3d DIVISION (RA)
RECORD OF EVENTS

 

ORGANIZATION AND TRAINING IN THE UNITED STATES, NOV 12, 1917-MAR 6, 1918

Nov 12, the War Department directs the organization of the 3d Div, Regular Army, at Camp Greene. Nov 21, the organization begins in accordance with the Tables of Organization of Aug 8, 1917, and includes Regular Army troops stationed at Camps Greene, Forrest, Shelby, Stanley, Stuart, and Travis, and Fts Bliss, Clark, Douglas, Leavenworth, and Washington Barracks. The infantry brigades and the 7th MG Bn are formed at Camp Greene; the 5th Inf Brig includes the 4th Inf, 7th Inf, and 8th MG Bn; the 6th Inf Brig includes the 30th Inf, 38th Inf (formed from personnel of the 30th Inf in 1917) and 9th MG Bn. Nov 26, organization of Hq 3d FA Brig is begun at Camp Stanley; the brigade includes the 10th FA at Ft Douglas (formed from personnel of the 6th FA in 1917), the 18th FA at Ft Bliss (formed from personnel of the 5th FA in 1917), and the 76th FA at Camp Shelby (formerly the 18th Cav). Nov 28, Maj Gen Joseph T. Dickman assumes command; systematic training begins. During Dec and Jan drafts, largely from Camps Devens, Dix, Lee, Meade, and Upton, totaling 10,000, complete the Div. Dec 4-5, 6th Engrs and Tn sail from Hoboken, and land, Dec 21-22, at Brest and St-Nazaire. Dec 28, Hq 3d FA Brig moves from Camp Stanley to Camp Travis. Feb 27, Adv Det and 5th F Sig Bn sail from Hoboken, and arrive, Mar 11, at Brest.

MOVEMENT OVERSEAS, MAR 7-MAY 13, 1918

Mar 7, units move from their respective stations to the ports of embarkation (Halifax, Hoboken, Newport News, and New York) via Camps Merritt and Stuart. Mar 14-Apr 19, Div (less Arty and Engrs) sails, and debarks: at St-Nazaire, Mar 27, F Hosp 5, Apr 29, 1st Bn 4th Inf; at Liverpool, Mar 29, 3d Am Tn, and 3d Tn Hq & MP, April 12, Hq 6th Inf Brig, 30th Inf, 7th, 8th, and 9th MG Bns; at Bordeaux, Mar 30-Apr 6, DHQ, Amb Cos 7 and 27, and F Hosp 27; at Glasgow, Apr 4, part of the 38th Inf; at Brest, the remainder, including, Apr 7, 38th Inf (less 1st and 3d Bns and MG Co), Apr 13, 3d Bn 38th Inf, Apr 15, Hq 5th Inf Brig, 7th Inf, 4th Inf (less 1st Bn), Apr 28, 3d Sup Tn, 3d Sn Tn. Mar 25, units of the 3d FA Brig move to Camp Merritt, where the brigade is concentrated for the first time. Apr 23 and 30, 3d FA Brig sails from Hoboken and debarks: at Brest, May 6, 76th FA (less 2d Bn); at Bordeaux, May 7, 10th FA and 3d Bn 18th FA; at St-Nazaire, May 12-13, the remainder of the artillery.

FINAL TRAINING AND OPERATIONS, MAR 16-NOV 11, 1918

Mar 16, Div (less Arty and Engrs) concentrates in the 9th (Châteauvillain) Training Area. [Mar 21-Apr 6, certain elements of the 6th Engrs, attached to the Br Fifth Army, participate as infantry in the Somme Defensive Operation when they occupy the front line from ½ km west of Warfusée-Abancourt to the Bois des Tailloux, incl.] [Apr 7,3d Am Tn, the leading element of the 3d FA Brig, moves from Le Havre to Camp Coëtquidan, where the concentration of the brigade is completed on May 27; training follows.] May 30, Div (less Arty and Engrs) moves to Château-Thierry and the vicinity.

