme Hemery's restaurant.

Mme Hemery's Restaurant. A narrow alley, a small low door, open and a window on either side meet the eye as one enters. The left window has shelves, the lower one filled with bottles of wines, the second holding a small yellow vase of yellow flowers. At the right of the door is the cook-stove and madame busying cooking. At her right are three shelves, containing butter & other ingredients (?) for delectable cookery; at her left a table upon which were plates, heaped high with pork-chops, small steaks, poultry & potatoes ready for frying. The end of this table, which stood against the wall next the stove was heaped high with large slices of brown war-bread. Above & to the left is a small bookcase. The seats are wooden benches & the tables are low & of wood, covered with oil-cloth. On one of the tables is a large bouquet of beautiful yellow flowers. Two long tables & a short tables are all the restnt. contains. A Chinaman, a sailor machinist's-mate, & 2 corpsmen (Jack & I) are the customers. Mlle. Jean waits on the diners; she speaks english with a decided French accent.

Diary page 12: Pasted in:

Carbon copy typed memorandum: "Candidates for examination for promotion to the grade of Pharmacist's Mate 3rd class, will be required to take examination in the following subjects: General education, anatomy and physiology, minor surgery and first aid (including surgical and operating room technique), nursing and material media and elementary hygiene and sanitation, - (General and field.)" Signed by the U.S. Navy pharmacist.

Diary page 13: Entry for 22 March 1918

Quite the usual day. HHC. Jackson has a mild attack of spinal-meningitis. Hight tempe., but the doctors consider it a light case & with the serum think it is under control. Duty till 5. Evening - 4th French lesson & return to dance in the nurses' mess-hall. Bert Smith much better & up in a day or so. I'm glad.

Diary page 13: Entry for 23 March 1918

10-9 Capt.'s inspection. O.K. He asked one of the patients why he was in bed not knowing, perhaps, it was a mumps-wrd.; his usual gruff manner. A bright, clear, "sunshiney" day. Ball-game - Panther vs. #1 - 10 - 9.

Diary page 13: Entry for 24 March 1918

Bright clear day. Attend religious service at Y. Rev. Dr. Moore of Paterson N.J. Palm Sunday. I am on duty till 5. Write & read in the afternoon.

Diary page 13: Entry for 25 March 1918

Bright, clear, day. Cool. Usual morning till 12. Clean up, wash socks, break out whites from sea-bag & practice a quartet arrangement of Blue-bird till 4. Meet Bert at & take a walk, later eating at Y rest. 5th French lesson in eve., another walk. Find [Cortina's] French method at Y & sign for it. Return for a few dances in nurses' mess-hall. Turn in.

Diary page 13: Entry for 26 March 1918

Usual A.M. Hear I am to be on night-duty next month. Send a photo to M.C.T. & the outlook is for a quiet aft. for reading & writing. Aft. passed quickly, as did the evening.

Diary page 13: Entry for 27 March 1918

Cool, clear, sunny. Usual A.M. 2 tranports are in, Aeolus & Henderson (4th 5th trip since Oct.) About 80 pneumonia patients for the hospital (10 A.M.) I am off at 12. Ride out to Pontanezen with O'Rourke in aft. Then on liberty. Eat dinner with A.D. Smith at Mme. Hemery's - tres bon. Come back & dance a bit.

Diary page 13: Entry for 28 March 1918

Rain all morning - usual work - on duty all day. Venereal infection. Basketball at Y gym with team from supply ship Prometheus; two teams play us each five minutes, [win] from both; I play only five minutes (5 min. halves). Back & to bed - tres fatique.

Diary page 13: Entry for 29 March 1918 Cool, cloudy

Usual morning. Off at 12. I took tea with a countess. She had invited me to visit her chateau - delightful. Small dining room, large dining-room, drawing room in Louis XIV style. Rooms of curios from French colonies.

Diary page 13: Entry for 30 March 1918

Worked from 7:15 - to 8:30. "Some" day.

Diary page 14: Pasted in:

Program for A.E.F. Vaudeville Night. Municipal Theatre, Base Section No. 5. The auspices of the Y.M.C.A. April 15, 1918, 7:30 P.M.

Brome's handwritten note reads: "Great Northern"

Diary page 14-15: Tipped in:

Cinema Gaumont ticket for the premiere of Les Elegants; press cutting "Militaires ne decouchez pas!"

Diary page 15: Entry for 31 March 1918 Easter

Mass at 10, St. Louis eglise - impressive. Wrote to Les & J.C.T. Movies, dinner at Y. Cool, stormy day. Return from liberty at eight. Early to bed.

Diary page 15: Entry for 1 April 1918

Usual morning - to convalescent [---] in chapel after noon. I know the old chapel from my mumps ward there. 7 P.M. Copying a quartet arrangement of "I hear you Calling Me". Write home.

Diary page 15: Entry for 2 April 1918 Stormy

Off at 12. Putter around quarters till 3:30 - hear part of musicale by French talent (piano, violin, cello, alto). The alto sang some American songs. Wrote to M.C.T. in F. First French lesson with new instructress. To bed.

Diary page 15: Entry for 3 April 1918 Stormy

Usual morning. Study Handy book, 10-11:30. Now 3 P.M. 6 patients come down from Wd. 22 (my old "mumpsers"), 3 go from chapel to Wd. 9.

Diary page 15: Entry for 4 April 1918

On duty day (till 12). Study handy book & take a nap in prepn. for exam. Exam at 6:30-9.

Diary page 15: Entry for 5 April 1918 Showers

Duty all day - usual day - exam continued 6:30-10. I think I passed a good exam.

Diary page 15: Entry for 6 April 1918 Cloudy, windy, rainy

Duty till 12. Aft. at Y for letters.

Diary page 15: Entry for 7 April 1918

Service at Y. Box from church at home. Von Stenken, Mt. Vernon are lying off the break-water. Just in 13th, N.Y.C. regiment landed from Olympic yesterday. 1:30 P.M.

Diary page 15: Entry for 8 April 1918

On ambulance to Pontanezan barracks - with O'Rourke P.M. out at 4. I am now Ph.M.3rd. 2nd French lesson in eve.

