Leave Permit for American Soldier in France - 1918

Armée Américaine Permission Quart de Tariff or Leave Permit for a US Soldier Pvt. Wesley Ellis Thomas of HQ Detached Med. Dept., 30th Division, Granting Permission to Visit St. Milo, France, Dated 6 November 1918. GGA Image ID # 1849b54320

Leave Permit
Armée Américaine Permission
(If the bearer speaks French, strike out the words ne and pas)

The bearer must conform strictly to the instructions on the back.

With the exceptions noted on the back hereof, all men going on leave and returning therefrom, will take only special leave trains on routes over which such trains run. Free transportation is furnished by the Government on special leave trains only.

• This leave must be signed, stamped or initialed as follows ;
• For a soldier on leave from the French Zone of the Armies, and passing through a regulating station of the American Array, in the following spaces in order : A, B, C, D, E, K, G, H, K.
• For an Officer on leave from the French Zone of the Armies, in the following spaces in order : A, B, C, E, F, G, K.
• For an Officer or soldier on leave from the French Zone of the Interior, or from the French Zone of the Armies, but not passing through a regulating station of the American Army, in the following spaces in order : A, B, C, E, F, G, K.

• This leave must be shown to French authorities or railroad officials upon demand. The spaces which the French authorities should fill out are the following :
• “F” To be filled out by the Commandant d’Arme or Gendarmerie.
• “E” and “G" To be stamped by the French R. R. officials at destination in case there is no A. P. M. at that station.
• “M” to be filled out by the French Military Mission prior to the soldier’s going on leave, only if the destination is for one of the excepted Zones mentioned in Par. 9, G. O. 6, H. A. E. F., 1918.
• All other spaces are to be filled out when required only by the American authorities.

• Free transportation is allowed on special leave trains. On all others, the bearer is entitled to purchase ticket at military (1/4) rates.

• In areas served by special leave trains the only persons who are allowed to use any other trains while on leave are the following : Officers, field clerks, 1st Sergeants and higher N. C. O.’s’, authorized candidates for commission, military police, soldiers holding medal of honor or distinguished service cross or medal or certificate of merit, and soldiers going on 3 days’ leave, authorized to be granted in exceptional circumstances (on the going journey only). (Par. 6, G. O. 6. H. A. E. F., 1918.)     

• In case of loss of leave paper, or lack of money to purchase R. R. ticket, the soldier will immediately report to the nearest A. P. M. If there is no A. P. M. within reach, the soldier will report to the Bureau de la Place or to the Gendarmerie and request the French authorities to send him to the nearest A. P. M.

• Leaves authorizing visits to Paris are on pink forms.

• This leave must be turned in on return from leave. Loss or failure to turn in leave papers will be considered sufficient reason for cancelling or postponing the soldier’s next turn for leave.

• No liquor and no ammunition or explosives of any kind or description are to be carried by any soldier on leave.

Reverse Side of Leave Permit for AEF Soldier in Milo, France Dated 6 November 1918. GGA Image ID # 184a73cd85