The Lost Battalion

The "real hero" was NOT Cher Ami. Cher Ami, although an incredible story of itself, arrived long after the damage had been done. In fact, during the First World War, pigeons took approx. 30 minutes to arrive at their roost, at which point the message was retrieved and either called in using the normal chain of command, or sent by runner to the normal chain of command. Cher Ami's message did arrive, but by the time it was acted upon the artillery barrage was being brought to an end.

The real hero's of the Lost Battalion - and this is one case where the word "hero" might truly be considered inadequate - were the men themselves. What they were put through is most likely the worst battle endured by a military grouping.

From the 2nd of October, 1918, to the 8th of October, 1918, these men were completely surrounded by the Germans and under constant attack by rifle fire,, machine gun fire, mortar attacks, and artillery.

Throughout this entire time, they had no idea if their own chain of command even knew of their condition or were attempting to get to them. There was no phone service, radio, ,or runners available to them. Pigeon service was the only way they could contact anyone, and that was only a one way direction without any assurance that the pigeon being sent actually got through.

Additionally, these men were sent out without overnight gear because General Alexander assured them that the entire AEF line would be right up there with them. They soon had no food, no water (the only available water was being watched by the Germans and any attempt to reach it usually meant the end of your life), and very little or none ammunition.

The Germans completely surrounded them, sending in everything they had, including gas attacks and flame throwers. Major Whittlesey, Captain McMurtry and Captain Holderman were exceptional, holding these men together and performing a virtual miracle in repelling each German attack. McMurtry was wounded 7 times, but refused treatment and remained on the line leading his men. Holderman was almost super-human in the things he was able to do. He was so shot up he often had to use the empty rifles as crutches, but still came out and after the Germans with each attack.

Whittlesey was the glue to held everyone together. His men often were in awe at the way he would travel up and down the line, in full view of the German snipers, the encourage them and give them hope. He never seemed to care one bit about his own safety.

This movie was released in 1919 and was huge. Whittlesey was known by virtually ever person in America at the time and was a national hero. Unfortunately, the events that took place in the ravine where the "Lost" Battalion was surrounded in never left him. Once he returned to the US, there was a downturn in the economy and there was almost no day that went by that he was not approached by former soldiers requesting money or widows and family members asking him how their husband/son/brother was killed. He never was able to get away from it and was - essentially - forced to relive (and see and hear) the horrors that took place during those 6 days.

Finally, quietly and without warning, he took passage on a steamer to Cuba at around midnight of November 26th, 1922, after being asked by yet another passenger to tell him everything about that horrible experience, Charles Whittlesey quietly climbed over the rail and slipped into the sea, never to be seen again. His demons had finally been silenced.

During the last century, Deutschland lost many wars and a lot of battles, the biggest defeat being WWI. For that reason it is always a painful and complicated matter, even for a German count accustomed to losing many battles with his servants, to watch any silent film wherein the victors boast about their merits against the Germans.

But that doesn't matter a lot when the film is well done and directed as is the case with "The Lost Battalion", directed at the end of such a painful and mad war by Herr Burton L. King.

The film depicts the deeds of the Amerikan 77th Division in Europe and their advance through the enemy lines (obviously the Germans). It is focused mainly on a lost battalion of that Division that was cut off and surrounded by the enemy, (again the Germans) in a ravine that will be later known as "The Pocket" in Amerikan war glory lore.

The film recounts the participation of many Amerikan high ranking officers that battled against the Teutons and are portrayed in the picture, and these officers are presented with honours at the beginning and the end of the film with careful close-ups. However, for this German count the role of those military men in the film wouldn't matter ( you can't have everything and be a war hero AND a silent star… ) if they didn't have the help of the common people who also participated and suffered the consequences of that battle. They are the real heroes of that war (and any war,) and they belonged to different social classes, conditions and races and they were all united to battle against the enemy ( that is to say, the Germans).

Herr Burton depicts at the beginning of the film (remarkably) the particular life and social condition of those unknown soldiers before they enlist. Burton delivers an interesting and valuable portrait of the Amerikan life. These men, some ordinary, some exceptional, will find their lives drastically changed when they embark for Europe.

The battle scenes are also very well done, full of drama and very claustrophobic, especially during the ambush at "The Pocket". The direction is very modern for a 1919 film, but of course is full of patriotic elements that fortunately are not overstated or distracting from the artistic merits of the film. This remarkable artistic fact can be still appreciated 90 years later since the film avoided the Manichaeism that was part of many WWI film productions of that time wherein the Germans were excessively caricatured or parodied in an exaggerated way (This Herr Von knows very well what he is talking about when it comes to exaggerated matters…)

"The Lost Battalion" gives, as usual, the honor and the credit to the military high ranking men but it was the common soldiers whose devotion and valour and sufferings won the war and are the main characters of this film. The fallen soldiers they portray unfortunately couldn't be invited as guest stars.

And now, if you'll allow me, I must temporarily take my leave because this German Count must try to find a war he can win.

Herr Graf Ferdinand Von Galitzien http://ferdinandvongalitzien.blogspot.com/

This Signal Corp documentary and re-enactment presents a patriotic portrayal of the heros of the "Lost Battalion" of the 77th division. They were out of contact and relieved after 6 days of heavy fighting in the Argonne Forest during October 1918. The real hero is Bon Ami who received a Distinguished Service Cross for her heroism as a carrier pigeon.

It could have been better, if a bit less patriotic, but don't ask too much either. You have here a rare gem, though available on you tube, showing gritty trench battle scenes, very rare, but many silent movies are now lost, thousands of them, so shame.... It hurts when you think about it. Imagine early Henry King or other great directors early films, speaking of WW1, how could it have been avoided? Most of them lost forever. This short film, one hour and several minutes, is quite interesting, but it could have been a bit bitter, brutal, depressing, showing hell in Argonne...In 1919, there were many opportunities to collect, purchase all accurate details, information about the bloody battles.... But I guess audiences needed to forget the horrors of those years.

It seems to be the earliest of the "Rainbow Division" movies I can recall. You know the type. Although traditionally, regiments were raised from small areas and from a cohesive group (New York's "Fighting 69th" springs to mind; it was composed of Irish Catholics from New York. My Civil War buff friends tell me that a New York regiment of Irish Protestants was also raised. When both were present at the Battle of Gettysburg, they were carefully placed at opposite ends of the line, lest they forget whom they were supposed to fight). The 77th claimed (and this movie features actual) members of many ethnoi and classes, including two Chinese troopers from warring Tongs.

The movie covers recruitment, training (including the same sort of incidents that would feature in the Abbott & Costello hit BUCK PRIVATES, and a recreation of the Battle of the Pocket, with battle maps.

In many ways it's a gimmick movie, with many of the actual combatants -- including the carrier pigeon Bon Ami -- recreating their role. As a piece of history, though it's of signal importance. The Battle of the Pocket, in which the 77th ran ahead of the units on its flanks and was besieged behind enemy lines, was certainly not terribly important in the winning of the war. It was important in the American mythos, and myths are why we do anything as crazy as go to war.