Diary page 15: Entry for 9 April 1918

Usual busy morning. Reardon Quartet give a good vaudeville concert in nurses' mess-hall at 2:30. Quite the usual evening.

Diary page 15: Entry for 14 April 1918

Geo. Washn. & Pres. Lincoln are in port. 8000 boys 2 trips to Pontanezen. Walk out thru Porte du Conquet & to the right along city wall, ferry across the Penfeld R. & return. Eve. write & putter around.

Diary page 15: Entry for 16 April 1918

Great Northern, Agamemnon, Pres. Lincoln in port. [Navy] all over town.

Diary page 16: Entry for 25-26 April 1918

A party of 4, Mlles. Mackenzie & Burgess, Simpson (Ph.M.3rd) & I leave Brest, a telegram having been received from Dr. B---, who is at Orleans. We take the 2:10, reaching Nantes at 10:56, having had an hour in Quimper for supper. A good meal & a heavy shower, but the restaurant was only across the way from the station. In Nantes, after trying 4 hotels, we secure 2 rooms, single beds, Hotel de Bretagne. Un [voiture] from the station. Retire at 12:30. I arose at 6 & saw the cathedral of St. Pierre, another large eglise; some statues, a chateau, & a fish-market where fish were being sold at auction. (2 large fish like shad for 1F. 50) I returned to hotel for eggs, bread & coffee at 8. We went to station to take 9:27, but we were advised by a provost-guard to wait for an express at 12:15, so we went sight-seeing. Our baggage was inadvertently locked up in a bicycle-shop opposite the station, so we had to stay over till 10:56 that night, making it a whole day in Nantes./ Simpson & I went by train to Chantonnay, a part of the city, or a suburb, & sat in a S/S landing, a kind of boat-dock during the afternoon, & then to the Red Cross Rest Station at the r.r.station. Supper at 7:30, at the Hotel, the nurses having taken a room for themselves during the day. In the evening - cinema - Palace - Pictures fair, music fine. We took the 23:06, Paris Xpress for Orleans.

Heavy shower during the afternoon - full moon tonight so it was possible to see many beautiful views as we rode along through the night. 1st class. I dozed some having rolled up in my blankets.

I met & chat with a Jew from Chicago. He came over as a 2nd Lieut. soon made a Capt., today a Major. He had just rented a big French factory, which we had seen across the river, for the U.S.A. as a bakery. Avant la guerre a factory for making biscuits.

Diary page 16: Entry for 27 April 1918

Party reaches Orleans at 7 A.M. Go to Hotel Moderne. Simpson & I had an omelette, bread & chocolate. Meet Dr. B. at 8, walk out to Hospital Comp., about 1 1/2 mi. Work about an hour, take a nap & later go out to see some of the city. Take train over Port George V. Return, help clean up dressing-room, & retire.

There are six Frenchmen in the small, cement-floored room. We sleep on a wooden-framed bunk about a foot from the floor, a mattress, 2 sheets & bolster. With my blankets & a small pillow it makes a comfortable bed.

Diary page 16-17: Tipped in:

1 Tramways Electriques de Brest ticket stub

Diary page 17: Entry for 18 April 1918 Cloudy, showery

At ten on an ambulance call we go down to dock under le grand Pont & take victims of marine explosion, [off] Belle Isle, Luckenback, 6 million cargo-munitions. Some 30 of crew of 81 rescued, 16 brought to Brest by a torpedo-destroyer, one of them a corpse; taken to Navy Base Hosp. #5. Afternoon - loaf around in quarters, write, read, etc. Liberty in evening.

Diary page 17: Entry for 20 April 1918

Liberty at 12. Bibliotheque [communale], write to Maire de Ville for permission to draw books. Supper at Mme's Hemery's Rest. & [---] & I play a bit for dancing in the eve.

Diary page 17: Entry for 21 April 1918 Showers

Service at Y. Write all P.M. Evening service at Y. Dr. Allison from Pittsburg (1st Presby spoke. good. [---] is just over.

Diary page 17: Entry for 22 April 1918

Usual day. Write - read in quarters - play with Bert S. Liberty, French lesson.

Diary page 17: Entry for 23 April 1918 Bright sunny

Ambulance - A.M. - Pier 1 - Pres. Grant & Covington are in - 10 pneumonia patients for us. O'Rourke & I take a "dip" from #1 to Pontanezen Barracks. We hear a band practicing on the way out. Returing we pass 8,000-9,000 (?) troops in column formation (40) - [---] step - from Camps. Taylor & Jackson (Southern) - white & colored. They looked fine.

Diary page 17: Entry for 24 April 1918 Bright sunny

Fries-Rubensohn - ordered to Orleans to join Dr. Bri---. French dressing hospital, evacuation hospital - 2-3 dys. after.

Diary page 17: Entry for 25 April 1918 Thursday

At 11 Simpson & I are ordered to get ready to go to Orleans. Nurses, Burgess & MacKenzie, reaching Nantes at 11. 4 Hotels, no accommodations - find 2 rooms at Hotel de Bretagne.

Diary page 18: Taped in:

Card taped to the page with small pieces of pink hospital dressing tape; handwritten note reads: "Brome, coporal. Corps du Sante Americain."

Mimeograph of a handwritten note in French (with additional text written in pencil), clipped and taped to the page with small pieces of pink hospital dressing tape; note reads: "La Sterilisation des instruments de Sirurgie est [transferee en face le bureau des entres].

Diary page 19: Entry for 27 April 1918 Saturday

Reach Orleans at 7 - to Hotel Moderne to meet Dr. Bri----. Go out to No. 49; work A.M. cleaning up dressing room on 1st floor; sleep a little in P.M. Go out sight-seeing, cathedral, Pont de Geo. V., statues.

Diary page 19: Entry for 28 April 1918 Sunday

Finish cleaning dressing room on 1st floor. Liberty eve. - vaudeville & movies at Alhambra. Up all night, watching an Englishman, delirious. He died later in the week.

Diary page 19: Entry for 29 April 1918 Monday

Sleep A.M. till 11:30. Work cleaning dressing room on 1st floor, all afternoon. Eve. the 3 of us walk over Pont George V. to bridge below (bridges over the Loire) back to city & back to hospital.

