Walter L. Rau wrote this diary as a member of the World War I Battery "C" 101st Field Artillery of the American Expeditionary Force stationed in France. He also identified himself with the USFA (United States Food Administration). In the dairy, Rau mentions passing through around sixty-one cities in his service, the majority of which were located in France. Upon arrival in France, the 101st was told to report to the Front. Rau writes of running water and food drives to the trenches, digging, and driving horses with his unit. Among observations about the daily life of a solider, Rau names some of the men he knew who died, the horrors he saw, and the battles he was involved with.
Content warning for descriptions of death and injury.
The diary is accompanied by a typed transcription, likely compiled by Swann Auction Galleries.
Walter L. Rau Diary, Special Collections Research Center, William and Mary Libraries.
The collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.
Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.