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The Story of the American Expeditionary Forces


II Corps



II CORPS SUPPORT


OF THE


FLANDERS SECTOR

 

The Famous Flanders Mud


Presented the Great War Society


Despite General Pershing's goal of consolidating all U.S. forces under his command, a number of divisions fought for extended times. Two divisions, the 27th and 30th, spent their entire tour in training and in deployment under British Command. They were designated the II Corps of the AEF and placed under the immediate command of American Major General George W. Read

During the summer of 1918 they were trained at the front by attaching small units to British organizations, and about the middle of August they assumed complete charge of adjoining divisional sectors on the line just south of Ypres.



Panoramic View of Ypres Salient from Mont Kemmel

Locate Ypres on a Map of the Western Front.

On the 30th it was discovered that the Germans were retiring from the Lys salient and the British reoccupied Mont Kemmel. The 27th Division wa directed to move forward the next day in cooperation with a like movement by the British units on its right, while the 30th Division was to advance the southern portion of its front to capture Voormezeele, and keep abreast of the left of the 27th.

Both divisions pushed forward to their objectives before daylight of the following day, and the 27th continued to make small gains unit September 2, during which time it had captured Vierstraat Ridge and pressed the Germans back about a mile.


Memorial to American Service South of Ypres



The 27th Division was relieved on the night of September 2-3 and the 30th on the night of September 3-4. Both divisions entered the line again about three weeks later north of St. Quentin.


Sources and thanks: Compiled by the Editor from American Armies and Battlefields in Europe. Regular contributor Ray Mentzer provided the Photos. MH


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Additions and comments on these pages may be directed to:
Michael E. Hanlon (medwardh@hotmail.com) regarding content,
or toMike Iavarone (mikei01@execpc.com) regarding form and function.
Original artwork & copy; © 1998-2000, The Great War Society