-
Franz Ferdinand Assasination
Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary and his wife were both assassinated in 1914 by Bosnian-Serb Gavrilo Princip. Bosnian-Serb was in a group with five other conspirators. Right before they were assassinated, they had escaped an assassination attempt planned by the same group of people. This was one of the key events that led to the start of World War I. -
Unrestricted Submarine Warfare
Unrestricted Submarine Warfare is a type of naval warfare where submarines sink merchant ships without warning. This event took place at the beginning of World War I on February 4, 1903. Germany planned to attack ships from neutral colonies. So Britain planned to blockade Germany in a form of retaliation. -
U.S. Declares War
Nearly two years after World War I began in Europe, America joined. After Germany's U-boat attacks on American ships, the United States joined the war as Germany had killed many American civilians. Germany also tried to form alliances with Mexico against the US which could also be a contributing factor to the US joining the war. In summary, the main reason the United States joined World War I was because of Germany's actions. -
Quincy Claude Ayres Joins the war
When Quincy Claude Ayres joined the war, he left his wife behind, Mary Harriet Heron. However, they kept in touch and he continued to write about her in his diary, where he would call her "Honey Presc." When he was 26 he took a US Navy ship called USS Pocahontas that took soldiers from America to Europe. Their journey lasted 15 days when they finally landed in Brest, France. -
Russia Leaves the War
Germany and Russia signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk to formally bar Russia from the war, but the terms of the peace were severe. In addition to territories in the Baltic and Black Seas, Russia ceded Ardakhan, Kars, Batum, Estonia, Finland, and Livonia. Russia lost 90% of its coal mines, 50% of its industrial holdings, 32% of its agriculture, and 34% of its people as a result of the treaty. Russia likewise refused to pay for any wartime losses. -
Quincy Claude Ayres was Promoted to First Lieutenant
Four months after boarding the USS Pocahontas, Ayres was advanced to the rank of First Lieutenant. Ayres had initially enlisted in the military as a member of the 1st and 2nd Engineers. Ayres has been interested in engineering since he was a teenager. Ayres is still attending many schools in relation to her promotion, but she says nothing significant has occurred. Additionally, he makes notes regarding aviation and his repeated exposure to airplanes. -
Quincy Claude Ayres Meets Eddie Rickenbacker
In his diary, Ayres recounted briefly seeing Eddie Rickenbacker, who he recognized as a talented aviator, at a cafe in Champignuelles. Rickenbacker joined the U.S. Army in 1917, just a year before this incident, and became a lieutenant after completing his training in five months. In March, he joined the Hat-In-The-Ring unit and immediately showed his abilities. Rickenbacker would become an ace and shoot down five German planes in the five days following Ayres' encounter. -
Quincy Claude Ayres Went Through Struggles
Ayres finds things less significant and loses motivation as he continues to write in his diary. He still suffers from missing his wife and writes much less, combining weeks and months together. Another First Lieutenant informs him that nearly every member of his platoon has been killed or injured, and it is clear that Ayres is experiencing mental difficulties as a result of the conflict and the tragedy all around him. But at this point, the topic of peace starts to come up. -
Austria Splits From Hungary
Austria finally decided to separate from Hungary after suffering from war, famine, and a poor economy. The empire was led by Karl I, who struggled in his role and was said to have secret connections with France. Once they separated due to their need for independence, there were many new colonies created. Czechoslovakia, Poland, and Croats are just a few examples of these new formed colonies. -
Quincy Leaves the Army
After growing angrier at not seeing his wife again, Ayres eventually departs Brest to return home, joining others in commemorating the war's conclusion. He arrives in Boston on June 8 and writes a detailed account of each day at sea, including the coordinates' progress. He will later serve in World War II and be elevated to the position of captain. Additionally, he and his spouse, Sarah and Marsha Ayres, will have two children. On April 30, 1963, he passed away.