Letters From Verdun : Frontline Experiences of an American Volunteer in World War I France

In memory of Avery Royce Wolfe, 1898–1977, a patriot and soldier who left an enduring legacy of military service.Avery Royce Wolfe was born into a middle-class business family on April 30, 1888. He lived in Buffalo, New York, and after his sophomore year at Lafayette College in June 1917, he enlisted as a private in the American Auxiliary Field Service. In June 1917, 19-year-old Royce Wolfe set out on his “great adventure.” He sailed on the French liner Touraine from New York City to Bordeaux, and then traveled by train to Paris. He was assigned as an ambulance driver in the American Field Service. He served with the French and then the American Army until his discharge in May 1919. A beautifully written and fully illustrated experience of the Great War from a participant . . .Though the United States was late to enter the Great War, a number of idealistic young Americans wished to take part from the beginning. One of these was Avery Royce Wolf, a highly educated scion of a family in Americas burgeoning industrial heartland.Volunteering as an ambulance driver with the French Army in the Verdun sector, Royce sent back a constant stream of highly detailed letters describing the experience of frontline combat, not excluding comments on strategy, the country he encountered, and the Allies prospects for success. This treasure trove of brilliant letters, only recently discovered, is accompanied by several albums worth of rare, high-quality photos depicting aspects of the Great War in France never previously published. The book contains expert overviews to set the reader in Royces time and place; however, the narrative is most gripping with his own day-to-day perceptions, analytical and emotional in turn. The reader can sympathize with Royces dilemma when his original term of service expires and he wonders whether to return home. But then the American army begins to arrive and he decides to continue on. We hear firsthand how the U.S. troops are first kept out of battle, then take casualties no veteran unit would have sustained, because of their fresh-faced audacity. When the Ludendorff Offensive unfolds in spring 1918 there is nothing but disaster to report, as each day witnesses a new collapse before the seemingly unstoppable Germans. Royce believes that the entire Allied war effort is doomed. But then somehow the Allies hold on and the war is nearly at an end.Full of exciting experiences as well as interesting firsthand analyses such as comparing French and German trench works (the latter were far better), Letters from Verdun brings the reader amazingly close to the frontlines of the Great War, almost as if in person. [Elib] The dramatic experiences of an ambulance driver in the Great War, told through personal correspondence and photographs. Though the United States was late to enter the Great War, a number of idealistic young Americans wished to take part from the beginning. One of these was Avery Royce Wolf, a highly educated scion of a family in America’s burgeoning industrial heartland. Volunteering as an ambulance driver with the French Army in the Verdun sector, Royce sent back a constant stream of highly detailed letters describing the experience of frontline combat, as well as comments on strategy, the country he encountered, and the Allies’ prospects for success. This treasure trove of brilliant letters, only recently discovered, is accompanied by several albums worth of rare, high-quality photos depicting aspects of the Great War in France never previously published. Full of action, including the suspense and terror of the Ludendorff Offensive, and interesting firsthand analyses, such as comparing French and German trench works, Letters from Verdun brings the reader amazingly close to the frontlines of the Great War. The dramatic experiences of an ambulance driver in the Great War, told through personal correspondence and photographs. Though the United States was late to enter the Great War, a number of idealistic young Americans wished to take part from the beginning. One of these was Avery Royce Wolf, a highly educated scion of a family in America's burgeoning industrial heartland. Volunteering as an ambulance driver with the French Army in the Verdun sector, Royce sent back a constant stream of highly detailed letters describing the experience of frontline combat, as well as comments on strategy, the country he encountered, and the Allies' prospects for success. This treasure trove of brilliant letters, only recently discovered, is accompanied by several albums worth of rare, high-quality photos depicting aspects of the Great War in France never previously published. Full of action, including the suspense and terror of the Ludendorff Offensive, as well as interesting firsthand analyses such as comparing French and German trench works, Letters from Verdun brings the reader amazingly close to the frontlines of the Great War Summer of 1917 -- Autumn of 1917 -- Winter of 1917-1918 -- Spring of 1918 -- Late spring and summer of 1918: the Ludendorff Offensive -- Epilogue: Final letters -- Glossary of terms.;This volume details Avery Royce Wolf's stream of letters describing the experience of frontline combat. It includes comments on strategy and the countries he entered as well as the Allies' prospects for success all while he was a volunteer ambulance driver with the French Army within the Verdun sector. Wolf reports his day-to-day perceptions, analytical, and emotional in turn. * Personal letters detailing a soldier's analysis of the war and day-to-day life on the front line * Astonishing contemporary photographs bring the many colourful characters vividly to life Though the United States was late to enter the Great War, a number of idealistic young Americans wished to take part from the beginning. Full of exciting experiences as well as interesting firsthand analyses such as comparing French and German trench works (the latter were far better), Letters from Verdun brings the reader amazingly close to the frontlines of the Great War, almost as if in person. Bisac Code 1: HIS027100 Preface -- Part I: Summer Of 1917 -- Part Ii: Autumn Of 1917 -- Part Iii: Winter Of 1917-1918 -- Part Iv: Spring Of 1918 -- Part V: Late Spring And Summer Of 1918 - The Ludendorff Offense -- Epilogue: Final Letters -- Afterword. Avery Royce Wolfe. Includes Bibliography (p. 240).