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U. S. REMOUNT SQUADRON NO. 301, WW1

Above is a very rare sight of the Unit picture of Remount Squadron No 301 at Wengerohr, Germany. Seven of the twelve Squadrons in the Third Army were scattered throughout the area held by the Army of Occupation. Aside from the five Squadrons at the Army Depot at Wengerohr the other seven were on duty in the remaining six Remount Depots in Germany. To my knowledge this is the only picture of the Depot that I have ever seen.

I am sure I do not know how to thank Ray's family and how they rallied together as a family to bring to the website the above picture and all the other family treasures that they have posted. We first need to start with Ray's great grandson Yancy, without him we may have never had a chance to view these wonderful things. And then I need to thank Bryant and Lora Irwin, Bryant is Ray's grandson and Yancy's father. Bryant and Lora are long-haul truckers and you would not believe what they did and spared no expense to scan the above picture while they were on the road. Lora was a real jewel with all her help. It is a great story in it's self! And last was the wonderful commentary of Yancy's uncle and Ray's grandson Ralph Irwin and all he has shared with the website. This family has pursued the preservation of Ray's memory, bar none! This is a great family and my hat is off to them.

Note: I still have many things to post on Ray's page from the family and as soon as I get some time I will. Make sure you click on the link to Ray's webpage down below - Greg Krenzelok , Veterinary Corps Website

UNITS STATIONED AT WENGEROHR, GERMANY AS OF SEPTEMBER 25, 1919
Remount Squadron No. 301 - Commanding Capt. G.B. Sheldon
Remount Squadron No. 302 - Commanding Capt. H.E.
Remount Squadron No. 306 - Commanding Lieut. G.F. Dickinson
Remount Squadron No. 310 - Commanding Lieut. A.R. Bradley
Remount Squadron No. 312 - Commanding Capt. Philip P. Smith

Mobile Veterinary Section No. 308 - Commanding Lieut. M.R. Seabright

Wagon Train No. 1 - Commanding Lieut. Salty Carroll

Farewell Round Up Program of the Wengerohr Remount Station, A.F. and G, 1919. Image: Family Collection of Walter A. Erickson Remount Squadron No. 302, A.E.F., WW1

WAR DIARY: WALTER ERICKSON, U. S. REMOUNT SQUADRON NO. 302, WW1
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War Diary: Walter Erickson, U.S. Remount Squadron No. 302, WW1

REMOUNT OFFICERS OF THE FIRST ARMY WHO ABLY ASSISTED IN THE VETERINARY CORPS WORK

ARMY HEADQUARTERS Major Victor C Mather Q.M.C.
Chief Remount Officer G-4, 1st Lt Bryce Wing Q.M.C.
Assistant Remount Officer G-4 I Corps Captain R. S. Waring Q.M.C
Remount Officer (Corps) Captain Bolling Haxall Q.M.C. v Assistant Remount Officer III Corps Major Pierre Lorillard Q.M.C.
Corps Remount Officer V Corps Captain Charles H Kendrick Q.M.C
Remount Squadron No 301 - Captain J. V. Hunt
Remount Squadron No 301 - Captain George B Sheldon
Remount Squadron No 314 - Captain R. J. Meskell

REMOUNT SQUADRONS WHICH PATICIPATED IN THE VETERINARY CORPS ACTIVITIIES DURING THE MEUSE-ARGONNE OPERATIONS
301st Field Remount Squadron - Army Animal Evacuation Depot - Aubreville
302st Field Remount Squadron - With the III Corps - Souhesmes la Grande
303rd Field Remount Squadron - With the V Corps - Neuilly
312th Field Remount Squadron - With the V Corps - Ville-sur-Cousances
314th Field Remount Squadron - Army Animal Evacuation Depot - Baleicourt

Click on the below link to read about the 301st Field Remount Squadron's participation at the St Mihiel offensive and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive

Official Report of Veterinary Service at St. Mihiel

Official Report of Veterinary Service at the Meuse-Argonne Offensive

The first four squadrons, numbers 301-302-303-304, under the command respectively of Captains John S. Hunt, A.C. Swenson, F.J. Rosenberg and J.T. Sallee, sailed from Hoboken, April 30, 1918, and arrived at St. Nazaire May 12, 1918

