Wednesday, October 17, 1917

The Adj. Starberd and Col. and Capt. Renton are here on business. We had a fine time getting them some dinner. They brought my coat.

            Just been trying to sweep. Went to buy a broom but didn’t know what it is called in French. Went to one store and showed them the handle but they were out, went to a another and got one. A broom in French is a “baille.” Wanted to get some cabbage but couldn’t let them know what I wanted. Finely we went to a lady and she gave us two heads of lettuce and cabbage, some onions and carrots and told us to come any time. Then the whole family came to visit us at the tent. One woman has a little girl named Mary Louisa. Her father was killed at Bar-le-duc in a raid by the Germans. The village is about 31 miles from here.

One beautiful day. The sun was warm and a real bright day. As Ens. and I walked up the street we were led by some French ducks, five in number. They marched ahead like good French soldiers. Saw some bombs the Germans had dropped on a nearby village. They had raided it all day. We could see and hear the shooting quite plain.

            A French lady came to visit us and brought two apples. Some more French soldiers went by. The hut is going fine. This is the close of a pretty day.

More Information

The following section provides historical context and is not part of the original diary entry.

Likely location: Demange-aux-Eaux, Meuse, France

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In October 1917, the AEF was establishing its training camps in the Meuse department of Lorraine. Margaret and Helen Purviance set up one of the first Salvation Army huts near Demange-aux-Eaux, serving soldiers of the U.S. 1st Division. This was the beginning of the famous donut-making tradition.

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