Warren P. ROYCE

ROYCE

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 2/7/2009 at 05:09:25

WARREN P. ROYCE

Warren P. Royce, was born in Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa, on February 12, 1885. With the outbreak of World War I, Warren entered into his preliminary enlistment at Creston, Union County Iowa, about June 1, 1918, and was received into service at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, on June 4, 1918. He was sent to Tank Corps Camp at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on June 14, 1918, where he was assigned to B. Company of the 302nd Battalion [heavy tanks] on July 4, 1918. The regiment embarked on the British tramp ship "City of Exeter" at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 14, 1918, and landed at Manchester, England, on August 28, 1918. The following morning, the regiment arrived at Camp Worgret, Wareham, Dorset, England, where they received complete British course of training on Hotchkissmachine gun and six pounder. The Battalion divided October 18, 1918, half going to France as the 302nd Provisional Battalion. They crossed the English Channel on the night of October 20, from Southampton aboard the "Yale," landing in Le Havre the following morning. They received British orders to proceed to the Cambrai Front to operate inconnection with the British Army, but the Battalion commander refused to go. The batallion was then sent to the U. S. Tank headquarters at Langres, Department of Haute Marne on October 28th, where it remained until February 13, 1919, on which date they departed for Marseilles, arriving there three days later. While in Langrest the name of the outfit was changed to the 306th Battalion. The Battaliion left Marseilles February 26, 1919 aboard the ship "Europa" formerly an Austrian vessel but now sailing under the Italian flag. The Battalion spent five days coaling at Gibraltar, then arrived at New York on the evening of March 17, landing the following day. The Battalion spent ten days at Camp Upton, ten days more at Camp Meade, Maryland, then proceeded on to, Camp Dodge, Iowa, where they were discharged from service on April 7, 1919.

Warren P. ROYCE died January 30, 1930, with interment at Graceland Cemetery, Creston, Union County, Iowa.