USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > Newton war memorial > Part 11
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A memorial service was held in Channing Church, Newton, on April 13, 1918.
In August, Stafford and another were sent on an important mission to England. As they were leaving, and luckily before they cleared the ground, the left shock absorber broke, letting down the landing gear on that side, the plane turned over, and the other man was killed, Stafford escaping without a scratch. Later driving a Brequet, a tire blew out, cleverly landing on one wheel, Stafford saved himself and the plane. Following that a British Chasse with a Monosupays motor caught fire in the air. This time he was close enough to the ground to wing slip, making a safe landing. In another plane, when up 50 feet, the engine stopped dead, but before reaching the ground, it had lost sufficient speed to enable Stafford to land without smashing a thing. These three last experiences bear out his reputation of being a daring and resource- ful pilot, second to none in promising ability to keep his head under unusual circumstances.
Stafford took important photographs over No Man's Land for the French government.
RAYMOND G. BRYSON
At the time the United States entered the World War, Bryson was a private in Company C, 5th Massa- chusetts Regiment (later the 101st Infantry) having enlisted in 1916 and served on the Mexican border. He responded to the call of President Wilson and sailed from Hoboken, September 7, 1917. He participated in the major operations at Champagne-Marne, Aisne- Marne, Meuse-Argonne and Defensive sector and was killed in action October 27, 1918, at Belleau Wood, north of Verdun, within the German lines, and it was several days before his body was recovered. He was 19 years of age and the son of Mr. and Mrs. John B. Bryson of West Newton.
He is buried in Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery at Romagne-sous-Montfaucon, France.
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EDWARD E. CARLEY
Edward Emerson Carley was born April 10th, 1897. Ile enlisted voluntarily July 25. 1917, was stationed at Claflin Field, Newtonville, and left September 7th for the other side as a First Class Private, Company C, 101st Infantry.
Died with honor in the service of his country Octo- ber 23rd, 1918. Buried in the Cemetery of Meuse- Argonne, American Grave No. 21, Row 42, Block F. Location : Romagne-sous-Montfaucon, Meuse, France.
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THOMAS LEWIS CHALMERS
Thomas Lewis Chalmers was born March 26, 1895, at Port Huron, Michigan, and was the son of Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Chalmers of West Newton.
Education in Manchester, New Hampshire schools; three years in Annapolis; in hide and leather business with Sands and Lecky, Boston, Mass.
Enlisted with 8th Massachusetts regiment for ser- vice on Mexican border; on Captain Cushing's staff
as official interpreter; cited for skill in handling com- pany after wounding of superior officer.
Attended first Plattsburg -- Co. 12, New York Di- vision-made 2nd Lieutenant regular army; went to Fort Ethan Allen, Vermont, in 18th United States Cavalry, Headquarters Troop, changed to 76 Field Artillery. Sent to Hattiesburg, Mississippi-Camp Shelby-4th Field Artillery.
Made 1st Lieutenant; killed by accidental discharge of a revolver, February 12, 1918.
Married February 24, 1917 to Miss Beatrice Perry, daughter of Walter I. Perry of Newburyport, Massa- chusetts. Leaves one child, Jean Chalmers, of New- buryport.
ELLIOT ADAMS CHAPIN
Son of Cyrus S. and Alice (Bigelow) Chapin, of Newton Centre, Mass., was born May 10th, 1895, at Somerville, Mass. He was educated at the Newton High School, class of 1913; and at Phillips Andover Academy, graduating with the class of 1914. He entered Harvard College in the class of 1918. In his freshman year he played on the Gore Hall football team, and in 1915 captained the Gore Hall baseball team. In the fall of 1916 he was elected to the Pi Eta Society.
At the close of his junior year, in April, 1917, he enlisted in the U. S. N. R. F. Coast Patrol, after having been refused by the U. S. Aviation Service, because of a minor defect in one eye. Being eager to serve in Aviation, however, he applied for and obtained an honorable discharge from the U. S. N. R. F. effective upon his enlistment in the British Royal Fly- ing Corps, which he did on August 26th, 1917. He reported at Toronto, Canada, on September 6, and re- ceived ground and flying training at Descronto and Long Branch; he continued his training at Camp Hicks, Fort Worth, Texas, where, in December, 1917, he was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant. On December 31, 1917, he sailed from Halifax on the Tunisan, as part of the convoy with the ill-fated Tuscana when she was tor- pedoed off the Irish coast. Lieutenant Chapin volun- teered, when the Captain called for "extra submarine watch," and afterward wrote his family that 'it was the most exciting three hours he had ever spent."
