Tag Archives: Western Front Association

La Vie en France #29: What Does not Work in France

February 27, 2018 by Randy
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    In 2017 the Webmaster had a tremendous experience:  He spent six months living in France and working as a freelance battlefield tour guide.  Travel abroad can produce both positive and negative experiences.  In spite of an overall wonderful experience there are cultural differences that drove him crazy from time to time.  In this “La Vie en France” he highlights some of the more negative memories of that six month period.  They are in no particular order.   12h00 – 14h00–Almost Everything Closes Just Continue reading →

Then and Now: Grandpre and Vicinity (77th and 78th Divisions, AEF), Part 2

November 2, 2017 by Randy
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The tour of the Grandpré battlefield continues…     Caption:  Military Cemetery near Grandpré.  Griffin Group Photo AM372.  Taken 17 January, 1919. Note:  The “now” photo includes a much larger piece of today’s road than seen in the “then” photo. Location:  Along the D946 east of Grandpré.  The road that follows the power lines north is the D6.     Caption:  The Griffin Group Photo is mislabeled.  This is Grèves Ferme, not Belle Joyeuse Ferme.  (Belle Joyeuse Ferme sits on a hilltop much closer to Continue reading →

News & Events–Over There: Two Competitions to Encourage Today’s Youth. Get Your Children and Grandchildren Involved!

August 1, 2017 by Randy
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Finding ways to engage today’s youth in the Great War has been a major topic of historical organizations such as The Western Front Association and The World War One Historical Association.  The two competitions outlined below might just be one way to inspire one’s children or grandchildren to show a bit more interest in the topic:   Competition #1:  Poetry and Art At the Centennial Commemoration of Third Ypres in Zonnebeke the Webmaster met Lady Lucy French, great granddaughter of Sir John French, who is Continue reading →

People of the Meuse-Argonne: Lillian Pfluke

July 15, 2017 by Randy
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Even today French locals, other Europeans and Americans find themselves drawn to the Meuse-Argonne region of France.  Once drawn there, many return time and again; often working on multi-year research or preservation projects.  In this irregular interview series, the webmaster hopes to introduce readers to some of these individuals and their labors of love.     1)  What are your name, nationality and occupation? Lillian Pfluke, US, Founder of American War Memorials Overseas.  Also adjunct math professor for the University of Maryland.   2)  Which Continue reading →

La Vie en France #12: Through the Years, Im Laufe der Jahre, A traverse les annees

June 18, 2017 by Randy
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The Webmaster has met many new friends through his website and Facebook group over the last few years.  Yet many people do not know that he has been coming to the Meuse-Argonne regularly since 1994.  In fact, he held his 50th birthday party at the Hôtel du Commerce in Aubrèville in 2013, where he has been a regular guest since 1997.  Here is a partial selection of photographs from his June 2013 birthday slide show.   1994  Deutsches Erinnerungskommittee Argonnerwald–Irma Tunnel         Continue reading →

Research Tips: The Western Front Association, East Coast Branch and The Western Front Association

March 21, 2017 by Randy
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    As the Centennial commemoration of U.S. involvement in the war approaches, interest in the First World War is likely to increase.  However, without giving the newly interested some tangible steps to “feed” their hunger for knowledge and networking interest in the topic could quickly fade.  Luckily, there are organizations in the U.S. and world-wide that can help people learn more about the First World War.  The March 6 blog post focused on the World War One Historical Association.  This blog post will focus Continue reading →

Research Tips: The World War One Historical Association

March 6, 2017 by Randy
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  As the Centennial commemoration of U.S. involvement in the war approaches, interest in the First World War is likely to increase.  However, without giving the newly interested some tangible steps to “feed” their hunger for knowledge and networking, interest in the topic could quickly fade.  Luckily, there are organizations in the U.S. and world-wide that can help people learn more about the First World War.  This blogpost will focus on the World War One Historical Association.  (http://ww1ha.org/)  A (near) future blogpost will focus on the Western Front Continue reading →

Re-Post: New Feature Article–Photo Essay: Western Front Association–USA Branch 2007 Tour

July 30, 2016 by Randy
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  With the recent announcement of the World War One Historical Association’s June 2017 Pilgrimage of the American Battlefields, the webmaster thought it timely to show pictures from the Western Front Association–USA Branch’s 2007 tour.  (The WFA–USA Branch was one of two entities that merged to form the WW1HA.)   The link below will take readers to a webpage that includes a collection of twenty photographs taken by tour participant Kevin Drake.  Readers who travel to France regularly know that the country is both a place Continue reading →

News & Events–Over There: Join the World War One Historical Association on its 2017 Pilgrimage to the American Battlefields of WW1, 3-11 June, 2017. Reserve Your Spot Today!

July 23, 2016 by Randy
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  Walking the battlefields of World War 1 brings history to life in a way that you can’t get from reading books, watching movies, or using modern technology such as Google Earth.  To follow in the footsteps of the American troops who went to war in 1917-18 is an unforgettable experience.  Whether you are retracing the steps of a relative or are just a student of military history, join the World War One Historical Association on its 2017 Pilgrimage to the American Battlefields of WW1. Continue reading →

We Forget Today: A Daughter’s Love for her Father, Jean Barnes-Butts and Russell Kingsley Barnes

May 21, 2016 by Randy
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  We forget today just what an impact World War I had on the lives of its participants and their families.   1917-18 and Post-War On August 1, 1917 Russell K. Barnes became a PFC in the 101st Field Artillery Regt., 26th Division, AEF.  On March 4, 1918 he was promoted to Corporal and on May 18, 2018 he became the Regimental Sgt. Major.  On Sept. 8, 1918 he was commissioned a Lt. and was re-assigned to the 1st Division, AEF.  Lt. Barnes would survive Continue reading →