May 22 1918: Remount Squadron No 301 date of arrival was to Coetquidan on May 22, 1918; Number of officers 6; Number of enlisted men, 149; Commanding Officer, Captain J.S. Hunt; Original Station, Coetquidan

May 22, 1918: Remount Squadron No 301 and 302-303-304 arrived at Coetquidan on May 22, 1918. Captains John S. Hunt of RS No 301 was the senior officer for the 4 squadrons until the following day when Lt. Colonel H.W. Parker of the 6th Cavalry arrived and took charge. He remained in command until July 6, 1918 when he was relieved and Captain Hunt again took charge. The four Remount Squadrons handled the Depot until August 2, 1918.

August 24 1918: Remount Squadron No 301 was ordered to report to the Commanding General First Army for duty and left Coetquidan on August 28, 1918

There being no Army Veterinary Hospital and large numbers of evacuations to be handled when Remount Squadron No 301 reported for duty with the First Army on September 6, 1918, this organization was ordered to Heippes where an Army Evacuation Station was established. Animals evacuated to station were relayed by rail to S.O.S. Veterinary Hospitals.

MEUSE-ARGONNE OPERATION AND THE ST. MIHIEL OPERATION

November 23 1918: Verdun; Remount Squadron No 301 arrived at Verdun on November 23, 1918. The first animals were received at this depot on December 8 1918. This depot was keep busy issuing and receiving animals during December 1918, when 3,670 animals were received and 3,188 animals were issued. Remount Squadron No 301 was kept at Verdun until the depot closed. On March 15 1919 Captain George B. Sheldon, Commanding Officer of Remount Squadron No 301 was placed in command of the Depot. The Depot was closed April 28, 1919 with the departure of Remount Squadron No 301 who was assigned to Wengerohr, Germany, for duty with the Remount Depot being constructed there by the Third Army.

April 28, 1919: Remount Squadron No 301 departs from Verdun and marches into Germany with the Third Army and is stationed at Wengerohr, Germany.

After Remount activities in the S.O.S. became smaller in April, 1919, it was possible to send enough Remount Squadrons to the Third Army to care for all excess animals. A Remount Depot was built at Wengerohr, near Wittlich, Germany, which had an estimated capacity of 8,000 animals; forty corrals of two areas each were constructed. In each corral there were hayracks, feed troughs and water troughs. It was planned to hold surplus animals of the Army at that point. Remount Squadrons No 301, No 309, No 310, No 312 and No 344 were sent to Wengerohr to handle the new Depot.

At the time the new Depot was planned it was believed that there would be a great surplus of animals in the Third Army but sales authorized by the U.S. Liquidation Commission brought down the number until there were but few in excess of the tables allowance. According to the tables of allowance in effect in April 1919, each Division was allowed 5,920 animals. The excess of animals was caused by the return of Divisions to the United States leaving their horses and mules in the hands of the Army. The better animals were held in Divisions and those unfit for service were inspected and condemned and sold locally. However, this system of getting rid of animals did not encompass the desired result and there were thousands of animals that were fit for some service and were not eligible to be sent before a Board for condemnation. Animals destroyed to prevent suffering, if not diseased, were sold to local butchers. (Note: there also was a food shortage in Germany after the war and I am sure this too was in the minds of people)

Additional Remount personnel was sent to the Third Army for the S.O.S. on May 1 1919, there were 11 Remount Squadrons, three Remount Officers with the Headquarters Third Army; five officers with the three Corps and seven Officers with the seven Divisions in the Third Army at the time.

