Grant R. Willard, American Volunteer: We walked about 5 miles to Sandricourt

In September of 1908, Robert Goelet of New York purchased a French chateau at Sandricourt for $300,000 (more than $7 million today). Sandricourt was known as one of the finest shooting estates near Paris, and continues to be to this day.

Sandricourt 2010

During WWI, Goelet lent the use of a farm on his estate to the American volunteer ambulance corps for training purposes. Grant Willard and his fellow volunteers ended up spending a lot of time at Sandricourt during the war.

Robert Goelet's son, John, continues to live at the chateau and runs his varied enterprises from there.

Wednesday, June 6, 1917:

On Monday, June 4, a list was posted at headquarters of those who were to be ready to leave at 6 A.M. on the following Wednesday for Sandricourt. The rest of our time in Paris was spent in final preparations e.g. transferring passports for blue-books, which took much signing of blanks, getting issued equipment, buying what else we thought necessary, and packing and arranging to leave all civilian clothes behind. Monday I was measured for a uniform, but left too soon even for a try on.

Miss Mullen got up at 6 A.M. to see us off. What do you know about that? At Méru we were met by "Happy" Ahlers, [Henry] Kingman and Colonel Whyte and an automobile. Then we walked about 5 miles to Sandricourt. Our baggage was carried in the car. At Sandricourt Chief Jacobson took us in hand, read us camp rules and assigned us to our respective rooms. We were put in what was known as Room E. Mr. Jacobson’s a peach.

This Sandricourt base is a big château owned by Mr. Goelet, an American, and offered to the French Government for whatever to which they may choose to put it. It is the 2nd largest game preserve in France.