May 31-June 5, Div (less Arty and Engrs) participates in the Aisne Operation. May 31, 7th MG Bn, attached to the Fr 10th Colonial Div, enters the line along the south bank of the Marne at Château-Thierry. June 1, the enemy occupies Château-Thierry and the north bank of the Marne. June 2, Div moves to the south bank; units of 5th Inf Brig, attached to the Fr 20th Div, occupy a position from 1 km southeast of Tréloup to Sauvigny; units of 6th Inf Brig attached to the Fr 10th Colonial Div, take position from 1¾ km west of Mézy to ¾ km west of Fossoy. June 3, 2d Bn 30th Inf, attached to the Fr 4th Cavalry Div, occupies a support position at Mont-de-Bonneil, west of Château-Thierry; units of 6th Inf Brig extend west, along the south bank of the Marne, to ¾ km southeast of Brasles. June 4, the Commanding General, 3d Div, now commands the Fr XXXVIII Corps Reserve consisting of French and 3d Div units. June 5, Co E 30th Inf relieves units of the Fr 10th Colonial Div and occupies part of the front north of Crogis.

June 6-July 14, Div occupies the Château-Thierry Sector (Champagne). June 6, Div assumes command of a sector along the south bank of the Marne from Mézy (incl) to Chierry (excl); elements of the Fr 33d Colonial Inf remain in line under the 3d Div. [June 6-7, 2d Bn 30th Inf, moving north from Mont-de-Bonneil attacks through Monneaux toward Hill 204, and reaches a line midway between Monneaux and Vaux; Fr 10th Colonial Div on right, 2d Div on left.] June 7-11, units of the 5th Inf Brig relieve elements of the Fr 20th Div and occupy the south bank of the Marne from Sauvigny to ¾ km north of Reuilly, east of 3d Div sector; units of 5th Inf Brig in line east of Sauvigny are relieved. June 11, 6th Engrs and Tn rejoin. June 14, two subsectors are organized and held by regiments, 30th Inf on the right, 38th on the left; Fr 20th Div on right, Fr 10th Div on left. [June 15, 7th Inf is detached, and operates, June 16-23, with the 2d Div in the Château-Thierry (Pas Fini) sector.] June 16, the sector is extended west as far as the eastern limits of Château-Thierry. June 16-17, the remaining French units are relieved and the sector is held with three regiments in line, 4th Inf on the left. [June 21-July 18, Div is under the administrative control of the I Corps.] June 25-28, three subsectors are created, Chierry, Gland, and Mont-St-Père; Fr 125th Div relieves the Fr 20th Div on the right; Fr 39th Div relieves the Fr 10th Colonial Div on the left. July 3, the sector is extended east to a point 1 km west of Varennes and four subsectors are created, Brasles, Gland, Mont-St-Père, and Chartèves, which are held with brigades abreast, four regiments in line. July 4-14, local actions occur. July 8, Fr 125th Div (Fr III Corps) is on the right. July 5-13, 3d FA Brig and 3d Am Tn join from Camp Coëtquidan. July 15, the Château-Thierry sector occupation merges into the Champagne-Marne Operation.

July 15-17, Div participates in the Champagne-Marne Operation. Div is in line along the south bank of the Marne from 1 km west of Varennes to Château-Thierry (excl); Fr 125th Div (Fr III Corps) on right, Fr 39th Div on left. Night July 14/15, the enemy launches an offensive, crosses the Marne near Mézy, penetrates into Surmelin Valley, and reaches the line les Etangs Fme, ½ km east of Launay, ½ km east of Moulins, Fossoy. July 16, the enemy advances his line to 1 km east of Launay, the northern outskirts of Connigis, le Chanet, Crézancy (excl); 3d Div with 111th Inf (28th Div) attached, advances to the line from 1 km north of Crézancy to ½ km north of Fossoy. July 17, Div retakes Mézy and reoccupies its position along the south bank of the Marne west of that village; Fr 73d Div on right, Fr 39th Div on left. The Champagne-Marne Operation merges into the Aisne-Marne Operation.

