During World War I, before the US was officially involved, Americans volunteered for duty with the French. The French acutally canvassed American cities and particularly colleges and universities for men to join in the fight, all with the blessing of the US government. One man who joined in early 1917 was a student at Lafayette College in Buffalo, NY. Avery Royce Wolf was a sophomore who joined the American Auxiliary Ambulance Service of the French Army as a driver for ambulances and in May of 1917 was sent to the Verdun sector to drive Ford ambulances in a dangerous and sometimes exiting job of brining wounded soldiers from the front-lines to hospitals a bit farther in the rear where it was hoped their lives could be saved.

Throughout his time in service, first with the French and later when his unit of American volunteers became part of the US Army, Royce Wolf wrote letters home to parents and friends. Decades after the war was over, his nephews found his diary, letters and several photo albums from his time in France and the results are this book.

I have to say that I found the letters to be particularly engrossing as here was an educated young man who was able to succinctly portray what it was like in the day to day existence of working in what was a very important part of the war effort. His tales of how he viewed events is, at times, contradictory to what is now considered to be the facts surrounding certain battles. What was especially eye-opening is that he pretty well worked continually from the time he arrived until the war was over and even later during the initial days of the occupation. We are led to believe that those in American military service were in combat for a short time then pulled back for some rest before being sent back in, yet Wolf was only allowed a few weeks of rest during his tenure in first the French and later American Army. He also clearly expresses his dislike for the way that the US Army was run after being under French command. Apparently the French had more consideration for the well-being of the individual than the Americans.

Not only are the letters a special insight into his life and conditions, but Royce was able to take a number of photographs. It is through these as well as his letters that we can get a feeling for the conditions and the friends that Royce made during this time. I found it particularly amazing that no matter where in France he was sent or travelled, he managed to run into people that he knew or were relatives of people he knew.

It is really one of those books that one is hesitant to put down once one starts reading. It is a volume that I found to be a fascinating read and I can easily recommend this one without hesitation. It is that good.

January 2010

Review book courtesy of  Casemate Publishing, where you can order your copy of this and many other superb books.

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