Delaware in The Great War

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]

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This page is part of The Great War 1914-1918 Project.

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Delaware in The Great War

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Delaware National Guard in World War I, The 59th Pioneer Infantry Regiment

9191 Delaware men served in World War I and of those, about 2000 of them served in the 59th Pioneer Infantry Regiment.

On Jan. 7, 1918, U. S. Senator Willard Saulsbury announced that the men of the First Delaware were to be reassembled in their own unit called the Pioneer Infantry. By the middle of the month, it had arrived at Camp Dix, New Jersey to begin training.

On August 21, 1918 embarkation orders were received, and on the 23rd of August Governor John G. Townsend Jr, visited the boys at Camp Dix to pay an official farewell to the sons of Delaware.

Most of the 59th Regiment was sent towards the front from Foulain on or about September 27 during the Argonne offensive.

Troop Disposition of the 59th Pioneer Infantry Regiment in the Meuse-Argonne

Regimental Headquarters: Sorcy-sur-Meuse, Dept. Meuse

Headquarters Company: Sorcy-sur-Meuse, Dept. Meuse

Supply Company:Sorcy-sur-Meuse, Dept. Meuse

Medical Department:Sorcy-sur-Meuse, Dept. Meuse

First Battalion Headquarters:Sorcy-sur-Meuse, Dept. Meuse

Companies "C" and "D":Sorcy-sur-Meuse, Dept. Meuse

Second Battalion Headquarters: Sorcy-sur-Meuse, Dept. Meuse

Companies "E" "F" "G" and "H": Sorcy-sur-Meuse, Dept. Meuse

Company A: Belleville, Dept. Meurthe-et-Moselle

Company B: Liverdun, Dept. Meurthe-et-Moselle

Third Battalion Headquarters: Clement-en-Argonne, Dept. Meuse

Companies "K" and "L": Clement-en-Argonne, Dept. Meuse

Company "I": Les Islettes, Dept. Marne

Company "M": Dombasle, Dept. Meuse

Companies A and F were engaged in road building and maintenance; Company B operated a concrete block factory; Company E and H did general construction; Company G was a camouflage unit; Companies C, D, I, and M worked on water supply, building and operating reservoirs, treatment plants and pipelines; Companies K and L built railroads.

The Third Battalion, Companies I, K, L, and M, did its work in the Argonne Forest at the height of the battle, building their water and railway systems under almost continuous air raids and shell fire, including gas shells. This service is commemorated on the colors of the present day Delaware National Guard units descended from the 59th by the rainbow hued battle streamer for the Meuse Argonne.

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Resources

• Delaware Military Records
• Military Heritage.org - Delaware in World War I
• Archives.Delaware.gov - pdf A Guide to World War I Records at the Delaware Public Archives
• University of Delaware Library - World War I
• Family Search - Delaware Military Records
• dcnyhistory.org- Militia Enrollment List - World War I County of Delaware
• U2 boats