July 18-30, Div participates in the Aisne-Marne Operation. July 18, the counter-offensive of the Allies begins with a penetration of the west face of the Marne salient by the Fr Sixth and Fr Tenth Armies. Night July 19/20, the enemy retires to the north bank of the Marne; Div advances its right front to the line from Varennes to Mézy. July 21, Div pursues northeast; 5th Inf Brig crosses the Marne at Mézy, Fossoy, Chierry and Château-Thierry, and occupies Mont-St-Père; Fr 73d Div (Fr III Corps) on right, Fr 39th Div on left. July 22, 6th Inf Brig crosses the Marne at Mézy and captures Jaulgonne; 5th Inf Brig advances its left through the Bois du Chanois to la Théoderie; Div front extends from Jaulgonne to the northeast edge of the Bois du Chanois. July 23, Div advances its left to la Tieulerie Fme. July 24, Div pursues the retiring enemy to the line from Argentol, through the southern outskirts of Le Charmel, to the east edge of the Forêt de Fère; Fr 4th Div (Fr III Corps) on right. July 25, the pursuit continues; Le Charmel is captured and held. Night July 26/27, the enemy withdraws to the Ourcq River. July 27, Div advances the 5th Inf Brig to a north and south line from Villardelle Fme to Côte 190 (incl), and withdraws the 6th Inf Brig to the south bank of the Marne. July 28, the pursuit continues and Ronchères is captured; Fr 4th Div on right, 28th Div on left. July 29, 4th Inf (in conjunction with an attack of the 42d Div on the left) attacks the Bois des Grimpettes. July 30, 32d Div relieves the Div which moves south of the Marne to the vicinity of Château-Thierry; rehabilitation and training. [July 31-Aug 3, Div is under the administrative control of the III Corps. Aug 3-6, 6th Inf Brig participates in the Aisne-Marne Operation. Night Aug 2/3, 6th Inf Brig, detached, moves to join the Fr III Corps near St-Gilles. Night Aug 3/4, the leading elements arrive at Mont-sur-Courville. Aug 5, III Corps relieves the Fr III Corps; elements of the 6th Inf Brig relieve the Fr 18th Bn Chasseurs, in the support position 2 km southwest of St-Gilles. Aug 6, elements of the 6th Inf Brig relieve the Fr 147th Inf south of the Vesle River; Fr 4th Div on right, 32d Div on left. This operation merges into sector occupation. Aug 7-11, 6th Inf Brig occupies the Vesle Sector, holding the front from Villette to Fismes (excl). Aug 7, after an attempt to establish a bridgehead, the brigade holds the south bank of Vesle River until relieved on Aug 11 by the Fr 164th Div, when it rejoins the 3d Div.] Aug 14, Div moves from the vicinity of Château-Thierry to the 1st (Gondrecourt) Training Area. [Aug 18, Div is ordered to join the First Army.] Aug 19-Sept 4, rehabilitation and training. [Aug 27, Div is assigned to V Corps.] Night Sept 4/5, Div moves to the 5th (Vaucouleurs) Training Area. Sept 9, Div (less Arty and 7th MG Bn) moves to a position in readiness in the Forêt de la Reine, where, on Sept 11, it passes into corps reserve; 3d FA Brig and 3d Am Tn are detached to support the 1st and 42d Divs, and the 7th MG Bn is attached to the 1st Div.

Sept 12-15, Div participates in the St-Mihiel Operation. Sept 12, Div, in corps reserve, moves to Beaumont and the vicinity. Sept 13, elements of the Div occupy a position in readiness between Nonsard and Pannes. Sept 15, all detached units revert to the Div, which moves to the vicinity of Nixéville.

