The Journey of the First Flag
San Francisco Civic Auditorium
Thousands pack the Auditorium for the leave-taking ceremony organized by the Friends of France along with the recently-formed American League of California. Four Star Spangled Banners were presented to the Berkeley and Stanford students, the gift of the American League. Read more.
Oakland Mole Railway Wharf, CA
Kimber sets out on his journey with his precious cargo, destined to be the first officially sanctioned U.S flag on the Western Front.
Mount Shasta route into Oregon
The journey begins via Sacramento, Dunsmuir, Montague & Ashland, arriving in Portland (OR).
On Board
The train travels on continues via Spokane (WA), St. Maries (ID) Henderson (MT) & Butte (MT).
On Board
Through the remainder of Montana and, that night, North Dakota and on into Minnesota
Chicago
After travelling though Minneapolis (MN), then on through Wisconsin Kimber arrives in Chicago (IL). The next day he takes a tour of the P L Armour meat packing plant. That night he boards a train for Detroit (MI) via Indiana.
Detroit
Visits Ford motor-works in Detroit (MI). Then boards train for New York City, via Canada & Niagara Falls into NY state.
New York
Kimber arrives in New York where he prepares to set out with the First Flag across the Atlantic for the Western Front. He needs to wait until the 14th when his ship will be ready to set sail.
From West Coast to East Coast
Kimber had crossed the whole of the United States of America with the First Flag, from west coast to east coast, beautifully illustrated in this map drawn by Barbara Taylor.
Avenue of the Allies
The Crowds on 5th Avenue – temporarily renamed the ‘Avenue of the Allies’ – had welcomed the French and British war delegations of Joffre (9 May) & Balfour (11 May). The time is celebrated in Childe Hassam’s painting ‘Allies Day’ which hangs in the National Gallery of Art, Washington.
5th Avenue, New York
Kimber bears the First Flag down the crowded 5th Avenue in NYC at the head of an American Field Service parade, accompanied by volunteers from the University of California, Berkeley.
Theodore Roosevelt’s office, NYC
Kimber meets former President Theodore Roosevelt in his NYC office. Roosevelt had known and cooperated with Kimber’s clergyman father when the former was the city’s Police Commissioner in 1895/97.
Trinity Church, Wall Street
Before sailing for Europe Arthur Clifford Kimber takes part in church service at Trinity, Wall St. where the First Flag is displayed. Members of the congregation – and later the general public – file past, some touching and kissing the flag.
On board SS St Louis
Kimber boards his ship to sail to Liverpool in England en route to the Western Front. Recently fitted with five heavy guns, the liner later became the USS Louisville troopship.
On board SS St Louis
Kimber meets screen actress Lillian Gish, who is on her way to England to begin filming D.W. Griffith’s ‘Hearts of the World’.
SS St Louis reaches Irish waters
With the increased threat of enemy submarines, the crew and passengers prepare for the worst, with lifeboats readied. He writes that ‘many people sat up all night and few took off their clothes’.
Liverpool and Merseyside, England
Kimber describes his first sight of England, comparing the residential right bank of the Mersey with the hustle and bustle of the docks and derricks on the opposite side.
On board train
Kimber takes train from Liverpool to London via Rugby, fascinated by his view of English towns and countryside through the train window.
London, England
Kimber arrives in London where he stays until the next day. His description of the city is sombre.
‘I went down to Charing Cross Station and saw some wounded arrive. There was quite a crowd and they were cheered heartily. Then [when] an ambulance brought out the badly wounded the crowds no longer made noise for fear of disturbing the men, but quietly waved, and the game soldiers smiled and made feeble efforts to wave back.’
Paris, France
Travelling by train and then troopship, ‘convoyed across the channel by destroyers and aeroplanes’, Kimber arrives in Paris. His first stop is the American Field Service HQ in 21 rue Raynouard.
En route for the Western Front
Kimber leaves Paris for the Western Front with the First Flag – the last days of his precious responsibility.
Tréveray, Northern France
Colonel Collon of the 55e French Infantry Division ceremoniously passes the first officially sanctioned US flag, transported with such care by Kimber, to the 1st Stanford Unit in a field above Tréveray in northern France. Read more
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Champagne Sector in France, East of Reims
Kimber witnesses the aftermath of the ‘Battle of the Hills’, part of the Nivelle Offensive, now held by the 55e. We went thru a demolished village on the way. Enclosed is a picture of the ruined church….All along the road were little piles of French shells…We wandered around what were the first French line trenches on the 14th of April. They are awfully desolate looking places. I would rather do anything than live in them….Little groups of men and horses are constantly passing us, either going to the front or returning. All the French seem so tired and even the horses reflect the weariness. When the poilu asks how long we think the war will last, we all say only a short time, for if we tell him the truth about it, he seems absolutely broken in spirit.
‘En repos’ with 55e French Infantry Division
Kimber and the rest of the Ambulance Unit SSU14 enjoy a Bastille sports day celebration with 55e Infantry Division.
Paris
On leave in Paris, Kimber discusses his chances of becoming a pilot with AEF’s Col Billy Mitchell and Edmund Gros of AFS.