World War I
Camp Devens
Ayer, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts
Camp Devens was established in 1917 to house and train 10,000 soldiers. By the war’s end over 100,000 men from the 12th & 76th Divisions had passed through the camp.
In 1918, it became a separation center for over 150,000 soldiers returning from France.
In 1931, Camp Devens became the permanent Army post of Fort Devens, and it remained active until the base was shut down in 1996.
Postcards
Photos
Further Reading & Resources
Training at Camp Devens – By The U.S. Army Center of Military History
I found a framed picture from May 20, 1918 of the First Battery 4th Officers Training School 76th Div. Camp Devens, Mass. class.
While digitizing items brought back from France by my wife’s grandfather following World War I, I came across an item with Camp Devens connections. On this page – https://www.permanent.org/p/archive/0dbo-0000 – there’s an item called Victory Songs that was apparently from Camp Devens.
How can I find out if my grandfather from Nashua NH trained at Devens in 1918? Family lore says he was gassed and suffered a leg injury from a horse while in service. I would like to identify his unit to learn more about the engagements and conditions under which he served.
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