Diary page 19: Entry for 30 April 1918

All day in room on 1st floor. Finished. Evening trolley ride to [Oliet], south of city.

Diary page 19: Entry for 1 May 1918 Clear day

All day in dressing-room on 2nd floor. My first real experience helping dress wounds. Eve. visit Cathedral. Diner [sic] - [poteage, bifsteak, pommes sante, confiture, vin blanc, poir.] 2.75. Train to Bel Air, [barque, --- hevre sur la hoiret, Bon.]

Diary page 19: Entry for 2 May 1918 Clear day

Usual day in the dressing room. Evening after 6:30. Ride out on train toward west of city, St. Vincent, follow the Loire back to city, a fine boulevard follows the river to Pont George V & take the train back. I saw several fishermaen, one catching three fairly good fish, as I watched.

Diary page 19: Entry for 3 May 1918 Clear day

Rain heavy in early A.M. Usual day at dressings; we finished all but 10 in the A.M. (50 in all) At 5 I rode on the train (terminus) north of the city. Not so very interesting. Return & go on night duty, rating tomorrow afternoon off. It is easy at night; a Frenchman insists on doing all the work, giving Dakin [---], etc. I ought to get a few hours of sleep. Tres bien.

Diary page 19: Entry for 4 May 1918

Dressings - patients doing well. Dr. Bartley is in Paris. I am free at 11:30. Eat & turn in for a couple of hours sleep, then to city. Ride out on St. Loup train; not particularly interesting. Movies & vaudeville at Alhambra. Heavy thunder & lightning storms during evening, heavy rain till 12.

Diary page 19: Entry for 5 May 1918

Two new American patients come to us at 7 A.M. One leg gone below knee (14th Inf.); second, shell-wound on leg (front) between hip & knee & would on left wrist. This makes 3 U.S.ers The 1st one having a bullet wound through the nose. We finish work at 2:30; Mills & I go the city, mail some cards. Rains hard, so we come back. I go for a walk in the eve. More rain.

Diary page 20: Taped in:

"Famous French Towns. Par XV. Nantes, The old Harbour of France", a newspaper ariticle by H. Pearl Adam; clipped from "The Morning" (a weekly journal published by "Le Matin" for English-speaking people) and taped to page with small pieces of pink hospital dressing tape. Wednesday, 15 May 1918.

Diary page 21: Entry for 6 May 1918

Dressings. Finish at noon. Dr. Bartley says we are to be allowed $1.25 for subsistence, & we are to pay the French govt. about 2F. a day for our food. It sounds good. Clean up during aft. till 5; hve a foot-bath & wash some socks. Rainy after diner, so we loaf around in our room & smoke. 9 P.M.

Having an attack of diarrhea. I do not work & stay in quarters all day. After taking 2 [oz] of Caster oil. It made me feel even sicker. Cloudy threatening rain, all day but no rain. I write to father & RAS & read. Stevenson & Scribner's Xmas number . 5 P.M. - still feeling rough.

Diary page 21: Entry for 8 May 1918 Cloudy, rain in eve.

Diarrhea still by me, so I stay about quarters all day. Receive 11 letters. tout est tres bon.

Diary page 21: Entry for 9 May 1918 Cloudy, a little sun

Usual dressings in morning. Clean up by 4. Write to Estella in aft. Walk to city after diner [sic]. Quite the usual Orleans day for us.

Diary page 21: Entry for 10 May 1918 Cloudy - one short shower

Usual day. Finish at 4. Read & take a nap till 6. Simpson & I rate a nice big table after a bit of a walk & write letters all evening. I wrote mother's letter (Inaugurated by Stars & Stripes). An American comes to [Batiment] D from the Somme front - an Italian, 10 Engrs, from N.Y.C. Wounded in left writst, not a bad wound & slightly on the ankle.

Diary page 21: Entry for 11 May 1918 Cloudy, chilly, sun in P.M.

Usual day. Finish at 4. Read & take some MgSO4 to counteract the dose of Castor oil which is still bothering me from the 9th. It has the desired effect. Walked down-town with my 3 English friends in Batiment D, along the hoire under the lower bridge, but up into the city & back to Hospital Compe. #49. 9 P.M.

Diary page 21: Entry for 12 May 1918 Cloudy, chilly, all day

Usual day. Night duty, little doing. I do some washing, pajamas & handkerchiefs. Write a long letter to mother (Mother's Day). We start the fireplace going in our quarters. 10:10. All is well.

Diary page 21: Entry for 13 May 1918 Cloudy, rain in evening

Regular day. In evening I attend with M. Andas, my French corporal friend, a performance of L'Arlesienne, at the Alhambra. Long, but interesting performance; music especially good. 12:15, it is over. 1 A.M. to bed.

Diary page 21: Entry for 14 May 1918 Sunny but cloudy later in day

As usual. Walk to town in evening, back soon after nine. We have a wood fire in the room, very comfortable. C'est tout.

Diary page 22: Taped in:

"L. Orlisienne." Handwritten 2-page piece, written in French, taped to the page with small pieces of pink hospital dressing tape.

Diary page 23: Entry for 15 May 1918

Bright beautiful day - finish dressings by 11:30 & cleaning up by 2, so I go walking dowtown & to the river, riding back on train. 5 P.M. Rec'd letters from Dick Biggs yesterday & Mlle. Doyere today. 2 bundles of papers today.

Diary page 23: Entry for 16 May 1918

On the city side of the Port George V [Crue] du 2 juin 1856 7.20

" de [no date] 1866 7.

" du 20 octobre 1846 6.40

" " 8 au 9 dec 1825 6.

" " 23 octobre 1872 5.30

1835 5.

" " X bre 1872 3.4

" " 15 mai 1918 1.6

Diary page 23: Entry for 17 May 1918 Bright clear

I did not work in the 16th & up till 1:30 today. Cramps & indigestion. Clean up P.M. night duty. Write to Les, B. Wood, & A.D. Smith. With M. Andas [---], I visit le Bibliotheque Populaire, 25 Rue des Pensees. I drew 1st Vol. of Les Miserables which I want to read.