Seven of the twelve Squadrons in the Third Army were scattered throughout the area held by the Army of Occupation. Aside from the five Squadrons at the Army Depot at Wengerohr the other seven were on duty in the remaining six Remount Depots in Germany. Remount Squadron No 302, under command of Captain C.H. Fischer, handled a Depot of approximately 600 animals capacity at Ehrenbreitstein (fortress) across the Rhine from Coblentz: Remount Squadron No 303, under command of Captain W.S. Gurley, operated the Depot at Coblenz-Lutzel with a capacity for 500 animals. At this Depot the Third Army carried on its Equitation School. Aside from caring for animals that were exercised, trained and issued, the Squadron also cared for the animals used by the classes in the school. Remount Squadron No 304, which was ordered to the Third Army after the Second Army disbanded, opened a Remount Depot at Steinsel with a capacity for 500 animals. Remount Squadron No 306 was stationed at Hausen, where there stable room for 600 animals. This Squadron was under the command of Captain W.S. Mitchell, F.A. Remount Squadron No 314, under command of Lt. J.C. Montayne, operated a Depot in Coblentz. The Depot was commanded by Major R.J. Meskill, Q.M.C.

One of the finest places used by the American Army in the A.E.F. was at Treves where a Remount Depot was opened soon after the Army of Occupation reached the Rhine. The former designation of the Remount Depot at Treves was Kasernement Jager Cavalry Regiment No 7. The Depot was operated by Remount Squadrons No 311 and No 322 under command of Major C.R. Baines. At this Depot there are 14 stables constructed entirely of brick, forming a square with a drill field in the center. The drill field is equipped with jumps. The 14 stables contain 818, 5 and a half foot stalls and 25 box stalls 12x12 feet.

When the Third Army reached the Rhine the animals were in bad condition, but well executed plans stamped out mange and brought order out of the chaos. There were plenty of men available for duty with animals and there was plenty of time to devote to their care. When it was decided to concentrate all the surplus animals in the Third Army at the two Remount Depots, Kripp and Wengerohr, the Depot at Treves was abandoned June 7, 1919, and the personnel ordered to the two large Depots for duty. During January 1919 it was found that the French Government was unable to take over the condemned animals of the Third Army in Germany, and authority was obtained January 30, 1919 to dispose of these animals to the local population within the occupied territory.

March 10, 1919: The Commanding General, S.O.S. recommended that surplus animals in the Third Army be sold in the occupied area, care being exercised to prevent these animals from leaving the territory. March 15, 1919 the Liquidation Commission approved the sale of unsuitable animals in Germany.

February 1919: Authority was obtained for the sale of animals in Luxembourg

March 12, 1919: Two Divisions were ordered back to the United States.

April 10, 1919: Authority was given to sell 2,000 surplus animals and on April 17, 1919 additional authority was secured for the sale of 5,000 animals more. This authority was extended so that animals that became surplus in the future could be sold without further reference to the Liquidation Commission.

At the time of Peace was signed plans were underway for the disposition of the remaining animals in the Third Army. A Commission representing the Polish Government was in Coblentz on the date Peace was signed with a view to selecting 5,000 animals for their Government. Financial arrangements offered by the Commission had already been approved by the Liquidation Commission. A deal was also pending with the French Government whereby all animals that were available would be taken over as fast as the troops of the Third Army were released fro return to the United States which pretty much ended the operation in Germany with our troops going home.

June 1919: Remount Squadron No 301 departs for Home.

Note: You will find the above information in this report:

OPERATION REPORT OF THE REMOUNT SERVICE DURING WW1 FRANCE

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Operation Report of the Remount Service during WW1

RAY SAUNDERS U.S. 301ST REMOUNT SQUADRON

Hello Greg

Your website is terrific! I collect military items mostly from WWII but I have a special interest in this website because my great-grandfather served with the Field Remount Squadron No 301. I have been searching for information about this unit for years with no luck until today. I have several photos of pre-war training and wartime photos in Europe as well as Two of his documents from this unit that I would be glad to share with you.

My father has a 4-foot long unit photo of the entire field remount squadron 301 and I will try to figure out a way to get you a scan of it to you.

