It blew and rained and was cold, but I went to see the cemetery. It is an interesting place. All the graves are decorated with flowers made of glass beads on wire frames and even graves of fifty years ago.
Then to the castle that is six hundred years old. There were three such but only one now and it’s used as a war prison. In olden times there was a trench around called a moat, and men fought with bows and arrows to protect the town. The walls are so covered with vines that you can’t see them.
Then to the school room. It’s an old picture with straight seats and blackboards. The boys as well as the girls wear aprons and you can’t tell one from the other till they turn around.
More Information
The following section provides historical context and is not part of the original diary entry.
Likely location: Bure / Meuse department, France
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December 1917 brought harsh winter conditions to northeastern France. Margaret celebrated Christmas at Bure in the Meuse department, providing holiday cheer to soldiers far from home during their first winter overseas.
Research Links for Further Study
- Library of Congress. (n.d.). The American Expeditionary Forces. Library of Congress Digital Collections.
- Boissoneault, L. (2017, April 12). The women who fried donuts and dodged bombs on the front lines of WWI. Smithsonian Magazine.
- Cantwell, C. (n.d.). Doughboys & doughnut girls: The Salvation Army and WWI. National WWI Museum and Memorial.
Diary of a World War I Donut Girl 