Diary page 23: Entry for 18 May 1918 Bright clear

Usual day. "Alerte" last night, - about 1/2 hour. Little to record.

Diary page 23: Entry for 19 May 1918 Bright clear

As usual. Finish by 2:30. Stay in, read, write. Evening - ride out toward Olivet - [--- R.] Return soon after nine. We take out window frame by my bed - plenty of air.

Diary page 23: Entry for 20 May 1918 Bright clear hot

Regular day. Break out whites in P.M. More comfortable. Simpson is feeling rough today. 5 P.M. C'est tout. Receive a letter from Les.

Diary page 23: Entry for 21 May 1918 Bright, clear, hot

As usual. Finish at 3. Go to city. 3 letters from Les, 2 from father, 2 cards from Stella; 3 bundles of papers, 1 bundle magazines. Write to mother. #105. 9:30 - hot, sticky.

Diary page 23: Entry for 22 May 1918 Clear hot

Little to record.

Diary page 23: Entry for 23 May 1918

Pay day for April. Some $46. We are being allowed $1.25 for subsistence & it costs me 1F. 90 cent. for our two meals with French.

Diary page 23: Entry for 24 May 1918 Cloudy cool

Usual day. 5 dressings to do in P.M. I mopped out the 6 wds on top-deck. Go to town after 4. Ride out to Olinet & later go to performance at Alhambra. Very good. To bed at midnight.

Diary page 24: No contents.

Diary page 25: Entry for 25 May 1918 Cloudy, cool

Regular day. To city in evening. Bought some jam & cakes, & sit on bank of Loire to eat them. Return soon after eight & turn in early.

Diary page 25: Entry for 26 May 1918 Clear, but not hot

Quite the usual Sunday. Finish the dressings before noon. On [guard] all Merry Men. 7 P.M. 1 am going to write to mother, A.D. Smith at Brest, Mlle. Doyere & Leslie.

Diary page 25: Entry for 27 May 1918 Clear, beautiful, hot

Work to 11:30, then to La Chapelle [(St. Meiesse)] down the Loire. Quite the usual quiet village. Return, ride out to Olivet, & walk down the Loire, & have a bottle of beer in an arbor, built up in a tree. Return & eat at a rest.t. off the Place du Martroi. Mills goes on a day's "permission" to R--- to visit a friend.

Diary page 25: Entry for 28 May 1918 Clear, breezy

Mills returns before dejeuner. A usual day. Many dressings as there is an evacuation this evening. This one goes, we hope; there have been so many expected. 6 P.M. After diner [sic], je vais alles eu ville pour un promenade.

Diary page 25: Entry for 29 May 1918

24 evacuated last eve. dressings finished A.M. Clean-up P.M. Go to city - trolley ride - home. Write to mother. Today letters from mother & Leslie.

Diary page 25: Entry for 30 May 1918 Memorial Day

Finish A.M. Dr. Dukeshire comes from Brest to relieve Dr. Barker who goes back tomorrow. Read P.M. Times & Stevenson's, Memories & Portraits. Write to father. Rec'd pkg. of papers yesterday & one to day.

Diary page 25: Entry for 31 May 1918

To bibliogheque populaire, back to #49 early, read, retire. At 2 A.M. I am ordered to call Dr. B--- at terminus Hotel. We get 95 new patients & put in "some" day. 11 P.M. & I am very tired & on night duty. Write to Les.

Diary page 25: Entry for 1 June 1918 Bright, clear

Busy with new patients. Aft. off. 1go down to the Loire & read & snooze on the bank. Also to Musee Jean d'Arc. Eat at little rest.t., down toward river from cathedral. To Alhambra - good show - in evening.

Diary page 25: Entry for 2 June 1918 Bright, clear

Busy day. To city in eve. with Simpson. Evacuation today - some 30 or 40 must have gone.

Diary page 26: No contents.

Diary page 27: Entry for 3 June 1918 Bright, clear

Usual day, rather easy, after evacuation.

Diary page 27: Entry for 4 June 1918 Clear

Another day as usual. Light.

Diary page 27: Entry for 5 June 1918 Clear

Regular day. Finish dressings by noon. Afternoon - prepare 2 hernias & a hemorrhoid for operations tomorrow. Eve. - walk downtown for something to eat; we had crushed beans, asparagus, bread & wine for supper.

Diary page 27: Entry for 6 June 1918 Clear

As usual. Nothing much to record. Our last patients were from Chateau - Theiry. 18 infirmers & 30 nurses came here from a hospital, which had to be abandoned near the front.

Diary page 27: Entry for 7 June 1918 Clear

Rather, easy, day. To city in eve. & to vaudeville at Alhambra. Very good show, which I enjoyed.

Diary page 27: Entry for 8 June 1918 Clear

Evacuation - few patients. 13 new cases come during the day. Not badly wounded. I am writing to mother tonight. The Pres. Lincoln which made frequent trips to Brest all last winter is reported sunk, on a return trip.

Diary page 27: Entry for 9 June 1918 Clear

Light duty. P.M. I went to a Swimming Meet in the Loire. Intersting. Return - read - to bed.

Diary page 27: Entry for 10 June 1918 Cloudy, showers

Easy day. Hemorrhage case on 1st floor - man later died on operating table. Cloudy, threatening rain, so I did not walk downtown as usual. Read - to bed. Chilly.

Diary page 27: Entry for 11 June 1918 Cloudy, but clear

Chilly A.M. Easy work, little to do. We have some oatmeal & tea after dejeuner, which was not very good. We get some 20 new patients in early eve. and work on dressings till midnights.

Diary page 27: Entry for 12 June 1918 Clear, warm

Finish dressings (wk-stairs by noon. Easy P.M. Eve. train to Olivet, omelette & potato salad, back to hospital. Write to M.C.T. & father. To-bed.

Diary page 27: Entry for 13 June 1918 Clear

Little to record. Usual day.

Diary page 28:

Brome's handwritten notes: "July 4 1918 American Park Music Hall Mills Simpson Brome"

Small paper liberty tag and miniature American flag taped to the page with small pieces of pink hospital dressing tape.