My father told me about conversations he had with my great-grandfather (Ray Saunders) in 1970 when he returned from Vietnam but it was along time ago and he does not remember the details or units and locations etc. My father stated that up until the late 1970's one of my relatives had his complete uniform, I�m currently trying to find out were it is and what happened to it

Thanks

Yancy

Note: Yancy and his family have some great pictures to share with us. We are not sure of a lot of the locations and we will be during further research to come up with more information on the pictures. If you can help us in anyway please contact the website. Yancy has quite a few pictures and because of this I have created another webpage for her.

Click on the below links to go to Ray Saunders's webpage:

Corporal Ray Saunders Remount Squadron No 301 in WW 1

Return to The Army Veterinary Service During the Great War, WW1 homepage:

THE ARMY VETERINARY SERVICE DURING THE GREAT WAR, WW1
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The Army Veterinary Service During the Great War, WW1

OTHER AREAS OF RESEARCH WHICH WE ARE ENGAGED IN:

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LEONARD PATRICK MURPHY U.S. ARMY VETERINARY CORPS, A.E.F., WW1
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Leonard Murphy in WW1

NEVERS FRANCE AND U.S. ARMY HOSPITALS IN THE AREA DURING WW1
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Nevers France and U.S. Army Hospitals in the area during WW1

FORT ORD STATION VETERINARY HOSPITAL U.S. ARMY HORSE c1941
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Fort Ord U.S. Army Station Veterinary Hospital (Horse) WW2

TRIBUTE OF HONOR: SGT. ALLAN MACDONALD U.S. ARMY HORSE SOLDIER
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Tribute Of Honor: Sgt. Allan MacDonald U.S. Army Horse

FORT ORD STATION HOSPITAL, c1941 WW2
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Fort Ord Station Hospital c1941

11TH CAVALRY PRESIDIO OF MONTEREY, 1919 TO 1940
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11th Cavalry Presidio of Monterey, 1919 to 1940

CAMP LOCKETT ARMY HORSE DEFENDING THE BORDER WW2
The 11th, 10th, and the 28th Cavalry, Camp Seeley, Camp Morena and Camp Lockett
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Camp Lockett Army Horse Defending the Border WW2

76TH FIELD ARTILLERY REGIMENT PRESIDIO OF MONTEREY, 1922 TO 1940
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76th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Battalion

EAST GARRISON/CAMP ORD 1940's ARMY BUILDING DOCUMENTATION
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East Garrison/Camp Ord 1940's Army Building Documentation 2013

FORT ORD U.S. ARMY POST STOCKADE IN IMAGES
Fort Ord U.S. Army Post Stockade in Images

BRIEF HISTORY GENERAL ROBERT C. RICHARDSON, COMMANDER: VII ARMY CORPS, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DEFENSE SECTOR AND CONNECTION WITH FORT ORD WW2
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General Richardson Fort Ord Defense of West Coast

7TH DIVISION HEADQUARTERS BUILDING, FORT ORD, 1941 WW2, GENERAL STILWELL
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7th Division Headquarters Buildings, Fort Ord, 1941, General Stilwell

THE CONSTRUCTION OF FORT ORD 1940-1942
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The Construction of Fort Ord 1940-1942

FORT ORD BUILDINGS, COMPLETION REPORT IMAGES 1941-1942
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Fort Ord Buildings, Completion Report Images 1941-1942

250TH COAST ARTILLERY CAMP MCQUAIDE CALIFORNIA 1941
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250th Coast Artillery Camp McQuaide California 1941

U.S. ARMY VETERINARY CORPS HISTORICAL PRESERVATION GROUP

Motto: "Illic est Vires in Numerus" There is Strength in Numbers

"Working Hard to Preserve Our Country's History wherever it is being lost".

U.S. Army Veterinary Corps Historical Preservation Group is a group of individuals that are concerned about the preservation of the History of the Veterinary Corps, Remount Service and Cavalry or wherever our country's history is being lost in conjunction with our beloved "Horse and Mule". There is no cost to join and membership is for life. We believe by uniting together in numbers we will be a more powerful force to be heard. Our membership list is private and only used to contact our members. Email us and become a member.

Greg Krenzelok
[email protected]

FACEBOOK: U.S. Army Veterinary Corps Historical Preservation Group

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U.S. Army Veterinary Corps Historical Preservation Group