WWI and the 78th Singing Division

 

While I was researching historical details for my book releasing May 22, one of the things I was digging around for was an American Expeditionary Forces military division that set for France in May or June 1918 during World War I.

In my story, Sarah, the hero, Brett Rawlings, and his twin brother, Ben, have run off at the tender age of 16 to join the war.

When I was looking for a division to attach the twins to when they traveled to France, I was searching for troop ships that left toward the end of May and arrived in June. The 78th Division matched the dates well, and the fact that they were based from Camp Dix in New Jersey also fit with the story because the boys are trying to set sail from New York City.

The 78th Division was known as the Lightning Division, and also the Singing Division. I found some reports that said the name came from the French for their lightning-fast action in battle, and other reports hinted about the famous brew created in the woods near the camp. If you know why and when they were named the lightning division, I’d love to learn more.

As for them being known as the singing division, from some of the reports I read, many of the members of the division had been in theater or performance-based careers before they were drafted. Some of the songs they sang included “The Shell Hole Rag,” and “Land of Romance.”

The Newark Evening News in New Jersey printed a special supplement about the division on May 29, 1919. I found a digital copy of the newspaper online, which was so helpful in my research.

I also found a book that had been written by the division’s secretary-treasurer and published in 1921. Not only was the book filled with incredible photos of the war, but it also offered a timeline of where the division was at from the time they were organized at Camp Dix in August 1917 to the day they were demobilized in June 1919.

Some of the historical details I included with the division really happened, like a visit from King George V of England in August 1918. They were also visited by General John J. Pershing twice. The first time was in September 1918, and the second was when he came to review them in 1919.

When the war ended and the 78th Division was transferred to a series of small villages, there really was an Amusement Division that did all they could to bolster the spirits of the troops and keep them busy. There were almost nightly performances by theater troupes and musicians.

Margaret Wilson, President Wilson’s daughter, did visit the camp with a group of entertainers in March 1919.

The YMCA, Red Cross, and Knights of Columbus did provide needed and appreciated services during the months as the troops waited for their turn to sail back home.

One report I happened upon, written in 1968, was a son’s journey to follow his father’s footsteps through the war by visiting France. His father had been a sergeant with the 78th Division, and he recalled listening to stories told around the kitchen table by his father and his Army buddies from World War I. There was so much detail and so many stories included in this report, it really helped me visualize Brett’s life and the things he was seeing and experiencing in France.

She desires his heart.

He longs for her love.

Can they find common ground when he returns forever altered by the war.

 In a world turned upside down by World War I, all Sarah Richards desires is to love Brett Rawlings and build a future together. After graduating high school a year early, she’s ready to dive into her dreams of college and a home filled with laughter and love. But one impulsive decision threatens all her aspirations—as well as her relationship with Brett.

 As the war rages on and men head off to fight, sixteen-year-old Brett reluctantly follows his twin brother, Ben, sneaking off to France to join the American Expeditionary Forces. As the months pass, Ben thrives amidst the chaos of battle, while Brett finds himself haunted by the girl he left behind and the uncertainty of his own heart. When Ben reveals a life-altering secret, the bond between the brothers is shattered, forcing Brett to grapple with betrayal as he faces the brutal realities of war.

 Brett returns home a changed man, burdened with memories too heavy to bear, yet yearning to mend the fractures of the past. Will Sarah still be waiting for him, or have time and truth forged an unbridgeable chasm between them?

 Find out in this heartfelt historical romance that weaves a tale of hope, grace, forgiveness, and sweet, enduring love.

Releasing May 22, you can pre-order your copy today on Amazon.

 

USA Today Bestselling Author Shanna Hatfield is a farm girl who loves to write character-driven romances with relatable heroes and heroines. Her sweet historical and contemporary romances are filled with sarcasm, humor, hope, and hunky heroes.


When Shanna isn’t dreaming up unforgettable characters, twisting plots, or covertly seeking dark, decadent chocolate, she hangs out with her beloved husband, Captain Cavedweller.

Shanna is a member of Western Writers of America and Women Writing the West.