USA > New Jersey > Morris County > Dover > Dover dates, 1722-1922 : a bicentennial history of Dover, New Jersey , published in connection with Dover's two hundredth anniversary celebration under the direction of the Dover fire department, August 9, 10, 11, 1922 > Part 18
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Within three weeks following the Declaration of War, four com- panies of Home Guards were organized. Regular drills were held, uniforms procured, and rifles and ammunition provided. A military census was conducted by the league and assistance was rendered in the registration of men between the ages of twenty-one and thirty-one on June 5, 1917. Alderman William T. Ayer assisted Mayor Whitham in the formation of the four military companies, which were designated as follows :
Company A-Captain J. E. Brown; Company B-Captain C. H. Benedict, Jr .; Company C-Captain Sidney M. Gillen ; Company D- Captain George R. Flartey. The battalion commander was Adelbert P. McDavit, with the rank of major, and his adjutant was Captain Harry J. Hasselbauer. Later Captain Hasselbauer succeeded Major McDavit, who resigned.
The funds subscribed by the townspeople were expended for uni- forms, rifles, ammunition, etc. The League rendered every assist- ance possible to the Second Selective Service Board of Morris County. The military units were in readiness at all times to respond to riot calls, conduct secret work for the town, state and nation, and to co-operate with the police department in every way possible.
Enlistments in the army and navy, combined with the formation: of a national guard company and the operations of the Selective Serv- ice law, depleted the ranks of the four companies until but one com- pany remained. This company was placed in command of Captain C. H. Benedict, Jr., and his appointment was confirmed by the mem- bers at an election held in Elite Hall. This company became affiliated
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with the State military forces early in 1918 and its achievements are presented in detail by Captain Benedict elsewhere in this book.
The record of Dover's citizens during the period of the World War, as revealed in their interest in the Home Defense League, was very commendable, and while a great amount of the work proved to be precautionary, the unanimous support of the townspeople was given. Dover's citizens responded in every way possible to the suc- cessful prosecution of the war, and the results were very gratifying to the state and national defense organizations. The record achieved is one which stands out in the history of Dover as an example of patriotism. The degree of success attained in every department of war work showed to the world that Dover was "doing its bit." It was a period when men put aside all pleasure and made sacrifices in their business and at home to stand ready to lend a hand in the defeat of autocracy.
When the glad tidings were flashed across the seas that the war had ended, the Home Defense League arranged a Peace Day Celebra- tion and while hundreds of our own Dover soldier boys, with the great army of four million Americans, turned their thoughts to home and family and friends, our townspeople enjoyed a celebration which will never be forgotten by those who participated.
In closing it is the sincere wish of the writer that you, dear reader, will never forget those brave lads who gave their lives that we might live. Nor can you forget the disabled, who are the living monu- ments of the heroic deeds of America's part in the war.
GEORGE R. FLARTEY, Secretary.
THE DOVER HOME GUARDS
Early in the summer of 1917 there were organized five companies of Home Guards, as follows:
Company A-A. P. McDavit, Captain; Thomas Conlan, First Lieutenant ; D. W. Heiman, Second Lieutenant.
Company B-C. H. Benedict, Jr., Captain; O. S. Parker, First Lieutenant; Benj. Hosking, Second Lieutenant.
Company C-John DeB. Vreeland, Captain.
Company D-Jesse Bennett, Captain.
Company E-Geo. R. Flartey, Captain.
These companies were drilled in the streets at night, also in Moller Hall on Sussex street. Uniforms were secured by popular subscription.
The several companies were organized into a battalion with Cap- tain McDavit as major, Lieutenant Conlan taking his place as Captain of Company A. Lieutenant H. J. Hasselbauer was appointed adjutant. Captain Conlan resigned his command and Captain Brown took his place. Captain Brown being sent out of town by the Government as a powder inspector, Captain Sebring was elected in his place. October 29th a meeting was held in the Municipal Building and the
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five companies were re-organized into two companies, A and C form- ing a new A company, Captain Sebring; Lieutenant D. W. Heiman; B, D and E forming a new B company, C. H. Benedict, Jr., Captain ; H. J. Hasselbauer, First Lieutenant ; O. S. Parker, Second Lieutenant.
About this time the State offered recognition and help to those Home Defense Units which would recruit up to sixty-two men and take the oath of enlistment. At a meeting of Companies A and B heid January 21, 1918, it was decided to form one company to be known as the Dover Home Guard, S. M. R. Captain C. H. Benedict, Jr., was elected Captain, H. J. Hasselbauer, First Lieutenant, and O. S. Parker, Second Lieutenant. A recruiting campaign was started and. the necessary men (fifty-nine men and three officers) were enlisted and mustered in, June 6th, 1918, by Lieutenant Ray Stringer of Com- pany D, S. M., as mustering officer.
