Thrilling news of the final stages of the drives reached the boys through the Paris editions of the New York Herald and Chicago Tribune, that were sold in the camp each day. The news enthused the soldiers and thrilled them with the desire to move forward and get in on the grand finale. They had toiled early and late, in all kinds of weather, to learn how, and it is natural to presume that a red-blooded soldier yearned the opportunity to make use of that knowledge acquired with such sacrifice and toil.
While waiting orders to move the battery took up a new position on the range. A brigade firing problem including a night barrage was fired on October 21st, with the signal details at work with signal rockets.
The brigade problem, which was the last firing the battery did in France, ended on October 30th with the laying down of a defensive barrage. The problem required twenty-four consecutive hours.
On October 28th, First Lieutenant C. D. Bailey joined the battery at La Courtine. Lieut. Bailey was formerly of the ambulance service of the French army and the S. S. U., No. 5. and at that time, he was the only man in the regiment entitled to wear a French decoration.
Meanwhile the outfit was packed up in the main, and was ready to move at short notice. With the approach of November the boys thought their movement was assured and plans were laid for a "feed," consisting of a pig-roast, to be held on November 2nd.
Late in the afternoon of November 2nd death claimed First-Sergeant James J. Farrell, of Parsons, Penna., who died a victim of pneumonia. Sergeant Farrell, who was a regular army service man, was buried at La Courtine on Monday, November 4th.
The same day, November 4th, another battery member was claimed in death by Influenza. He was Private Horace Fardon, of Paterson, N. J., who was buried on November 5th. That evening at 6:55 o'clock Private First-Class Joseph A. Loughran, of Hazleton, Penna., fell a victim to pneumonia. Private Loughran was buried alongside Private Fardon, on the morning of November 6th.
Besides paying last military honors to their departed comrades the boys spent the days previous to the cessation of the fighting on the pistol range, developing their proficiency with side-arms.
On the evening of Wednesday, November 6th, a battery entertainment was staged in the auditorium of the camp Y. M. C. A. A mock trial was the feature of the entertainment.
On one of the trips to the pistol range, on November 5th, Private William Van Campen, of Ridgewood, N. J., walked into a loaded hand grenade, which he kicked. The resultant explosion caught him in the knee and incapacitated him on the hospital list. Corporal James F. Kelly, of Plains, Penna., almost collided with a grenade on the same trip.