U.S. VETERINARY HOSPITAL NO. 12, COMMERCY, FRANCE WW1

Veterinary Hospital No 12 Brest France, June 1919. Dave Wigginton is posting the above picture of Veterinary Corps Hospital No 12 in Brest. Dave tells me that the picture of the 12th is the property of Keith Hansberger of Lexington whose father was in the12th. Charles Smith of Cedar Hill Texas, a professional architectural photographer, did the photography.

LEE S. GARDNER U.S. VETERINARY HOSPITAL NO. 12

This webpage on US Veterinary Hospital No 12 is dedicated to Lee S. Gardner and his grandson Daniel Gardner who is sharing the below diary of his grandfather with us.

The above picture: Handwritten on the reverse is: Feb 8 1919, Trier Treaves Germany. I am O.K. It is some cold here now. Lee G. Note from Daniel: Unfortunately, we have an (apparent) second copy of this same photo with the caption: Treves Germany 3-15-1919 Lee S. Gardner, Lincoln, Washington Co., AR

Veterinary Hospital No 12 was stationed at Commercy first until Veterinary Hospital No 13 took over on December 15 1919. VC Hosp No 12 then went to Treves Germany on Dec 24 1918 and became part of the Occupation of Germany force.

Note:In the photo of the two soldiers, you will recognize my great-grandfather, standing to the right. I do not have any information identifying the soldier seated on the left. I'm guessing there's a good chance that the unidentified soldiers is one of the men mentioned in the diary. (Some researcher, stumbling upon this, might be able to make the connection and be happily surprised.) You'll no doubt note the single chevron on Gardner's sleeve in this photo - absent from his solo pictures - perhaps suggesting that this picture was taken later, after a promotion. Perhaps he was photographed in early February, and then again in mid-March after a promotion, so the dates might be right but the (March date) writing made on the wrong picture.

WAR DIARY OF LEE S. GARDNER, VC HOSPITAL No 12

Dear Greg

Recently, I came into possession of my great-grandfather Lee S. Gardner’s WWI pocket diary. Apparently, he had served with the 12th Veterinary Hospital Unit.

I believe that many of the dates, places and activities in that diary may fill in some of the small, rare gaps in your information and might also be of interest to others who may be researching that unit.

I have transcribed all of the below information included in that small booklet and have attached the transcription hereto. He has referenced the names and addresses of many people, probably brothers-at-arms.

Best regards
Daniel

[Inside front cover]

Toul
Metz
Luxemburg
New Chatau
Sourcy
Vittsburg

------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Frontspiece]

Lee S. Gardner
Lincoln, AR

France, Dec 5, 1918
Commercy

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lee S. Gardner
12th Veterinary Hospital Unit
American E.F.
A.P.O. 747

W.C. Gardner
[street address redacted]
Los Angeles, Calif

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Left Newport News Monday 14th Oct. at noon Left Camp Lee Sat. night midnight walked to City Point 9 miles from there taken a boat to Newport News 80 miles ride or all day up the James River Came across on the Huron - Frederick De Gross Landed at Brest Oct 26 - from there went to Camp Rest. Stayed a week and was on Details in daytime and worked at night

------------------------------------------------------------------------

OP Harvey
Rushville, Mo.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

From Rest Camp Came in cars to C- Sunday Nov-10-1918 got a pass and went to C- Looked over the city

Sunday night Nov 10 Went to meeting heard a chaplain preach had good singing and heard a good talk

Nov 11 - Moveing again Nov 11 Monday Helping take care of patients day and night. after big drive Nov-11-1918

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday Nov-11-1918 at 11 oclock fireing stopped at the front. Flags waveing in Commercy - Celebration

11 Month 11 day 11 hr - 1918. Germany fell - Nov-14-1918 One month today we started from City Point on the Mob Jack to Newport News Left Camp Lee Nov-13- Nov-18. Eve. Went on Guard on till Nov-19-Eve Post 7

------------------------------------------------------------------------

1260
- 850
--------
$440

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Paid the 22 Nov- 63 Francs or $12.60

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nov-28-1918 Thanksgiving day

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nov-28-1918 Clipping Horses - Craven - Dagga - Darrow - myself

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ohm H. Vetter
Manitowac, Wisconsin
[street address redacted]

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Days Menu

Breakfast
Potatoes, Bacon, Bread

--------------

Dinner
Bacon, Potatoes

--------------

Supper
Bread, Potatoes, Bacon

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gustave Daege
Baraboo
Wis.
[street address redacted]

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanksgiving day
Big day in France papers full
Boneless turkey
Clipping Mangey Horses in France
Some Holiday

