Battery E in France

Nearly two hundred artillerymen form the focus of Frederic Richard Kilner's account of Battery E, part of the Rainbow Division in the First World War. Written for the battery's own members, it records the dates, places and incidents around which they could rebuild their memories of service. The opening follows the unit from its Illinois National Guard beginnings through training and preparations for France, down to packed bags, a quiet departure from camp and life preservers worn aboard the troopship.

Later scenes bring the practical demands of moving guns into view: exhausted horses on steep ground, changing orders and positions close to advancing infantry. Telephone men, mechanics and gun crews share the narrative with moments of improvised comfort and a hopeful attempt to acquire fresh beef. Readers interested in military life will find a unit history attentive to work, movement and the small events that soldiers remembered alongside major operations.