Reading this I was fascinated by her post-war review "The Big Show", (1926) which featured men of the 107th IR (New Yorks old 7th NG) My Grandfather was a member of that unit (Co. E 107th IR). I went to his notes (still fairly well preserved) plus a dairy of one of his buddies that talk about the visits of a NY stage personality called Miss Elsie. This would have been around Aug 1918. Co E, 107th IR, 27 Div, was part of the II Corps attached to the British 2nd Army. It famously served under British command on the Western Front, participating in the Ypres-Lys Offensive and notably cracking the Hindenburg Line during the Battle of the Somme Offensive in September 1918. The division sustained significant casualties, with 1,442 killed and 6,892 wounded, totaling 8,334. My grandfather "Scottie" was one of the few survivors of his platoon. From what little I can 'dig up' they remembered Miss Elsie well. I grew up with my grandfather and shared the reminiscences of those times. Most forget that these companies came from the same neighborhoods, towns and counties-these were my heroes growing up.
100 years later and she still charms the socks off the listener
ReplyDeleteSweetheart of the AEF
ReplyDeleteReading this I was fascinated by her post-war review "The Big Show", (1926) which featured men of the 107th IR (New Yorks old 7th NG) My Grandfather was a member of that unit (Co. E 107th IR). I went to his notes (still fairly well preserved) plus a dairy of one of his buddies that talk about the visits of a NY stage personality called Miss Elsie. This would have been around Aug 1918.
ReplyDeleteCo E, 107th IR, 27 Div, was part of the II Corps attached to the British 2nd Army.
It famously served under British command on the Western Front, participating in the Ypres-Lys Offensive and notably cracking the Hindenburg Line during the Battle of the Somme Offensive in September 1918. The division sustained significant casualties, with 1,442 killed and 6,892 wounded, totaling 8,334. My grandfather "Scottie" was one of the few survivors of his platoon.
From what little I can 'dig up' they remembered Miss Elsie well.
I grew up with my grandfather and shared the reminiscences of those times. Most forget that these companies came from the same neighborhoods, towns and counties-these were my heroes growing up.
Thanks so much for this piece.
dj