teufelhund Posted February 24, 2008 Share #1 Posted February 24, 2008 Not only was the 26th Division the first National Guard division to go into the lines, but it was also the second American division to be sent to the front. In February 1918, the YD entered the Front at " Chemin des Dames, The regimental HQs were established in a series of caves at Mont des Tombes ( 104th). The men were billeted in large limestone caves or underground quarries.The french had lined the walls with crude bunks build of raw lumber and bottomed with chicked wire.The 26th stayed for about 2 months in this part of the french front, Recently, a french collector had the rare opportunity to to visit some of these caves, I have asked him to reproduce his pictures here and he nicelygive his approval. Here we are To be followed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teufelhund Posted February 24, 2008 Author Share #2 Posted February 24, 2008 To be followed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teufelhund Posted February 24, 2008 Author Share #3 Posted February 24, 2008 To be followed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teufelhund Posted February 24, 2008 Author Share #4 Posted February 24, 2008 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armistice111118 Posted February 24, 2008 Share #5 Posted February 24, 2008 These pictures are very interesting. Thanks very much for posting them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nguoi tien su Posted February 26, 2008 Share #6 Posted February 26, 2008 Thanks for posting ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgawne Posted February 26, 2008 Share #7 Posted February 26, 2008 I had seen some of the carvings before- but most of those are new to me. I live in the middle of YD territory (with the old 6th Mass armory not far away from my house). Kind of odd to see the name sof towns in the area. Really cool stuff. Was anything left in the caves besides the drawings? I had been in the Caverne du Dragonne a while ago and it was amazing how wood and lather had been preserved in there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teufelhund Posted February 26, 2008 Author Share #8 Posted February 26, 2008 I had seen some of the carvings before- but most of those are new to me. I live in the middle of YD territory (with the old 6th Mass armory not far away from my house). Kind of odd to see the name sof towns in the area. Really cool stuff. Was anything left in the caves besides the drawings? I had been in the Caverne du Dragonne a while ago and it was amazing how wood and lather had been preserved in there. This particular quarry ( they are some others around ) is on a private property, and are closed to the public ( with a 12 gauge shotgun) . The owner is reluctant to open it to the public, but I hope he will make an exception for me, with the help of the french collector. The " Caverne du Dragon" is not longer what it has been before, and is now only a tourist attraction with a visitor center, souvenir shop ( as are many place of the former french Battlefields, Normandy included) it looks like Disneyland now. T Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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