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After further intensive training at old Sarum, Salisbury, England, he was commissioned 1st Lieuten- ant in April, 1918, only seven months after beginning training. Early in May, 1918, he was ordered to France, and with his observer flew his plane, a large de Haviland bomber, over the Channel and across France to the aerodrome of the 99th Squadron, R. A. F., 6 miles south of Nancy.
His squadron was a bombing squadron, whose duties were to harass the enemy lines of communica- tion, railways, ammunition dumps and aerodromes.
On June 27, 1918, Lieutenant Chapin was sent with others to bomb the railway at Thionville, north of Metz. After successfully dropping their bombs, the formation was attacked by a large number of Fokker scouts. In a desperate fight a shot passed through the petrol tank of Lieutenant Chapin's plane, causing an explosion which sent the machine down in flames from 1300 feet. Lieutenant Chapin fell at Thionville, 25 miles within the enemy lines, and was killed. As the machine went down he was seen to turn to his observer and shake hands with him.
Lieutenant Chapin's maternal grandfather, George E. Bigelow, was killed in the Civil War at the battle of Fredericksburg. His great-grandfather, Captain John Bigelow, fought in the Revolutionary War, and was delegate to the Convention to ratify the Con- stitution.
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FRANK H. CHIVERS
Sergeant Chivers enlisted as a private in Battery B, 101st Regiment Field Artillery, in the early spring of 1917.
After weeks of training at the Commonwealth Armory, the regiment was sent to Camp Curtis Guild, Boxford, Massachusetts, where they received further preliminary training. It was here that Frank Chivers received his sergeancy. Early in September, he was sent over seas and then ensued a winter of intensive training.
In February, 1918, the Battery had its first en- counter with the enemy at Chemin des Dames, and from that time on, the Regiment was, with the ex- ception of a few days at rest camps, always to be found along the front lines.
When the great Chateau-Thierry drive was well under way, Sergeant Chivers received the wound which later resulted in his death. The Battery had ceased firing on the evening of July 21st, and after a short lull, the enemy opened their guns and sent over a terrific bombardment of gas and high explosive shells. The men immediately sought shelter, and it was while Sergeant Chivers was seeing that his men were in safety, that he was struck by a bursting shell.
He was immediately sent to the first aid station, and then evacuated to a field hospital, where he died a few hours later.
For his devotion to duty that night, he was recom- mended for the Distinguished Service Cross, and cited for bravery in the General Orders of the 26th Division.
His officers said of him that he was one of the best liked men in the Battery; was courageous to the point of recklessness; absolutely fearless; of unfailing spirits and good cheer ; a friend to all his men; a born leader.
A memorial service was held in the Newton Metho- dist Church, May 4, 1918.
HENRY WARE CLARKE
He was born in Chicago, November 19, 1893, the son of Charles Atherton Clarke and Georgianna ( Whiting ) Clarke, who lived in Newton, Massa- chusetts, since this son was two years old.
Henry Clarke attended the grammar and high schools of Newton, and, for one term, the Stone School in Boston. He entered Harvard College with the class of 1916, and in due course, though showing a special interest in the study of literature and theology, took the degree of Bachelor of Science.
In the summer of his graduation he attended the Business Men's Training Camp at Plattsburg, and in the autumn went into business with his father in the Universal Boring Machine Company at Hudson, Mas- sachusetts. Here he showed ability and aptitude, but when the United States entered the war, he volunteered for the First Officers' Training Camp at Plattsburg, where he was attached to the New England Regiment. first in the 11th, then in the 2nd Company. On August 15th he received his commission as second lieutenant,
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O. R. C. infantry. Volunteering immediately for service overseas, he was one of the first nineteen Reserve Officers chosen for this duty, and, sailing early in September, reached France before the month was out.
On October 10, Clarke was assigned to the British Army for a few weeks of training at a bayonet school, where he also received instruction in Swedish gym- nastics. This took him into the forward area near Lens.
In November he was assigned to the 16th Infantry, First Division, A. E. F., and to this unit of the Regular Army he belonged until he was killed. Early in No- vember he served in the first line trenches at Lune- ville. On November 28, at Joire, he was appointed assistant judge advocate by Major General Sibert, and in March and April of 1918 took a course in machine gunnery at an American machine gun school in France.
On May 28, he was killed during the first counter attack of the Germans after the American capture of Cantigny. An eye-witness of his death, Lieutenant Joseph Connor, reported : "He was commanding a platoon of machine guns, and putting on indirect fire during the attack, and he had not been firing more than three minutes when a Boche 155 shell exploded near him. The shrapnel shattered his knee, and one piece went through his head just above the eye. He was killed instantly, and there was a smile on his face when we carried him out."