Diary page 29: Entry for 14 June 1918 Clear, warm

Regular day. Eve. ride to Olivet & to Alhambra, which was good.

Diary page 29: Entry for 15 June 1918 Showers, cloudy, cool

Finish by noon. Read Vicar of Wakefield in dressing-room till 5:30. Walk downtown eve. Bed at ten.

Diary page 29: Entry for 16 June 1918 Clear

Done dressings at noon. At 3 I walk out into country & see an aeroplane which had landed in a big field. Back to supper, night guard. Write to Estella & A.D. Smity at Brest.

Diary page 29: Entry for 17 June 1918 Clear

Finish at noon. Afternoon off after night-guard - Sleep, walk downtown after dinner, return - to bed.

Diary page 29: Entry for 18 June 1918 Clear, cool, windy

Finish at 4:30. Nothing out of ordinary to record.

Diary page 29: Entry for 19 June 1918 Cloudy, showers

As usual. Showers, so no walk in eve. Early to bed. No mail.

Diary page 29: Entry for 20 June 1918 Cloudy, cool

Finish by 5. Walk out in eve. Write home. No mail.

Diary page 29: Entry for 21 June 1918

Mail, 3 letters, card, 2 bundles of papers. $7.50 M.O. from "dad".

Diary page 29: Entry for 22 June 1918 Clear

Finish at 3. Go down for bath. Return soon after 8. Read, to bed.

Diary page 29: Entry for 23 June 1918 Clear, cool

Finish at 3. Usual day. Write 3 letters in afternoon. To town in eve.

Diary page 29: Entry for 24 June 1918 Cloudy

Usual day. Little to record. Town in eve. Go to hospital the other U.S.ers are taking over. Canteen not open. Mills makes tea during eve. Thanks to Red & milk [in] tea.

Diary page 29: Entry for 25 June 1918 Clear, hot

Rate P.M. off. Walk to K---ert, Le Braye, back to Orleans. Hot. Night, duty, quiet - write home.

Diary page 29: Entry for 26 June 1918 Clear, warm

Off at 11:30, sleep some, write, read, P.M. Walk out into Aydes section in eve. To bed at 9 P.M.

Diary page 29: Entry for 27 June 1918 Clear, warm

Finish dressings by 11:30. Easy P.M., screens in operating - room. Write to Estella; letter comes from mother. Walk out in evening. On my return, S--- & Hank had gone to see what the smoke was, some 4 km., away. A chemical plant on fire, numerous explosions, badly damaged. Vaterland arrives at French port, 12,000 on board. The ex Czar, Nich. II of Russia is reported assassinated. I write to Estrella.

Diary page 30:

Brome's handwritten notes:

"July 4 1918 Hospital Compie #49 Orleans Pavilion D."

Miniature French flag taped to the page with small pieces of pink hospital dressing tape.

Diary page 31: Entry for 28 June 1918 Clear warm

Finish dressing by 11:30, cleaning up by 3. Write to mother, M. Doyere and Billy T---hill. Read till supper.

Diary page 31: Entry for 29 June 1918 Clear hot

Usual day. Dr. Brins--- is in Paris. Air-raids, we hope he is not injured. One American died - 5 A.M. Left leg amputated, below knee, left shoulder fractured, bad wound on right leg, after 2nd opern. he seemd to rally, then sank. Regular - 19 yrs - said he had been up to Sqt. 4 times and been "busted" each time. Dr. Bartley real "cut up" over his passing out; he expected him to live.

Diary page 31: Entry for 30 June 1918 Clear hot

Finish A.M. Walk to Loire P.M. Sit on bench on boulevard. Meet an old gentleman who had been in States for 15 yrs; he helped design the French buildings at the Chicago World's Fair 1893. Alhambra eve. Good show.

Diary page 31: Entry for 1 July 1918 Clear hot

We have been invited to eat dejeuner and diner [sic] with the French non-coms on July 4th; we feel quite elated. Usual day. 8 new blessees, 31 coming to the hospital from Comiegne. Only one badly wounded, most of them are ambulatory cases. I walk to town in eve. Return by 8. Letter to father and Mr. Wood.

Diary page 31: Entry for 2 July 1918 Clear hot

Letters from mother & Father of June 12th. Funeral of McGraw, 1st Americn soldier to die in a hospital at Orleans. With men from unit establishing a U.S. Hosp. here in the city, I marched with the body to the cathedral of St. Paterne and on to cemetery, 3 mi. in all. Usual day, finish dressings by 11:30.

Diary page 31: Entry for 3 July 1918 Clear hot

As ususal. I visit Coporal Andas at Hospital #10, fever 12 days., better now. He is goin on 3 wks. convalescent leave to Chantenay on the 11th.

Diary page 31: Entry for 4 July 1918 Cloudy clearing hot

Up soon after 6. 7:30 leave for R.R. station. Form in parade behind corpmen from Base Hosp. A. (Orleans). Parade to St. Paterne, Place du Martroi, Cathedral, City Hall and back to station about 2 miles, back to hospital. I try to find Dr. B--- at Hosp. A & his room on Rue Boeuf St. Paterne, (on wheel) and back to Hosp. to dujeuner with non-coms. Some appetite.

Diary page 32: No contents.

Diary page 33:

Entry cont'd from 4 July 1918

Menu

Salmon (dressing)

Cold ham

Roast beef

Potatoes (French fried)

Salad (Swiss Chard)

Cheese

Cakes (petit luerre)

Comfiture (pommes de terre)

Madeira et cognac

In the afternnon to American Park, Music Hall, entirely French talent, then to band-stand on the boulevard; American Band from Blois, French and American music. A full day.

Diary page 33: Entry for 5 July 1918 Clear warm

No news as to our return to Brest or to our removal to another hospital. I do know we are to be moved.

Diary page 33: Entry for 6 July 1918 Clear warm

I am laid up with diarrhea & take oil paregonic, Bismuth nitrate & sodium bicarboneate. Feel much better tonight. Nothing further as to our return to Brest.

Diary page 33: Entry for 7 July 1918

Warm day. Finish early. M. Audas is up to #49 at dejeunner, for a few minutes. Wants me to meet him "Grand Cafe." I do and walk out to #10 with him, then back to Pont Geo. V. Ride to Olivet and back to Place du Martroi; to hospital, read & to bed.

