346th FA Yard Long

[12thengr]

All you 91st ID collectors must have been fast asleep . Just p/u this yard long off the bay, for $36 bucks. At 57" it's quite the ' Yard Long '. I'll show more when it shows up.

[CW4AFB]

this is a little confusing---I thought that the 346th FA (as part of the 91st Div) was still in Belgium in January 1919 awaiting orders to move to a transit camp in France to prepare for redeployment back to the States and demobilization. We'll have to look at some closeups--the troops are all wearing overseas hats --an indication of overseas service (although some stateside units were issuing puttees and O/S hats by Oct-Nov 1918...and a couple guys are wearing the really long model overcoat--usually a sign of stateside service as most guys trimmed off a foot or more of material from the bottom when they arrived in France---

 

To make it to the west coast to take this picture, they would have had to sail around 5 or 6 January 1919--that's possible but it would have made them among the earliest re-deployers from France

 

Like I said --a little confusing---so I'm looking forward to some close up shots

[atb]

According to the US Army's Center of Military History, WW1 Order of Battle, the 346th FA sailed from Brest on 02 Jan 1919 for the US.

[Marchville1918]

It is important to know that in WW1 the artillery almost never served with its original division. These units were separated for training when the division arrived in France and if they ever were together again it was only by chance. The 91st Division less artillery returned to the US in April 1919. While in combat the 91st Division was supported at various times by artillery from the 83rd Div , from the 33rd Div, from the 28th Div, and by various French artillery units. I think this may have been a result of the fact that it took longer to train artillery than it took to prepare the rest of the division and because in an attack they may have needed more artillery than what would normally be assigned to a division originally. If you look at the AEF Order of Battle vol 2 which deals with divisions you see that the division artillery is almost always detached and other unrelated artillery units are attached. All of which means that the yard long above makes perfect sense.

[12thengr]

Marchville '18 You are correct, this unit shipped to France but never entered combat. Just trained in various areas. Also I have found very little information about them, either in the states or

overseas. Col. Samuel Frankenberger was Exec. to another regiment in the training areas in France but ended up leading the 346th back home. It must have been frustrating for the gunners to train with the 91st and then ship overseas just to shoot at the French hillsides. At least until they read the lists of killed and wounded. I'll get some better close-ups of the command formation.

I'm still not sure which one is Frankenberger.

[12thengr]

Command Group, I'm guessing Col 'F' is the man on your right. Not too good of a shot. I'll try and get a better one later.

[12thengr]

Another Command Group. Probably Battalion. They did have their own band.