Nov-30-1918 clipping Horses - Amelang, Eker, Dybdall, Dahly, Myself

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday. Dec-1
Clipping Horses Never hear of Sunday in France
Dec-1-1918 - at night Sunday night and Monday on guard

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dec-3-1918 - In morning laying around after guard duty.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dec-6-1918
Room orderly good coffee
Gaffews Collins
Mason Amelang
Conway myself
Cruse

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dec-6-1918
At night Mess kits flying coal shoes and everything else. Turned stove over. Remember-6-1918

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dec 7-1918
Back to the clippers, Eker Ebgen, Deeker Ellerbrock, Craig Clark, Red Dahly, and myself

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday Dec-8-1918
Still Balling the Jack Clippers till yet.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dec 10-1918
Davis Cruse and myself on wagon hauling at night Doctoring for Mange or [Itete?] Some time

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dec-13-1918
on guard Cruse and Elder and myself went to town, Some time Go on guard at 7 oclock Post 5 in barn A Ward about 150 Horses Cruse on Post 8 - Ward D

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Roy Cameron
Wayland, Mo 117th Mobile

Note from Greg: I am guessing that the above person in from the 117th Mobile Veterinary Hospital

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday Dec-15-1918
Turned things over to the 13th unit - Jiggs up

Note from Greg: I believe the above entry refers to Veterinary Hospital No 13 taken over the Commercy hospital location

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dec 17 1918
Room orderly Raining and trying to snow

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dec 18-1918
Room orderly still raining

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dec-19-1918
In quarters all day

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dec 20-1918
Cruse and myself in quarters Cruse room orderly myself company

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dec 21-1918
Conway and my self in quarters Conway Room orderly

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dec 22-1918
Afternoon off. Wrote Home the 22

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dec 23-1918
Afternoon off - Just as well be off all the time. Mounted Pass

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dec -24 - 1918 Leaveing Commercy. Got up at 4 oclock and getting ready loading equipment Left at 10 oclock in Morning for Treves - arrived 5 miles of Treves at 8:30 at night stayed there till 10:30 Xmas morning. Cold as the mischief Xmas eve and Xmas spent in Box car Corned Willie and hard tack for Dinner. Got off the cars at Treaves Xmas evening late

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday Feb 2 1919
Still on Night Guard Slum Gullion for Breakfast Snow on ground and cold

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Feb-18-1919
still on Guard moved to Barn Evensen Ondrak and myself

------------------------------------------------------------------------

April-16-1919
Still on Guard sent 4 pictures Home

------------------------------------------------------------------------

May 6th on guard
Sat night Sgt. Me G Corporal Red white and Davis and myself. I play the I.P. and the joke is on a Dutch- man - later me G steals key - and I ditch it - Remember

------------------------------------------------------------------------

May 24-1919
Sat night May 24th last night guard Horses left Sunday Morning - 6 oclock

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wednesday May 28th 1919
Left Treves G- Decoration day Spent traveling aboard box cars arrived at Le Mans May 31st

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Leaving Le Mans June 17th 1919 8:30 at night

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Arrived at Brest June 18th 1919 at night

------------------------------------------------------------------------

George R. Deishler
Sands
Springs, Okla

Oddus Weiser

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mrs T.W. Fielder [street address redacted] Springfield Mo

------------------------------------------------------------------------

William Walanda Reedsville Wisconsin [street address redacted]

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lee S. Gardner Lincoln Ark.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reported to Local Board July-21-1918 at 3 oclock. Sworn in Left for Camp Pike the 22 July at 6:30 in morning. Arrived at camp at night about 9 oclock Left Camp Pike the 27 of July-1918 for Camp Lee, Va. Left Camp Lee Oct 19th for oversea arrived at Brest France Oct 26 Stayed a wk at Brest from there went to Commercy France Stayed there till Xmas and then to Treaves Germany

------------------------------------------------------------------------

W Davis
[street address redacted]
Ottumwa Ia

Roland M Kyle
[street address redacted]
Springfield, Ohio Bell Phone 3078

Otto F. Amelang Ottumwa [street address redacted]

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Richard H. Logan
Board of Trade
K.C. Mo.
c/o Logan Bros. Gr. Co. Bell Phone
Ambulance Driver

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Albert Carl Thigpen
Deluce, Ark

------------------------------------------------------------------------

David A. Foster
Rector, Ark

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Arthur D Foster
Knobel, Ark

------------------------------------------------------------------------

D.A. Scott
West Alexander, Pa

------------------------------------------------------------------------

W.E. Johnson
Jonesboro, Ark

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Loaded at 7:30 at night Brest June 27-1919 Left June 28 at 9 oclock Landed July 9th at 9:30 in morning at Hoboken New Jersey from there to Camp Mills New York Left Camp Mills for Pike Sunday eve late July 13th 1919

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Oliver Ryen
Manitowoc, Wis

Thomas J Hightower
Violet Hill, Ark
Foul Co.

