. Illinois in the World War; an illustrated record prepared with the coöperation and under the direction of the leaders in the state's military and civilian organizations. he 123rd Machine Gun Bat-talion took over the positions on August 11. Four days later the battalion was moved from the British sector toQuerrieu Wood, where the Australians were on the line. It was stationedin a valley near Vaux-sur-Somme to act as the machine gun reserve of theAustralian Liaison Force, serving in this capacity until August 20, when theliaison force was disbanded and the battalions service with the British c
. Illinois in the World War; an illustrated record prepared with the coöperation and under the direction of the leaders in the state's military and civilian organizations. he 123rd Machine Gun Bat-talion took over the positions on August 11. Four days later the battalion was moved from the British sector toQuerrieu Wood, where the Australians were on the line. It was stationedin a valley near Vaux-sur-Somme to act as the machine gun reserve of theAustralian Liaison Force, serving in this capacity until August 20, when theliaison force was disbanded and the battalions service with the British cameto an end. The training in the British line had been of great benefit to the Portal, commander of the Forty-seventh Battalion, had shown anadmirable spirit of helpfulness, and officers and men alike had given theAmericans the full benefit of their experiences in the trenches. The training period had not baen devoid of activity, either. While thefirst tours were in the nature of practice maneuvers, the later trips to theline came at the beginning of the last great Somme offensive, and the II-linoisans took part in attacks on the German TRENCHES IN THE BRITISH SECTORThe roll of the country in the British sector was dimly reminiscent of the prairies of Illinois. 38o ILLINOIS IN THE WORLD WAR Two men of the battalionwere killed and six were wound-ed during the service with theBritish. On August 20 the battalionwas transferred to Guerpont, inthe French area, for active serv-ice. The men were equippedagain with the American gunswhich they had exchanged forBritish pieces while on the Somme,and they engaged in intensivetraining until September 6. Then they were sent to theDead Mans Hill sub-sector nearVerdun. Company C, the Sprmg-field unit, occupied positions atRaffecourt, and Company D, theChicago unit, went into reserveon the slopes of Dead Mans other companies remained atLongbut farm, awaiting disposi-tion for the Franco-American of-fensive
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Keywords: ., boo, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, booksubjectworldwar19141918
