Bucknellians in WWI

Julia Carita and I recently had the opportunity to reunite in London for a dinner meeting with Christine Hallett, a professor of nursing history and a published author. Interestingly enough, Professor Hallett has previously been to Lewisburg and even to Bucknell’s campus while collecting information on Helen Fairchild, a World War I nurse from Milton, but our paths never crossed until now. The meeting proved to be a great chance for Julia and I to have some of our lingering questions answered. Professor Hallett helped us to better understand the complex structure – or lack thereof – of health services […]

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The final stop on this trip was the archives at the Château de Vincennes, an old fort which houses the Service Historique de la Défense. I was very confident I would find what I was looking for here – I had reserved the relevant documents related to the 137th regiment ahead of time and being directed here by the officer in Fontenay-le-Comte confirmed (in my mind) that this would be a successful mission. Well, long story short, it was and it wasn’t. After arriving at the reading room, grabbing my reserved documents and setting up my station, I delved into […]

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As every historian knows, unfortunately not every lead turns up positive results. Such was the case with my visit to the Centre Militaire de Formation Professionnelle in Fontenay-le-Comte. I was set to visit the CMFP because it is listed as the “keeper of the regimental flag and traditions” of the 137th infantry regiment, with which Katharine served. I wrote a letter asking whether or not they had anything that would be of use to me, but having received no answer, I decided to go ask in person. After being turned away at the gate, I spent some time exploring the […]

Continue reading No Luck in Fontenay-le-Comte »

The next stop on the path in Katharine’s footsteps was the Porte Rouge farm. Just behind this farm, which still exists today, was the base of “Auto-chir” 7 (“ambulance chirurgicale automobile” or mobile surgical ambulance) in which Katharine was involved from roughly August through November 1917. These auto-chirs were a sort of midway point between the front lines and the distant convalescence hospitals. Wounded men who could afford to wait long enough to be taken to safety but could not necessarily wait long enough for a true evacuation were brought here. Despite the deceivingly implied mobility, these hospitals were quite […]

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Joined by my knowledgable guide Madame Teyssier and chauffeured by her husband Louis, I spent the morning driving along the Chemin des Dames battlefield. Here, the 137th regiment of the French infantry, as well as many others, served. Katharine Baker was a corporal in this regiment so seeing this site was crucial to understanding her war experience. The battles along the Chemin des Dames were notoriously difficult and deadly because of the spot’s geographic features. The Chemin des Dames itself runs across the top of a hill. Anyone at the top of this point had an uninterrupted view of the […]

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Over the next week and a half or so, thanks to the  Leanne Freas Trout Travel Exploration Grant, generously provided by the French department, I will be visiting sites related to my quest to re-discover the story of Katharine Baker, class of 1892’s service as a nurse. The first stop on the trip is Toulon, a rather large port city in the south of France. Here, Frances Baker cared for her sister when she fell ill. In winter of 1918, Katharine Baker contracted pneumonia and chose to continue working rather than rest and heal. As a result, she became seriously […]

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On May 30th, our group took a drive into the Belgian city of Ypres where we visited the museum that now inhabits the reconstructed Cloth Hall. Personally, I had mixed feelings about the museum and its presentation of the conflict. The museum is made very dark due to subtle shades that cover the building’s windows. As you walk through the exhibits, solemn, dramatic music plays through speakers overhead.  Each display features haunting descriptions of the many recovered artifacts and their uses, stressing the deadliness of each item. The central piece, to me at least, is the film which shows actors […]

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Today, in scorching heat, our team hiked approximately two miles to St. Hubert’s Pavilion in the Argonne Forest. This forest was the site of a major offensive for the American forces and one of Bucknell’s own, Dwite Schaffner, received the Medal of Honor there. The forest is still too dangerous to enter unless you stick to the designated paths because of the many grenades and artillery shells that remain in the ground nearly one hundred years later. Because of this, the forest is largely untouched and unused, giving it a uniquely tranquil quality. It is hard to imagine a large-scale […]

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We will be wrapping up our time here in Paris tomorrow morning and I felt it was a good time to reflect on what we have done and seen here. For me, the most touching experience was our visit to the Katherine Baker memorial at the Henri Rollet Association. I was personally responsible for researching Ms. Baker and have become quite attached to her and her story. I feel like I have gotten to know her somewhat through the many letters, newspaper articles, and even mentions in books that I have read. Her friends and family clearly thought highly of […]

Continue reading Reflections On Our Time in Paris »