Old Front Line
WW1 Podcast with Paul Reed
A Bridge at Fismes
Fismes is a small town on the Aisne, close to its neighbour Fismette and divided by the Vesle river. Here in the summer of 1918 men of the American 28th Division took part in a bitter battle for possession of its houses and the bridge over the Vesle, a story retold in possibly the greatest American memoir of the First World War: Toward the Flame by Hervey Allen. Here too a memorial bridge was built commemorating their sacrifice, just a dozen years before Europe went to war once more.
Hervey Allen’s Towards The Flames can be read online for free here: Toward the Flame.
BATTLEFIELD MAP:
Podcast Extras:
7 Comments on “A Bridge at Fismes”
Leave a reply to arnhemdescent Cancel reply
Old Front Line 
What a great episode. I can tell from the way you talked about this, that you were very involved in the story. I must look out for the book. Thanks once more, Paul.
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Thanks, Phil.
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Another great episode. I am slightly prejudice toward its subject, I have a well worn copy of Toward the Flame, and have read it a few times. I am also a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University. A few miles from the university is the Pennsylvania Military Museum in the town of Boalsburg. On the grounds of the museum is The 28th Infantry Division Shrine. A large outdoor monument erected by WW1 veterans that honor the men and women of the 28th Division from the Spanish American war to present day. A great museum and a worthy shrine.
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Thanks, William. Maybe one day I’ll get to see their memorial in the US too!
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Great podcast about a little known battle. Good to see that Allen’s book is still widely available.
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Great listen and we should not forget the 28th in the second unpleasantness got a kicking at the Hurtgenwald and the Ardennes……
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Thanks, Niall.
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