Diary page 33: Entry 8 July 1918 Clear - hot

Finish by noon, clean up & scrub up dressing room P.M. - 4 P.M. Take sponge bath & nap before supper. Night-watch - wash clothes - write long letter to father.

Diary page 33: Entry for 9 July 1918 Cloudy warm

Usual morning. Sleep aft. To see M. Andas at #10 eve. He goes on Friday for a convalescense at home, 2 weeks & he has asked me to visit him there.

Diary page 33: Entry for 10 July 1918 Wednesday Clear, cool

7 new blessees, 2 terribly wounded but seem recovering. Cool evening - we have a little fire in the fire-place, I went to Pavilion and made tea, & Mills gets some bread, jam & figs, so we have a real pleasant evening. To bed by ten.

Diary page 33: Entry for 11 July 1918 Thursday - Clear, cool, showers (sun)

As usual. Cleaned up by 4. Shave. 2 letters and card from home. Well there. Heavy [rain] shower at supper time. Prospects of a quiet evening. No news as to moving.

Diary page 33: Entry for 12 July 1918 Friday

28 New wounded in our building. More work for us.

Diary page 33: Entry for 13 July 1918 Sat

Nothing unusual.

Diary page 34: No contents.

Diary page 35: Entry for 14 July 1918 Sunday

The French 4th. I'm on night duty, so walk downtown in aft. Showery, so to Alhambra, good variety show. Back, busy all night.

Diary page 35: Entry for 15 July 1918 Monday

Busy till opern. Gas gangrene-leg patient died later. Finish at 7:30. 3 bundles of papers came today.

Diary page 35: Entry for 16 July 1918 Tues. Hot on Sundy night

[---] we heard the beginning (artillery) of the new offensive. Dull booming.

Diary page 35: Entry for 17 July 1918 Wed. Hot-showery

Walk downtown in evening.

Diary page 35: Entry for 18 July 1918 Thurs. Hot

38 new blesses in our building. We are busy.

Diary page 35: Entry for 19 July 1918 Fri

Busy. Mills sick with diarrhrea today; not feeling much better tonight. I helped in operating-room today in afternoon.

Diary page 35: Entry for 20 July 1918 Warm, breezy

Mills still ill, making me busy. As usual. Mail.

Diary page 35: Entry for 21 July 1918

Mills better, but not working yet. All quite as usual. Cool, clear. 2 letters.

Diary page 35: Entry for 22 July - Aug 2 1918

No entries. Little to record. I am on night-guard. Write to Les.

Diary page 35: Entry for 7 Aug 1918

We hear we may go back to B-- within a week.

Diary page 35: Entry for 14 Aug 1918

Move down to Base A.

Diary page 35: Entry for 17 Aug 1918

Arrive back in B. starting at 5 on the 16th, going by way of Chartes.

Diary page 36-37: No contents, although a few pages show acidic staining from items that had been tipped in at some point.

Diary page 38-39: Tipped in:

Y.M.C.A. Program for Christmas Week, France 1917

Diary page 40-41: Tipped in:

Typed and signed letter from Denten E. Brome, PhM-3, USNRF to Commanding Officer, Navy Base Hospital No. 1, requesting that he be allowed to wear 2 service chevrons and wound chevron.

Handwritten and signed letter (written on American Y.M.C.A. American Expeditionary Force letterhead) from Pvt. Ira N. Kinman (Co. A 5 Bn. 20 Engrs., A.E.F., France) to Mr. Brome, 16 April 1918; with postmarked and addressed envelope.

Diary page 42-43: Tipped in:

Press cutting "The Psychology of Colour, in its relation to health and disease".

Black/white snapshot of soldiers recreating inside an unidientified room.

Envelope postmarked from Finistere and addressed to Mr. Denton E. Brome, Jr., 156 Home Ave., Rutherford, NJ.

Souvenir postcards from Angers Hopital Complementaire de Montgazon (3 views); Angers Caserne de Mongazon; Orleans quartier Louis Ressat; Chapelle au Petit Lycee; Cour et Classes du Petit Lycee; cartoon entitled "Moucherons??"

Christmas postcard signed M.E.B.

Easter postcard with handwritten note, signed by R.E. Locke (friend and pastor).

Easter postcard with handwritten note, signed Leslie.

Brest - L'Arsenal - Le Fond postcard with handwritten note by Brome, "I have now reached this city and do not know were I shall go next. D" addressed to Brome's father.

Phramaceutical formula written in pencil.

Diary page 44-45: No contents, although a few pages show acidic staining from items that had been tipped in at some point.

Diary page 46-47: Tipped in:

Handwritten letter (on American Y.M.C.A. American Expeditionary Force letterhead) from Brome to his mother. 19 Nov 1917, with a portion excised; with postmarked and addressed envelope.

Des Armees de la Republique carte en Franchise, unused.

Telegraph receipt for a message sent to Orleans 1 July 1918.

Invitation to Le Dessert aux Blesses in Angers, 4 November 1917, to be held by the Right Reverend Bishop Rumeau at the Cathedral. Richard Keys Biggs to perform on the organ.

Diary page 48-51: No contents, although a few pages show acidic staining from items that had been tipped in at some point.

Diary page 52-53: Tipped in:

Fiche de Diagnostic Blesse Evacuable tag, with handwritten notes in French.

Press cutting "C'est la Guerre; Les Restrictions Alimentaires".

Franchise postale card, unused.

Handwritten and signed note (written on half sheet of graph paper) from Brome to "Ma tres chere mere"; in French. 22 Nov 1917.

Press cutting "Brooklyn Y.M.C.A. Boys in a Hospital Unit for France. Fifty of Them, Trained and Fit, Will Soon Be on Fighting Front" excised from "The Evening World", Wednesday 11 July 1917.

Diary page 54-55: Tipped in:

Tear sheet of "The New York Times Rotogravure Picture Section 6" featuring photo images of the stranded American transport Northern Pacific, soldiers being rescued, lifeboats, etc.; on verso, images of the 69th Regiment of New York City , parade and review, etc.

