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The Battle of Mons.
The Battle of Mons took place on 23 August 1914. It was fought between the British Expeditionary Force and the Imperial German Army. the British Army attempted to hold the line of the Mons Condé Canal against the advancing German 1st Army. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/all-notices/content/218 -
The Battle of Tannenberg.
The Battle of Tannenberg was a battle fought at Tannenberg, East Prussia which is now Stebark, Poland, that ended in a German victory over Russia. This took place from August 26th to 30th, 1914. This was over break the force of the Russian invasion, not to surround a Russian army. https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-Tannenberg-World-War-I-1914 -
The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
At around 11 a.m., 2 shots were fired at him. All of this took place on June 28 1914 in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina. They killed him because of his perceived threat to Serbian independence. https://online.norwich.edu/online/about/resource-library/6-important-battles-world-war-i -
The First Battle of Ypres.
The First Battle of Ypres was a World War I battle that took place from October 19 to November 22, 1914. The battle was fought in West Flanders, Belgium. The British Expeditionary Force, German, French, and Belgian armies fought in the battle. The battle was part of the Race to the Sea, a series of attempts by the German and Franco-British armies to outflank each other and capture French ports on the English Channel. https://www.britannica.com/event/First-Battle-of-Ypres -
The Battle of Dogger Bank.
Battle of Dogger Bank January 24th, 1915. This was because the German armored cruiser SMS Blücher was sunk and HMS Lion was badly damaged. Over 900 men were killed during the war. https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-Dogger-Bank-1915 -
William Merton Boyd Joining The Army.
William Merton Boyd Enlisted to be in the Navy at 13 Arch St. Phila Pay on July 15, 1917. They told him he couldent join due to his having vision issues. He set off to join the army but waited for the draft in 1917. In a few days, he would go to the Station House 15th Nine St. to get his physical for the army. Sept 21, 1917, He was called to be transported to the BO RR to Camp Meade Maryland. https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/vhp/1198/119849/pd0001.pdf -
Before Heading to The Army.
Before heading off to war William stopped by the bank and had a will written up. His bank was The Market St. Title Trust Co. 52 Market Sts. It had set him back 5 bucks about all the money he had in his account, but it was okay he had retired a safety deposit box. In that safety deposit box lay a gold watch, a chain, a diamond ring, and some important papers. He only kept 2 keys to the safe deposit box one he had and the other his brother Walter W. Boyd had. -
William's First Impression.
William remembered his barrack R15 in the 315th Infantry. He says he will long remember the empty barrack. So they were called to supper and he described it as everyone being rushed to eat. He later went back to the barracks and lay on his straw bed waiting for the next day. -
William's Transfer.
William soon transferred to the Medical Department. He was transformed into a private by Capt. Bulford. Capt. Bulford, then a Lieut. Was the Commanding Officer and George Percival the 1st Sergeant. He says Men were continually coming in to be examined by the doctors and that 4000 men passed through the infirmary in the days that flew by I was made a First Class Private. He was put in charge of the Dispensary and handed out the pills for the whole Regiment for two or three -
The Great Day.
He says the last few days of camp were full of work. His family traveled a while to come see him at camp. The great day came at last for him to march out of the old camp. After having spent 9 months in training its caption had all the drugs and equipment packed and ready to go. Moths.