In Their Words

1st Lt. Daniel Joseph Birmingham (1)

“Am now assigned to Battalion Headquarters as Battalion Gas Officer. This appointment is only temporary while the regular gas officer is recovering from a sniff which he got in the last attack. It’s the business of the Gas Officer to see that all anti gas appliances[Gas Masks] are in proper working order. During attack to be ever present to see that all have been notified by sensors, especially those sleeping. Collection of shell fragments and during shelling to walk around as if nothing was on. It’s a life saving job.”

(Each company had its own gas officer whose task it was to sound alarms and ensure the readiness of his men.)

Letter of April 4th, 1918 from
1st Lt. Daniel Joseph Birmingham, 28th Inf., Co. M

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