At this time, by request of Captain Benedict, a Lieutenant Scott of the 42nd Regiment, U. S. A., was detailed by Col. Daimler to assist in the formation and drilling of the company. This company was active in all Liberty Loan campaigns, Y. M. C. A. or Red Cross Drives, furnished an escort for all drafted men leaving for camp, took part in all parades, was reviewed by Gov. Edge at Branch Brook Park, September 15th, 1918, going to and from Newark by trolley.
November 10, 1918, was spent at the Navy Rifle Range at Cald- well, N. J., where a number of the men qualified as marksmen and sharpshooters.
The company held a smoker in Elite Hall, March 17, 1919, which was greatly enjoyed by the members and on April 28th, 1919, a dance was given for members and their ladies. It was largely attended and everyone had a fine time.
While this company never had any active duty to perform, it was held ready to mobilize at a few hours' notice, and in case of riot or other trouble it was ready to answer at once, the riot call to be given on the fire alarm.
Privates Edward Lynn and Wallace Hall died while active mem- bers of this company and were given appropriate burial.
After the Armistice was signed between the Allies and Germany and the country began to resume its way of peace, permission to muster out was requested from the Governor. It was granted and the com- pany was mustered out by its officers under orders from the Adjutant General's Office, dated August 28th, 1919, and the officers who were commissioned by the Governor were given their honorable discharge.
C. H. BENEDICT, JR.
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BATTERY D, 308 FIELD ARTILLERY
In the World War of 1914 to 1918, Dover furnished one of the most important fighting units in the United States Army, "Battery D, 308 Field Artillery." Being composed of the first body of Selected Service Men to leave this town, it always seemed fitting and proper that this should be called Dover's Battery.
The War Department did not sanction the naming of these units after the towns from which they came; but the men in the Battery, as well as the people in their home town, always felt that this particu- lar company represented Dover, as being the first body of men to go to War.
On September 19th, 1917, ninety-seven of these men left the town for service in France. After a hard and strenuous training, covering a period of nine months, they were ready for the trip to Europe to engage in the deadly conflict. During the last few days in camp on this side seventy-nine of these men were transferred to other units of the Army, leaving only eighteen of the original men from Dover in the outfit, all of whom were Non-Commissioned Officers. In this depleted condition, it became necessary to fill the vacancies with other men from all over the United States; but as the governing body were all Doverites, the same old feeling prevailed.
On May 25th, 1918, they boarded the Transport in New York harbor and sailed away. Braving the deadly submarines and terrific ocean storms for twelve days and nights, they landed at Liverpool, England. After a short stay of three days in that country they were transported across the English Channel, then infested with submarines and the deadly mines which the Germans had succeeded in planting in the waters of this section. They landed at the French seaport of La Havre. From here they were conveyed across the country to the ancient city of Vannes, on the Bay of Morbihan.
At this place the Chinese coolies had erected barracks for the American forces. After a very intensive training in the arts and science of modern warfare, they proceeded to the front and took their places alongside the other American troops in the Toul Sector, directly in front of the heavily fortified city of Metz, in Alsace Lorraine. This ancient city had been captured by the Germans in 1914 and the inhabitants had suffered untold hardships at the hands of their captors for this long period.
Equipped with the famous French 75 cannons and a small supply of ammunition, the Dover boys fired their first shot into the German lines on the eighth day of August, 1918. It did not take the enemy long to answer them, as they knew some one had called on them and intended to stay awhile. From the first hour after their arrival on the front, the Germans kept up a continuous fire on the Dover Battery, trying to force them to retreat. But I am proud to say that they had not heard the meaning of this word. Fortune spared the men in this position, as none were killed or wounded here. No advance worth
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mentioning took place at this particular point, until the morning of September 13th, when the greatest drive of the American Forces began.
Starting at promptly one o'clock in the morning, all the guns on the American front let loose their rain of shot and shell. High explosive, deadly gas, shrapnel and murderous bombs were showered on the German lines for a period of six hours, for the purpose of wiping out the wire entanglements and concealed mines that the Germans had prepared for the trapping of our infantrymen, as they went over the top. At exactly seven o'clock the Artilleries stopped firing and the brave and dauntless heroes, the infantrymen, climbed out of their tenches and dashed into the enemies lines. The hand to hand encounters for life and death began. A few of the remaining Germans put up a stiff battle, but, owing to the tremendous number of Americans opposing them, were easily defeated. A large number were killed and wounded. At exactly eleven o'clock in the morning, just four hours after the infantry had gone over the top, a strip of enemy territory eighteen miles long and fifteen miles wide had been taken by the Yankees, together with eighteen thousand prisoners. To have stood along the road-sides and observed the long lines of German prisoners being marched to the prison camps in the rear, one thought was, that the war was over and that Germany was calling on France. This particular battle was known as the St. Mihiel. The French had held the enemy in this location for a period of four years, not having been able, in all that time to drive them back.