Clarke was buried at Bonvilliers, near Cantigny. On December 23, 1921 his body was reinterred at Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge. The official recognition of his valor was expressed in the following citation :
HEADQUARTERS FIRST DIVISION General Orders No. 1, January 1, 1920, The Division Commander cites for gallantry in action and especially meritorious services 2d Lieutenant HENRY W. CLARKE, M. G. Co., 16th Inf. who was killed in action near Cantigny, France, May 28, 1918. By command of Major General SUMMERHALL.
A memorial service was held in Channing Church, Newton, on April 13, 1918.
DOROTHY W. CROSBY
Dorothy W. Crosby had been an ardent worker in the Red Cross in Boston, first at 142 Berkeley Street and later at 1000 Washington Street. She took all the Red Cross courses and, in addition, the Seventy-two Hour Course at the Massachusetts General Hospital. She entered the Base Hospital at Camp Devens with the first thousand students admitted to the Army School of Nursing, July 24, 1918. While in the per- formance of her duties at the Base Hospital, she was stricken with the influenza and died September 23, 1918.
JOHN JAMES CURLEY
John James Curley, son of Mr. and Mrs. M. F. Curley of 79 Manet Road, Chestnut Hill, was born on May 5, 1890. He was educated in the Newton Public Schools and was graduated from the Wentworth In- stitute in the class of 1912.
After completing his studies he engaged in the plumbing business in Boston. His technical training had assisted him in the development of some new ideas which he was planning to introduce into the plumbing trade previous to entering the service of his country.
He entered the service on October 5, 1917 and re- ceived intensive military training at Camp Gordon, Atlanta, Georgia and embarked for France on April 25, 1918. His regiment was reviewed by the King and Queen of Great Britain in London while on its way to the front.
He served as Platoon Sergeant in Company I, 325th Infantry, 82d Division, in the front lines for five months. On October 12, 1918, he was mortally wounded by enemy machine-gun fire near St. Juvin, France, during the Argonne-Meuse offensive. His comrades carried him to the rear, but he died before they could reach the hospital.
The 325th Infantry was in the hardest fighting and during the Argonne-Meuse Offensive suffered 2840 casualties out of 3376 men. A large number of decor- ations and citations bear eloquent testimony to the heroic men of his regiment.
He was buried in the American Cemetery at Ro- mange, France, where the white crosses are like daisies spread upon that beautiful hillside of the heroic dead.
"He was so brave, I watched him when the regiment marched past, As he went by The sun grew dark forever and a blast Of winter struck me from his distant grave ; My boy whose country called on him to dic, Who was so brave!"
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the company was ordered to retreat, and Daley was among the wounded left on the field. He was then captured by the Germans and carried back to Zwei- brucken, Germany, where he died on October 19, 1918.
DONALD W. CURRY
Donald Woodworth Curry was born in Newton Highlands, July 22, 1900.
He prepared at Newton High and entered Massa- chusetts Institute of Technology in 1917. In the fall of 1918 he became an apprentice seaman, Students Navy Training Corps of the Institute and died at the Naval Hospital in Chelsea on November 17, 1918.
EUGENE JOSEPH DALEY, Jr.
Eugene J. Daley, Jr., was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene J. Daley of Chestnut Hill, Mass. He went from Newton with the first draft to Camp Devens and later to Camp Gordon at Atlanta, Georgia. In the summer of 1918 he went over seas as sergeant in Com- pany G, 326th Infantry, 82nd Division, under Captain Lamar Jeffers. This division relieved the 101st over there at the battle of the Argonne Forest. Over half of his company was killed on the 11th of October, 1918, including both Lieutenants. After heavy fighting
WARREN K. DALEY
Warren K. Daley enlisted at the minimum age and was sent to Camp Curtis Guild at Boxford as a private in Co. B, 101st field artillery. Shortly before he was to go overseas, he received permission to visit his home and on his way was fatally injured in a motor car accident on August 18, 1917.
PHILIP WASHBURN DAVIS
Philip Washburn Davis, born at West Newton, Massachusetts, March 10, 1888, was a son of Samuel Warren and Mary E. Davis.
Entering Harvard in 1904, he graduated cum laude, in 1908. In his junior and senior years, respectively. he won the benefits of the John Appleton Haven and C. L. Jones Scholarships. In his senior year, besides, he was named for a Disquisition. His athletic inter- ests were those of track (hurdling) and tennis, in each of which he was proficient; nor did his tennis playing cease with college. On his graduation he entered the
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Boston office of Lee Higginson and Company, with which he remained for two years. After this experi- ence, and an association with a smaller house, he became a partner in the investment firm of Chamberlain and Davis, with which he was associated when the United States joined the belligerent nations.
