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Remember...Thomas Bennett
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In 1917, Thomas Bennett, who apparently did not have a middle name, registered for military service in Marion County. According to his draft registration, he was a mine worker at Consolidated Coal. He was a single man of medium height with brown hair. He was inducted into the army on April 2, 1918, in Mannington. He was assigned to the 320th Infantry Regiment, 80th Infantry Division. He began overseas service in May 1918. He was promoted to the rank of corporal on October 2, 1918.
In 1918, the 320th was involved in ongoing actions in the vicinity of Bethincourt, France. As autumn progressed and milestones were achieved, the allied forces were able to initiate the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.
The purpose of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive was to sever the railway supply line that lay a few miles from the front. This vital supply line was protected by four well-organized key defensive positions, including the Hindenburg Line, that had intermediate positions among them, taking best advantage of the terrain. Because of the strength of the fortifications and the strategic value of what lay beyond, this area witnessed the most violent conflicts with the highest casualties resulting since 1916. In 1918, the stage was set, again, with the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.
According to the History.com website, the assault began on August 8, 1918. Though there were notable victories against the strongholds in France in September, the line is said to have been breached on September 29, 1918. The enemy was in disarray. Allied forces continued to press their advantage, on to the town of Bellicourt. History.com's narrative continues:
The offensive was driven ahead by Australian and U.S. troops, who attacked the heavily fortified town of Bellicourt with tank, aircraft and artillery support. After four days of battle, with heavy losses on both sides, the Germans were forced to retreat. With Kaiser Wilhelm II pressured by the military into accepting governmental reform and Germany's ally, Bulgaria, suing for an armistice by the end of September, the Central Powers were in disarray on the battlefield as well as the home front. The Allies, meanwhile, pressed their advantage on the Western Front throughout the following month, which would, against their predictions, turn out to be the final month of World War I. ("Allied Forces Break Through the Hindenburg Line," 28 October 2009, updated 25 September 2019, accessed 12 May 2023, https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/allied-forces-break-through-the-hindenburg-line.)
80th Division: Summary of Operations During the World War (published by the American Battle Monuments Commission, of which General John J. Pershing was chairman at the time) is a small book that details an account of operations for the division. If Thomas Bennett remained with the 320th throughout the period, the book provides an outline of where he would have been and the accomplishments of the 320th, then assigned to the 160th Infantry Brigade, the lead brigade. The summary of the "Bethincourt Sector, Meuse-Argonne Offensive and Subsequent Service" chapter includes the following timeline:
September 26: Passed Bethincourt southwest of the city. Heavy fire was received south of Gercourt-Cuisy Road.September 28: Attacked the Bois de la Cote Lemont. After good advance, heavy artillery stopped the 320th at Brieulles-sur-Meuse.
October 9: The 320th, still operating under the 160th Infantry Brigade, captured the trenches north of Bois des Ogons and were delayed from further progress by machine gun fire. The 320th divided its resources among other units, including the 319th, fighting in Cunel.
October 10: A general attack was ordered for this day with "unlimited objectives". The front extended from Beaumont to the Argonne Forest. At 2:30 am, the attack began, with the 320th clearing Bois de Malaumont in the pre-dawn hours. Advancement was slowed by heavy fire at 7:00 am. Further advances were only temporary and heavy machine gun fire continued to stop an overall advancement.
October 11: The orders to continue the attack were executed. With a change of strategy, objectives were accomplished on the 11th. (Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1944. Digital version accessed 12 May 2023, https://www.80thdivision.com/pdfs/80th_Division_Summary_of_Operations_in_the_World_War.pdf.)
| In this, the last month of World War I, Thomas Bennett fought in Verdun near Bethincourt and was killed in action on October 10, 1918. He was buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Romagne, France. |  |
Article prepared by Cynthia Mullens
May 2023
West Virginia Archives and History welcomes any additional information that can be provided about these veterans, including photographs, family names, letters and other relevant personal history.