On Sunday evening, September 15th, 1918, at ten o'clock, this Battery suffered its first heavy loss. By getting on a strange road in taking up an advanced position, they suddenly found themselves in No Man's Land, with their own infantry behind, and the Germans all around them. Hemmed in on either side by the enemy, and unable to turn back on account of the road being too narrow to turn the guns around, they were discovered by the German Batteries, who immediately began shelling them. In this predicament the men were subjected to a rain of shells and gas for the space of thirty minutes. While the Germans had no direct aim on them, on account of the darkness, nevertheless they were accurate enough with their fire to kill nine men and wound seven, also killing nineteen horses and wound- ing ten more. Orders were immediately given to unhitch the remain- ing horses and advance. Going ahead a few yards, the battery discovered an old stone quarry that afforded protection for the men and horses. Here they were safe until morning. When daylight came the enemy saw that these men were virtually held prisoners, only the Germans were afraid to take the chance of coming out of their trenches to capture them, as they would be immediately fired upon by the other artillery batteries in the rear. Sending out a few scouting parties, the officers of the battery discovered a few aban- doned dugouts, built by Germans, and lately evacuated by them in the St. Mihiel drive. Making a run for these in full view of the enemy, they succeeded in getting the men and horses safely out of sight of
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the German gunners, staying here for three days and two nights, during which time the only food they ate was a few hard tack and some canned beef that sone of the men were fortunate enough to have carried with them. On the night of September the 18th, they were rescued by the 303rd Engineer Regiment connected with their Divi- sion. During the short stay in this confined position they suffered the loss of five more men, who were killed trying to bring water to the horses from the Moselle River, whose opposite bank was lined with the enemies' machine gunners.
The following day an attack was made on the enemy, who were driven back far enough to enable the battery to obtain their guns and ammunition that had been abandoned several nights before in their haste. After repairing the damage done to these, and filling the places of the men who had been killed and wounded, they resumed firing on the enemy.
The next battle fought in this territory was the Suppe-Moselle, during which Battery D drove the enemy back three miles nearer Berlin in a single night.
From this position in Alsace Lorraine they moved to the Argonne Forest, at that time thickly populated with the best German and Prus- sian forces. The losses in this particular drive were terriffic, as the enemy had stored up enough ammunition and guns to blow up the earth. No one who was not there has any conception of the losses suffered by the American forces and the gallant men who laid down their lives for the defeat of German Rule. In the first charge the ground was covered with dead American and French soldiers. But by the tenacity of the men, anxious for revenge, this vast woodland or jungle was cleaned out in the space of about twelve days' time.
The next battle for the Dover men was at Chattel Cherey, a small ammunition center occupied by some captive French peasants and German officers. This town is situated along the southern border of Belgium. After three days more of hard fighting they advanced to within one kilometer of the ancient city of Grand Pré. This old his- torical town had not suffered a large amount of shell fire, as the French officers wanted to spare it. This information reached the Germans, who massed their reserves and determined to hold it at any cost. In the course of fighting their way through the batteries of machine guns, secreted in concrete vaults and steel-clad dugouts, the 309th and 310th Infantry Brigades suffered the heaviest losses in the entire time the Americans were on the front. The writer of this article, Sergeant Stewart Kahler, being an eye witness to this terrible slaughter, reports that the street running through the center of this town was almost a river of human blood, and that the bodies of the Newark men were
piled in rows as a mowing machine cuts the grain in furrows. The Germans lost very few men, as they were concealed in these bullet- proof hiding places and fired on the advancing troops without stopping, until either killed or captured. Filling up the gaps with reserves, rushed to the aid of these two companies, the town was finally taken by the Americans. From this point the enemy kept up a steady retreat
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until on the 14th day of November, 1918, they were forced to surrender to the Allies.
The Dover Battery participated in five minor and two major battles while on the front, and were still fighting near the walled city of Stenay, at eleven o'clock on the morning of the day the Armistice was signed.