Press cutting "Home from Overseas" regarding the return home of Denton E. Brome, Jr. after serving 15 months in France...

Diary page 56-67: No contents, although a few pages show acidic staining from items that had been tipped in at some point.

Diary page 58-59: Tipped in:

Handwritten note in French, Orleans, June 1918.

Handwritten note in French on scrap of graph paper, Orleans Hopital Compre. #49, 2 July 1918; bearing official stamp of Service de Radiologie.

Press cutting of a poem "Guys We All Loved".

Diary page 60-73: No contents, although a few pages show acidic staining from items that had been tipped in at some point.

Diary page 74-75: Tipped in:

Ticket Garde-Place...Place Louee jusqu'a Paris.

Tag stamped USS Agamemnon, Webbey Raymond H. Sgt. Co. B - 1st Prov. Ret. [Otitis media acute].

Medical tag for a soldier to be treated for mumps.

Baggage tags for Nantes and Orleans.

Press clipping of a review of the performance of Miss Cora North.

Press clipping "U.S. Troops in Action. General Pershing's Visit to Front-Line Trenches."

Press clipping "Old College Graduates" regarding the Alumni Register of Hamilton College for 1917.

Theatre Municipal ticket for American Y.M.C.A. movies.

Diary page 76-79: No contents, although a few pages show acidic staining from items that had been tipped in at some point.

Diary page 80-81: Tipped in:

2 Croix Rouge Americaine Service de Secours aux Hopitaux tags, each marked for the destination of Brest Base Hospital

Diary page 82-91: No contents, although a few pages show acidic staining from items that had been tipped in at some point.

Diary page 92-93: Tipped in:

Hamilton College commencement program 12-16 June 1919.

Image of Christine Norman in "Forever After", clipped from a printed source.

Diary page 94-99: No contents, although a few pages show acidic staining from items that had been tipped in at some point.

Diary page 100-101: Tipped in:

Service de Sante, Hopital Militarie D, Bon d'Aliments ou de Medicaments. Blank form.

Diary page 102-113: No contents, although a few pages show acidic staining from items that had been tipped in at some point.

Diary page 114-115: Tipped in:

Y.M.C.A. applique.

National War Work Council of the Young Men's Christina Associations of the United States certificate for Denton G. Brome, Rutherford, NJ. 1 Nov 1919.

Diary page 116-125: No contents, although a few pages show acidic staining from items that had been tipped in at some point.

Diary page 126: Tipped in:

Handwritten list of clothing items returned by Brome, USNB Hosp.1 on 11/27.

Diary page 127: Pasted in:

U.S. Marines Bulldog label adhered to the page with another label (Devil Dog U.S. Marine)pasted over and obscruing the former metioned label's bottom half.

Diary page 128-147: No contents, although a few pages show acidic staining from items that had been tipped in at some point.

Diary page 148-149: Tipped in:

9 Juin 1918, a 2 heures sur la Loire, bassin du Nouveau-Pont Grande Manifestation Sportive Nautique.... Ticket stub; on verso, Faites vos Achats aux Galeries Orleanaises pres les Halles.

Red, white and blue striped ribbon square, 5.9 x 4.4 cm.

2 tramway ticket stubs to Orleans; 1 tramway ticket stub to Nantes.

Diary page 150-153: No contents, although a few pages show acidic staining from items that had been tipped in at some point.

Diary page 154-155: Tipped in:

Illustrations (excised from a printed source) of "The Convoy" by Fred Hoertz, and "A Direct Hit" by J.O. [Todahl].

Diary page 156-159: No contents, although a few pages show acidic staining from items that had been tipped in at some point.

Diary page 160-161: Tipped in:

Telegraph receipt, 24 May 1918.

Cinema - Palace, Nantes ticket stub.

Clothing ticket, shirt size 4, olive drab flannel, neck 17; Jefferson Depot.

Diary page 162-171: No contents, although a few pages show acidic staining from items that had been tipped in at some point.

Diary page 172-173: Tipped in:

Handwritten and signed postcard from Pt. Chas W. North, Jr., O.A.S., France, to Brome, 3 July 1918. One third of the content has been redacted.

Clipping featuring an image of navy men training on board a vessel; caption reads "The first naval hospital unit formed of Brooklyn Central's members"; on verso, an image of an Army - Navy YMCA vehicle parked behind a pitched tent with 4 uniformed men standing by.

Partial clothing tag, guaranteeing the recipient that the legging was made of United States Army Standard Duck (Dreadnought Lacing Studs used. Rosenwasser Bros., Makers).

Handwritten list (possibly related to Brome's musical instument practice) in French, dated 12 Oct 1917 (handwriting does not appear to be Brome's).

Diary page 174-191: No contents, although a few pages show acidic staining from items that had been tipped in at some point.

Diary page 192: Entry for Dec. 25 [1917]

On medical ward 7:30-12:00 - Dinner - turkey, etc. Refectoire trimmed with holly & mistletoe.

Diary page 192: Entry for 10 Jan 1918

Detailed to S.O.Q. Tend fires.

Diary page 192: Entry for 12 Jan 1918

To a T.B. tent. Two negroes.

Diary page 192: Entry for 18 Jan 1918

Mumps barracks. In [constant] rear. 50 patients. Cont'd at front of book.

Diary page 193: No contents.

Diary page 194: Entry for 10 December 1917

Gen.l work & cleaning all day. Stormy, [rain] all P.M. Letter #6. 3rd para-typhoid innoculation.

Diary page 194: Entry for 11 December 1917

Gen.l work & cleaning up court-yard. Rather cold in A.M. & evening. Letter #7.

Diary page 194: Entry for 12 December 1917

Gen.l work all day. Movies in eve. Buy a shaving mirror & pr. of woolen socks.

Diary page 194: Entry for 13 December 1917

Clean up & move lumber piles morning. Whitewashed & moved cobble-stones in aft. Clear all day.

Diary page 194: Entry for 14 December 1917

Painted. Attended movies eve. Clear.

Diary page 194: Entry for 15 December 1917

Painted in A.M. Paid 80F. at 2 P.M. Gen. liberty.

