Cutline to come.
34
WBM december 2019
The conclusion of this poignant
story based on Edward Hardin’s
letters written home to
Wilmington family and
friends during World War I
picks up during the 30th Divi-sion’s
four months on the front
lines in Belgium. It is highly
significant in its descriptive
narration of the horrific trench
warfare and the month-long
push to take the Hindenburg
Line, and liberating towns and
villages held by the Germans
for four years.
PART II HONORING OUR FATHERS
a
Soldier’s EDWARD is in Europe after
the ten-day Atlantic Ocean
crossing from New York
on an (unnamed) America troop
ship. In his letters, he never dwelled
on the horrors of the war, but in the
most matter-of-fact way shared them
humbly, always reflecting glory onto
others. The Hindenburg Line was
broken in September 1918 during the
Hundred Days Offensive. Covered
with dense acres of barbed wire, the
line ran from the north coast of France
to Verdun, near the border of France
and Belgium. Australian, British,
French and American forces par-ticipated
in a massive bombardment,
using 1,637 guns along a 10,000-yard
front. Edward’s company was at the
tip of the spear on breaching this last
line of German defense on the Western
Front. On the 29th, hiss division
broke through the line after a 56-hour
bombardment, but that single day’s
victory cost North Carolina more than
3,000 of her sons.
Above: Edward Hardin after promotion to first lieutenant, circa September 1918.
Opposite: A map of the field orders for the 27th and 30th American Divisions
in the offensive to take the Hindenburg Line. Hardin’s 30th Division medal, Old
Hickory, Greenville S.C. presented to the soldiers of the 30th from the City of
Greenville as the Mother City of the 30th in September, 1919. It is a rare medal
for any collector. “Smashing the Hindenburg Line” by Frank E. Schoonover, 1919.
Published: The Ladies Home Journal, August 1919:16 “Souvenir Pictures of the
Great War.” The caption read: “The Hindenburg Line was the ‘Rock of Gibraltar of
German morale,’ their last major line of defense. New York’s 27th Division smashed
through that line, resulting in the desperate scene depicted by Schoonover in this
painting. In the lower left, the soldier pointing a pistol has the initials GWW in red
on his gas mask bag. His family identified him by those initials as George William
Winslow, who fought with the 27th Division during the battle depicted. He was
shot and killed on Sept. 29, 1918 just after the time represented by this painting.”
PHOTOGRAPHS OF EDWARD HARDIN AND HIS PERSONAL ITEMS COURTESY ED HAWFIELD/PHOTOGRAPHED BY ALLISON POTTER