Mauricio Erickson
Valders, Wis.

James F. Johnson
Piggott, Ark

Elwin G Good
Lemon Grove, Calif.

Alfred E Jacobsen
Salinas, Monterey Co, Calif

Louis A Dellvsso
San Jose, California

Matt Shimon
Maribel, Wis.

Elmer M Evenson
Valders, Wis.

Henry F Ondrak
Ravenna, Nebraska

Homer Bick
Forsyth, Montana
Horsetrader

Harry A Campbell
Crozet, Va

Wade H. Draggoo
Naches [stricken] Wash.,
(Yakima)

Jan-16 - at night in barn about 3 oclock

Yakima, Wash., Route 6

Arthur G. Falkenberg
Alma, Wisc.

Shellie O Cruse
Ft. Gibson, Okla

Hanken
Westville, Okla, Illinois

Met Hanken in Trea Germany

Mr. Wallace A Daly
[street address redacted]
Marion Ohio

Frank J. Eker
Hamilton, Mont.

James W. Craig
Coolidge, Texas
Lime stone co.

Fermand Howard
[street address redacted]
Little Rock, Ark

Pvt Harold Shearer
Hqs. Co, 3rd Army
Replacement Depot
Coblenz, Germany

17 F A Battery
A A.E.F
Germany

Valparaiso
Indiana

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nov-25
At night visit in Commercy started falling down a flight of steps at 7:30 in eve. lit in morning at 4:30 un injured - except a few bruises Signed, Roland M Kyle Lee S. Gardner - witnessed this day Ray L. Browning B.C. Clarke Both were MP's

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lee S. Gardner
12th Vet. Hospt
Am E. F.
A.P.O. 930 Germany

Treaves

West Trier

------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Endspiece]

Lee S. Gardner
Lincoln, Ark
12th Veterinary Hospital Unit
American E.F.
R.P.D. 747

------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Inside back cover]

Livery
Hawkins
Okla Celu

George Perris Sgt
18 Sqdn
Sulphur Okla.
Ramona Hotel, Ladd Bros.

END OF DIARY

Note: I would like to thank Daniel Gardner very much for sharing his grandfather, Lee S. Gardner's war diary of Veterinary Hospital No 12 with us. It is a wonderful Documentation of the hospital and it has let us to understand a little more of what went on at a US Veterinary Hospital in France during the war.

Thank you very much Daniel

Greg Krenzelok - Veterinary Corps Website

PVT. PEARL WIGGINTON U.S. VETERINARY HOSPITAL NO. 12

Click on the below link:

Private Pearl Wigginton Veterinary Corps Hospital No 12

Return to The Army Veterinary Service During the Great War, WW1 homepage:

THE ARMY VETERINARY SERVICE DURING THE GREAT WAR, WW1
Click on the below link:
The Army Veterinary Service During the Great War, WW1

Click on the below Homepage links:

SERGEANT LEONARD MURPHY VETERINARY HOSPITAL NO. 18, A.E.F., WW1
Click on the below link:
Sergeant Leonard Murphy Veterinary Hospital No. 18, A.E.F., WW1

POLK COUNTY WISCONSIN THOSE THAT SERVED IN WW1
Click on the below link:
Polk County Wisconsin in WW1

FORT ORD U.S. ARMY STATION VETERINARY HOSPITAL (HORSE) WW2
Click on the below link:
Fort Ord U.S. Army Station Veterinary Hospital (Horse) WW2

11TH CAVALRY PRESIDIO OF MONTEREY, 1919 TO 1940
Click on the below link:
11th Cavalry Presidio of Monterey, 1919 to 1940

76TH FIELD ARTILLERY REGIMENT PRESIDIO OF MONTEREY, 1922 TO 1940
Click on the below link:
76th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Battalion

U.S. ARMY VETERINARY CORPS HISTORICAL PRESERVATION GROUP

Motto: “Illic est Vires in Numerus” There is Strength in Numbers

“Working Hard to Preserve Our Country’s History wherever it is being lost”

U.S. Army Veterinary Corps Historical Preservation Group is a group of individuals that are concerned about the preservation of the History of the Veterinary Corps, Remount Service and Cavalry or wherever our country’s history is being lost in conjunction with our beloved “Horse and Mule”. There is no cost to join and membership is for life. We believe by uniting together in numbers we will be a more powerful force to be heard. Our membership list is private and only used to contact our members. Email us and become a member.

Greg Krenzelok
[email protected]

FACEBOOK: U.S. Army Veterinary Corps Historical Preservation Group

Click on the below link:

U.S. Army Veterinary Corps Historical Preservation Group