Raynors HCA 2019-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/26/2019
Personal grouping of military papers belonging to soldier Evans Merchant, Quarter Masters Corp. Most important are typed SECRET Field Orders issued by the American Expeditionary Forces, France, October 23rd, 1917. In small part, “In conformance with Field Orders No. 1, these Headquarters, the 2nd Battalion of each Infantry Regiment with special troops and material here-to-fore attached to it, and the Battalions of the Artillery Brigades now at Valdahon will proceed to the front as indicated in Tables 1, 2, 3, here to attached, and relieve the corresponding units now serving there.” those attachments are present, a total of six pages. ..., plus, Also included i a one page typed document “Report on what has occurred from noon October 22 to noon October 23” provided nine key occurances. ... plus, Another typed report, “Attack on the Messines Wytschate Ridge” with details of the attack segmented in 7 operations. All of these fit the envelope addressed “First Written Orders Sending The American Troops Into Trenches- By Private Evans Merchant, Q.M.C.Detchment Chaumont, France.” ...plus, (2) passes for Evans Merchant , his individual pay record book, 3 booklets. remarkable collection. One of U.S. General John J. Pershing’s first duties as commander of the American Expeditionary Force was to set up training camps in France and establish communication and supply networks. Four months later, on October 21, the first Americans entered combat when units from the U.S. Army’s First Division were assigned to Allied trenches in the Luneville sector near Nancy, France. Each American unit was attached to a corresponding French unit. Two days later, Corporal Robert Bralet of the Sixth Artillery became the first U.S. soldier to fire a shot in the war when he discharged a French 75mm gun into a German trench a half mile away. On November 2, Corporal James Gresham and privates Thomas Enright and Merle Hay of the 16th Infantry became the first American soldiers to die when Germans raided their trenches near Bathelemont, France.
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