Sept 26-Oct 27, Div participates in the Meuse-Argonne Operation. Night Sept 25/26, Div moves to the Forêt de Hesse where it passes to corps reserve. Sept 30, Div relieves the 79th Div along the ridge 300 m northwest of Nantillois and along the north edge of the Bois de Beuge; 4th Div (III Corps) on right, 32d Div on left. Oct 1, 4th Div units in line within 3d Div sector are relieved. Oct 3, the sector is extended west to include Cierges by the relief of units of the 32d Div. Oct 4, Div attacks north-northwest and advances 1 km along the entire front; 80th Div on right, 32d Div on left. Oct 5, Div attacks, and gains a line from the north edge of Woods 250, 300 m south of Hill 253, to 1½ km east of Gesnes. Oct 9, the sector is reduced 1 km on the left (west) by relinquishing the line to the 32d Div. Oct 9, Div captures Hill 253, Bois de Cunel, and la Mamelle Trench (½ km south of the road from Cunel to Romagne-sous-Montfaucon), and establishes a front from the north edge of the Bois de Cunel to 1 km southeast of Romagne-sous-Montfaucon. Oct 11, Div advances its right to the ridge Hill 272 and Hill 255. Oct 12-13, the sector is extended northeast to a point on the south edge of the Bois de Forêt, 2¼ km west of Brieulles, by the relief of elements of the 5th and 4th Divs southeast of Cunel and in the Bois de Forêt. Oct 12, 5th Div is on the right. Oct 13, 4th Div is on the right. Oct 14-15, 5th Div passes through the 3d Div along la Mamelle Trench; 3d Div attacks across the Fond-Diné, reaches a line from the southwest edge of les Aiséments Bois to the Bois de la Pultière, and, later, makes a further advance and occupies the Bois de Peut-de-Faux; 5th Div on left. Oct 15-19, local actions occur. Night Oct 18/19, 6th Inf Brig relieves units of the 4th Div which are along the northeast edge of the Bois de Fays, north edge of the Bois de Brieulles and northwest edge of the Bois de la Côte Lémont to Fond de la Côte Laimont on the Meuse; 33d Div (Fr XVII Corps) on right. Oct 20-23, Div attacks northeast, occupies la Grêve, Clairs-Chênes woods, la Mi-Noël, the entire Bois de Forêt, and the small woods southwest of Cléry-le-Grand; 33d Div on right until relieved, Oct 21, by the Fr 15th Colonial Div. Oct 22, 90th Div is on the left. Oct 24, the gains are consolidated. Oct 27, 5th Div relieves the 3d Div (less Arty which remains in position and supports the 5th Div until Nov 11) and the latter moves to Montfaucon. Oct 30, Div (less Arty) moves to the vicinity of Tronville-en-Barrois and Tannois; rehabilitation and training.

POST-ARMISTICE ACTIVITIES, NOV 12, 1918-AUG 4, 1919

Nov 14, Div (less Arty) moves to the region south of Champlon; the artillery rejoins.

Nov 17-Dec 16, Advance into Germany. Nov 17, Div moves via Remich (Luxemburg), Saarburg (Germany), Morbach, Simmern, and Boppard, and arrives for station in the KREIS of Mayen on Dec 12.

Dec 18, 1918-Aug 4, 1919, Div forms part of the Army of Occupation in Germany. Training predominates. Mar 9, 3d TM Btry sails from St-Nazaire. June 19-27, Div (less elements forming part of the Reinforced Brigade, III Corps) concentrates along the Rhine, prepared for a further advance, pending the signature of the Treaty of Versailles. The Reinforced Brigade, III Corps, concentrates near Mayen. June 28, the troops return to billets.

RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES AND DEMOBILIZATION, AUG 5-31, 1919

Aug 5, Div moves to Brest. Aug 10, elements of the 38th Inf, 9th MG Bn, and 18th FA sail. Aug 14, DHQ sails, and arrives, Aug 23, at Camp Merritt, via Hoboken. Aug 28, the last elements arrive in the United States. During Aug the emergency personnel is demobilized, and the Div proceeds to Camp Pike for station.




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