A quiet day. All getting ready for the front. All waiting. It was very cold and raining. Went for a walk and played football with some children. It was fun. Came home and sang to some old people and they sure enjoyed it. Had a pleasant time and then retired. I thought much of the boys who were tramping on their long hike to the front.
More Information
The following section provides historical context and is not part of the original diary entry.
Likely location: Lorraine sector, France
📍 View this location on Google Maps
April 1918 saw continued German offensives and growing American involvement in combat. Margaret was in the Lorraine sector, moving frequently as the military situation shifted. American units were being deployed to active combat sectors for the first time.
Research Links for Further Study
- Watson, A. (2016). German spring offensives 1918. In 1914-1918-Online: International Encyclopedia of the First World War. Freie Universität Berlin.
- 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.
Diary of a World War I Donut Girl 