Page:History of the Sixth Regiment, United States Marines.djvu/12

Rh until January 6, 1918, when the 74th, 75th and 76th Companies entrained at San Nazaire for Damblain, Vosges, which was in the area designated for the training of the Marine Brigade. The 95th Company joined the battalion in this training area on January 28th, 1918.

When the Regiment Headquarters, Headquarters, Supply and 73rd Machine Gun Companies arrived at San Nazaire on November 1st, 1917, they found the 1st Battalion rounding out its first month in France and busily engaged in routine and somewhat arduous labor. Those Headquarters units remained at San Nazaire less than two weeks, November 14th finding them established at Bordeaux, six days ahead of the 3rd Battalion. Here, after the arrival of the 3rd Battalion, began a routine of labor and guard duty. The labor was performed in conjunction with the 18th Engineers and consisted mainly of constructing docks at Bassena. The following detachment and officers were detailed for provost and engineer duty in the neighboring camps and towns: The 1st platoon of the 97th Company, provost duty, November 27th to January 21st, at Tours; Captain Robert W. Voeth, provost marshall, November 27th to January 21st, at Tours; the 84th Company and one platoon of Headquarters Company, provost and fatigue duty at La Courneau, the 84th Company, under command of Major H. G. Bartlett, from December 18th to January 5th, and the platoon of Headquarters Company, under command of William A. Eddy, 2nd Lieut., from November 20th to December 18th; Lieut. Marshall with twenty men from the 97th Company from December 8th to January 5th, fatigue and provost duty at La Courtine; Lieut. Timmerman and thirty men from the 83rd Company, December 6th to January 4th, fatigue duty at La Marcheprine; Lieut. Roberts and the 1st platoon of the 83rd Company to Conon for provost duty, December 27th to January 6th. The Headquarters units and the 3rd Battalion were relieved by the 162nd Regiment National Guard on January 8th, 1918, and entrained on January 9th, 1918, at Carbon Blanc for the training area. After a three-day trip in 3rd class and box cars the troops were detrained at Damblain, Vosges, on January 12th, 1918. Regimental Headquarters was established at Blevaincourt, Vosges.

The 2nd Battalion, which arrived at San Nazaire, France, February 5, 1918, remained aboard the transport Henderson until February 8th, on which date the troops disembarked. They immediately entrained for Dambalin, Vosges, and arrived there on February 10th.

Thus the units were again assembled and the Sixth Regiment was intact with the battalions stationed in the vicinity of Blevaincourt. In the meantime the Regiment had been assigned to the Fourth Brigade of the Second Division. The Division was commanded by Major General Bundy and the brigade by Brigadier General Doyen. Intensive training for trench warfare commenced at once. This training was very severe, due both to the strenuous schedule and the winter season which set in about this time. However, grilling as it seemed then, it so hardened