The day after war was declared he made application for the United States Aviation Service. As the weeks went by and he heard nothing from this, eager as usual to choose for himself and give his best, rather than to wait and see what was going to be done with the former First Corps, he went overseas, having joined the Norton-Harjes Ambulance Unit. As soon as he reached Paris, however, he enlisted in the Franco- American (Lafayette) Flying Corps. He trained in the schools at Avord, Pau, Cazau, etc., and was chosen to be scout pilot. In February, 1918, he transferred to the American service, going to the front in the Toul sector as a member of the 94th Aero Squadron (the well-known "hat-in-the-ring" squadron). He lost his life on June 2, 1918, when four American planes, re- turning from escorting a bomber up the Rhine Valley, attacked seven German planes and drove them off. He had started for home, when his machine burst into flames and went down behind the German lines. His grave was found, after a long search, in the commune of Richecourt, Meuse, and the ground has since been purchased, so that it will not be disturbed.
A memorial service for Mr. Davis was held in the West Newton Unitarian Church, on August 4. 1918.
FREDERICK D. DAY
Frederick Drew Day of Auburndale was one of the first to go overseas, leaving Boston September 25, 1917.
He contracted spinal meningitis and died at Chau- mont, France, on January 22, 1918.
VICTOR L. DENNIS
Victor Leon Dennis was born in Galt, Ontario, Canada, December 30, 1890 and was the fourth son of Frederick H. Dennis and Elizabeth Skoyles Dennis. The family soon removed to Newton Lower Falls and Victor attended the Hamilton and Newton High Schools. He possessed a remarkable soprano voice and sang in the choir of St. Mary's Church and as a soloist at the Church of the Emmanuel, Boston.
He attended the Wentworth Institute in Boston and specialized in mechanical drawing and motor design. Later he was in charge of the assembling of airplane motors for the Royal Air Force. He joined the Michigan State Troops on the declaration of war in April, 1917, and later passed an examination of 100 per cent for admission to the Aviation section of the U. S. Signal Corps at Chicago. He was first ordered to the Ohio State University at Columbus, Ohio, and later was sent to Love Field, near Dallas, Texas. On February 19, 1918, while in the air, he met with an accident and on reaching the ground the plane was in flames and Dennis was so severely burned that he died a few hours later.
MICHAEL J. DEVINE
Michael J. Devine was born in Roxbury, December 7, 1887, and he had resided in West Newton about ten years up to the time of his death. He was the son of the late Michael and Mary Devine of West Newton.
When the call for troops to go to the Mexican bor- der came he applied at the Armory in Waltham for enlistment in Co. F. His physical examination showed an internal trouble which necessitated a serious oper- ation. His determination was to enlist in Co. F and he went to the Waltham Hospital and had the oper- ation performed.
Afterwards he passed the physical test, was admitted to Co. F and proceeded to Framingham and subse- quently to the Mexican border.
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He responded again when the call came a year later, he passed all requirements and was transferred with the other Waltham boys into Co. F, 101st Regiment, going with that body into service in France.
He died in France of pneumonia, September 7, 1918. His body arrived in this country, July 20, 1922, and was buried with military honors in the family lot at Calvary Cemetery.
PAUL JONES FARNUM
Paul Jones Farnum, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel M. Farnum of Newtonville, volunteered as soon as this country entered the World War, in April, 1917, enlisting in the First Massachusetts Ambulance Corps, which afterwards became the 101st Ambulance Co., 101st Sanitary Train. He reported for service, July 25, 1917 and served overseas from September 7, 1917 until his death from pneumonia on March 18, 1918. He was the first to be buried in the American Ceme- tery at Savenay, France, and the remains were later removed to the Cemetery Oise-Aisne American.
Mr. Farnum's great great grandfather, Eli Jones, was a lieutenant in the Battle of Bunker Hill and his grandfather, Franklin Jones, was a private in fourteen battles of the Civil War in Company I, First Massa- chusetts Infantry.
A memorial service was held in St. John's Church, Newtonville, on April 27. 1918.
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VALENTINE E. FERRIS
Valentine E. Ferris, the son of Mrs. C. M. Ferris of Newton, was born at Swanton, Vermont, October 18, 1896. He was a graduate of the Newton Technical High School and had also studied at Chelmsford and Lawrence.
He died at Fort McHenry, Maryland, October 11, 1918, from pneumonia.