Diary page 194: Entry for 16 December 1917

Wrote A.M. Storm (rain) all day. Aft. to movies. Supper at 4. Letter to H. Cobley in eve.

Diary page 194: Entry for 17 December 1917

Heavy rain & wind all night. A little snow just after 7.

Diary page 194: Entry for 18 December 1917

Rather cold. Store-room A.M. Liberty - Nancy canteen in aft., supper at & rest.t.

Diary page 194: Entry for 19 December 1917

Mattresses, blankets & linen to ward on 4th floor A.M. Store-room P.M. Wrote, read in eve.

Diary page 194: Entry for 20 December 1917

Gen.l work. To Navy yard aft. for paint & shellac. White truck - two trips. 30 apprentices go to Rennes (Camp Coecquedon (?))

Diary page 194: Entry for 21 December 1917

Patients arrived. Work 8 A.M. - 9 P.M.

Diary page 194: Entry for 22 December 1917

More patients. 8 A.M. - 5 P.M. Liberty Y.

Diary page 194: Entry for 23 December 1917

2:30 - 1, 4:30 - 9:00. Col. Winters, head of all U.S. hospitals in France inspected hosp. [Overheard] by Cooke "The enlisted personnel of this Unit is probably the most comfortably housed of any Unit in France & Brest is probably its permanent location

Detailed to Med. Ward - 40 patients - pneumonia mostly.

Diary page 194: Entry for 24 December 1917

2 men died - negroes - pneumonia - Ford & Steele - helped carry bodies to morgue. party in eve. Tree trimmed. Ice cream sandwiches, nuts, cake. Cooke Kiles Skinner Shaw A.D. Smith Montgomery Fries [Holthan] [Wamke] Brome. 10.

Diary page 195: Pasted in:

Press clipping of a concert announcement pasted onto the page:

Paris - Artiste. Revue paraissant le 1er de chaque mois 15 Rue Rochechouart, 15 - 9c

Organe Officiel

de la Societe cooperative des Compositerus de Musique....

Directeur: Paul Paillotte

[Image of M. Richard Keys Biggs]

Organiste de Saint-Luc de New Yorek....

Continues on verso.

Diary page 196: Entry for 27 November 1917

1st innoculation (Nov. 26) - anti-paratyphoid serum. Are sore headache, generally "rough". Tried to lie down in "dorm" but "Nick" routed me out & ordered me to the sick-bay - I did not go, but dragged around all day, dizzy. All supplies of Unit #1 are here & unloaded from St. Nazaire. Menu - Dejeuner - Corn meal, bacon, syrup, bread & coffee. Diner [sic]. Boiled beef, potatoes, oleo, bread & coffee. Souper - Corned beef, tomatoes, bread, cake & chocolate. Cloudy, showery. Not cold, but we have a warm fire on 3rd floor, annex, Wd. 23. 6:15 P.M.

Diary page 196: Entry for 28 November 1917

In Brest one week today. Worked in store-room. "Patty's Gang" as Nick calls us. Blankets to lingerie [---], mattresses to 3rd & 4th floors & beds. Aft. checked boxes of drugs & linen. Attended entertainment at Municipal - French, English & American talent. #4 to Estella. 10 P.M.

Diary page 196: Entry for 29 November 1917

Thanks. Day. In store-room & as orderly in office. Gn. liberty after 1 P.M. Visited water-front & had supper at Y rest. in eve. Football - Sultana vs. Amphrodite, 13-7.

Diary page 196: Entry for 30 November 1917

Store-room all day. Liberty in eve. - Amern.[American] movie.

Diary page 196: Entry for 1 December 1917

Sat. Store-room in A.M. Liberty, P.M.

Diary page 196: Entry for 2 December 1917

No work all day. Read nearly all day. Liberty & something to eat at Y rest.

Diary page 196: Entry for 3 December 1917

Storeroom all day. Not busy. 2nd paratyphoid inoc.n.

Diary page 196: Entry for 4 December 1917

Rather cold - helped to remove rubbish pile in court-yard & to unload some freight arriving at store-room # Receive 4 letters & 2 cards today.

Diary page 196: Entry for 5 December 1917

Store-room. Little to record.

Diary page 196: Entry for 6 December 1917

Worked around yard, store-room. Liby. at eight. # Receive 2 letters & a card.

Diary page 196: Entry for 7-8 December 1917

Worked in yard, breaking up crates and piling the pieces in storeroom.

Diary page 196: Entry for 9 December 1917

Orderly - 7-2. Liby. in aft. Chocolate at Y. Stormy all day.

Diary page 197: Pasted in:

Handwritten and signed letter from Allen to Dentie pasted onto the page. Cursive and subject matter lead one to believe the letter was written by a yound child.

Black/white snapshot of a young boy seated with Santa Claus in a reindeer-drawn sleigh, pasted onto the page.

2 Tramways Electriques de Brest ticket stubs pasted onto the page.

Diary page 198:

Dates. From Bensonhurst to Europe - Fall of 1917. Bensonhurst to Phila - Sept 14. Phila. to N.Y.C. Harbor Sept 17, arriving A.M. Sept 18. Sailed night of Sept 22nd, returning A.M., 23rd finally sailing Sept 23rd about 11 P.M. 12 days on the [briney], 1st 2 days rough.

St. Nazaire P.M. of Oct 5th left USS Henderson on Sunday Oct. 7th, P.M., reaching Angers (150-175 mi) about 1 A.M., 3rd class coach.

L'Hopital en N--- (3 km from station) Oct 9-16. Night-watch, 10-6. Hard, no sleep, noisy. Oct. 19. Pittsburg Unit, Army Base Hosp. #27, came to Mon---. Oct. 21. Service - Eglise Ref--- & part of Mass at Cathedral. Oct. 24. First mail U.S.A. Letters - mother & a card from Les. Oct. 25. First pay-day in France. Oct. 31. Second mail. Nov. 12. High Mass - Cathedral - Bishop of District. Nov. 20. To Brest.

1:14 from Angers station, reaching Brest at 11:30 A.M. about 250 mi. (?)

Diary page 200: No contents, although something had been pasted at the bottom of the page; only a small strip of which remains.