Slept out by a straw stack and had a fine night; no Boch. I got up at five and cleaned things to look like the sun, bright and happy. Many of the boys came in from the front. They were very tired and nervous and so pale, it makes your heart sad. But they are cheerful; our boys are the best soldiers yet. The staff came and we had a short meeting then went out in the field to sleep by the hay. It was so light at times that I could read.
More Information
The following section provides historical context and is not part of the original diary entry.
Likely location: Noyers-Saint-Martin, Oise, France
📍 View this location on Google Maps
June 1918 was a pivotal month. American forces fought at Belleau Wood and Château-Thierry, proving themselves in fierce combat. Margaret was stationed near Noyers-Saint-Martin in the Oise department before moving as the front shifted.
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 