ROBERT L. FORBUSH
Robert L. Forbush was born August 4, 1890, the son of Frank M. and Annie L. Mead Forbush of New- ton Centre. He graduated from Newton High School
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and entered Harvard where he took the scientific course with the class of 1913. He left college after three years and took up electrical work and later graduated from the Lowell Institute as an electrical engineer.
On the declaration of war he enlisted in Co. D. First Corps of Cadets, afterwards the 101st U. S. Engineers, and before ordered to France he was ap- pointed a master engineer, senior grade. Later he was recommended for promotion for services under shell fire in the Chateau-Thierry drive, but his commission was withheld while he was at an engineer candidate school and on graduation the Armistice held up all commissions. He returned to his regiment detailed for service as a qualified second lieutenant and was serving in that capacity when taken with pneumonia, from which he died on March 14th, 1919.
PRESCOTT WILDER GOULD
Prescott Wilder Gould, son of Mr. and Mrs. John A. Gould, was born in Newton Upper Falls, February 23rd, 1894. He was educated in the Newton schools and entered the Institute of Technology, Course of Mechanical Engineering, in 1913 and attended until 1915. He was a member of the Phi Beta Epsilon Fraternity and of the freshman football and tug-of- war teams.
He enlisted in Company C, 1st Cavalry, and went to the Mexican Border. His unit was later reorganized as the 102nd Machine Gun Battalion with which, as corporal, he went abroad in September, 1917. He was promoted to Sergeant in April, 1918.
He was gassed at the Battle of Seichprey and from the effects of this, died at a Base Hospital in France, May 16th. 1918.
WILLIAM FRANKLIN HERRICK
William Franklin Herrick, First Lieutenant Avia- tion Section, United States Signal Corps, was born at Natick, Mass., July 31, 1890 and graduated from New- ton High School, 1906. He spent one year at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
At the outbreak of the war he enlisted in the Aviation Section of the United States Signal Corps and received his ground training at the Institute. He was sent to France in November, 1917, and was later transferred to Foggia, Italy, where he was commissioned First Lieutenant.
He had qualified to go to the front and was waiting orders at the time of his death in an airplane accident on September 16, 1918, at Issoudun, France.
The following is from a letter received by the father of Lieutenant Herrick from a Red Cross representa- tive :
"I was talking with some of the men about Lieuten- ant Herrick and it would be a satisfaction to you to know with how much affection and admiration they spoke of him. They said he was always full of fun and helped to keep them all in good spirits. He was considered an unusually good flyer."
He wrote to his sister just a short time before his death :
"I haven't any misgivings as to my ability to fly, nor do I anticipate any accidents, but if it so happens that I do 'go west' I shall at least have contributed to a just cause and I ask you to rejoice in the fact that I gave all I had for my country and for humanity."
Lieutenant Herrick was buried with military honors at Cemetery No. 32, about seven miles from Issoudun.
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ROYAL R. HEUTER
Royal R. Heuter of Auburndale was graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1906 and subsequently studied abroad. He was a corporal at Plattsburg and received his commission as first lieutenant in the Officers' Reserve Corps on December 14, 1916.
On May 5, 1917, he was killed as the result of an accident between a taxi cab in which he was riding and a trolley car. Lieutenant Heuter was 33 years of age.
EDWARD A. HOOPER, Jr.
Edward Asa Hooper, Jr., enlisted in Battery A, First Regiment on May 4, 1916 and after a few weeks at Framingham Camp left for El Paso, Texas, on June 28, 1916. On his return he went to Plattsburg, May 20, 1917, and later mustered into the Federal Service at Camp Curtis Guild, at Boxford. He sailed for France on the Adriatic September 10, 1917, his 26th birthday. He was killed in action at the second battle of the Marne July 29, 1918, and was buried in the American
Cemetery at Seranges et Nesle in the Department of the Aisne.
Memorial services were held in Trinity Church, Newton Centre, on September 1, 1918.
STEPHEN TULLOCK HOPKINS
Stephen Tullock Hopkins was a direct descendant of Stephen Hopkins, signer of the Declaration of Independence and for many years Governor of Rhode Island. He was born in Newtonville, Massachusetts, March 19, 1892, the son of Edward Earl Hopkins ( Harvard D. M. D., '82) and Louise (Tullock) Hop- kins. He entered Harvard from the Newton High School. Throughout his college course he had a prominent part in many activities. He was a member of the freshman football squad and hockey team, played two years on his class football team, one year on the second football team, one year on the soccer team, and three years on the varsity hockey team. He had many social interests-The Institute of 1770, D. K. E., Hasty Pudding. O. K., Varsity and Porcel- lian Clubs; he was vice-president of the Iroquois Club and president of the Newton High School Club.
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