The following men served as Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers in Battery D, 308th, Field Artillery-78th, Lightning Division, New Jersey :
2nd Lt. P. Powers Kinnaman Cpl. Thomas Loughlin
Ist Sgt. John Thomas (killed in action)
Cpl. John Maher
Cpl. Fred Anderson
Ist Sgt. Stanley A. Warner
Cpl. A. Anderson
Signal Sgt. Stewart Kahler
Cpl. LeRoy Seals
Sgt. Charles Rassler
Cpl. Frank Shaw
Sgt. Jack B. Schwer
Cpl. John Rhoener
Sgt. Harry Buchanan
Sgt. Elwood Barton
Sgt. Jacob Levin
Written by Stewart Kahler,
Signal Sgt., Battery D, 208 F. A.
NOTE :- When the United States of America decided, April 6, 1917, to enter the world struggles for freedom and human rights, Dover men fell into line and did their part to win the victory. When the victory was won the American Legion was formed. The purposes and aims of this organization, with other information relating to its Dover Post, are given below by George R. Flartey, historian of the Post. All honor to the men who answered the call to service !
HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN LEGION IN DOVER
In the Spring of 1919 a group of World War veterans assembled in the municipal building to discuss the feasibility of organizing an asso- ciation whose aims and purposes would be to perpetuate the memories and incidents of the Great War and by mutual helpfulness assist each other in the adjustment of claims resulting from their service. More than a score of veterans attended the meeting, and it was voted to investigate the several national organizations in process of formation, such as the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, World War Veterans, etc. Following receipt of information from Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., and the State headquarters of the American Legion, it was decided to affiliate with the American Legion, owing to the fact that their ideals, as specified at the Paris conference and later at the St. Louis caucus, corresponded with the aims and purposes of the Dover veterans. These ideals are set forth in the following preamble to the Constitution of the Legion :
"For God and country, we associate ourselves together for the fol- lowing purposes : To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America ; to maintain law and order ; to foster and perpetuate
Cpl. Thomas Fancher.
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a one hundred per cent. Americanism; to preserve the memories and incidents of our association in the great war; to inculcate a sense of obligation to the community, State and nation; to combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses; to make right the master of might; to promote peace and good will on earth; to safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom and democracy ; to consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness."
On July 16, 1919, more than 200 veterans assembled in the Baker Theatre and approved the plan, making formal application for a charter and electing temporary officers. The name Dover Post was selected, and the Post was designated Number 27 in the State Department, it being the first post formed in Morris County and the twenty-seventh in New Jersey. When the permanent charter was received in the fall of 1919 the name of the Post was changed to William Hedges Baker Post, in honor of the heroic service of one of our number who gave his life on the field of battle while assisting wounded comrades.
The following extracts are quoted from a memorial poem by Mrs. Eliza A. Stoddard, of Succasunna :
IN MEMORIAM .THE BELOVED WILLIAM HEDGES BAKER -
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His record in the home and school, As measured by the Golden Rule, Tells of devotion to the right, Trusting a God of love and might.
It was a sacrifice so great, For its solution we must wait Until all mysteries are plain
And peace and righteousness shall reign; When golden sheaves from every field Their bounty and their richness yield ;
When generations shall award To every life its own reward.
To-day the deepest shadows fall; They pierce the heart, they form a pall Upon familiar scenes around ; May consolations here abound !
And we must now repeat again, While agonizing is our pain, "We live in deeds, not years," for we Are living for eternity ; And while we suffer, as we must, A grateful country guards her trust, And on the page of history,
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Inwoven with each mystery, Shall be God's guiding providence, While ages read its evidence And angels bow in reverence.
Pardon the heart's dictation here ; We weep with you, and every tear Must tell its own true sympathy, While Christ Himself will come to thee With hopes of immortality.
Private William Hedges Baker, who was killed in action July 20, 1918, was born at Wharton, N. J., December 20, 1895. He was attached to the 26th Infantry, First Division. He was killed instantly while assisting in carrying the injured from the field of battle at Ploisy, in the Soisson sector. The body arrived in Dover on May 10, 1921, and burial was made in Archard Street Cemetery, in the Baker burial plot, May 12, 1921. The American Legion Post named in his honor attended the funeral in a body, and on Memorial Day, May 30, 1921, a platoon of United States Marines discharged three volleys over his grave as a final tribute to his memory, and taps were sounded. Private Baker enlisted at Fort Oglethrope, May 3, 1918. He arrived in France, June 19, 1918, and was killed on the battlefield July 20, 1918. Ten weeks in the service of his country resulted in the supreme sacrifice. He was a graduate of Dover High School, and was in his third year at Rennse- laer Institute, Troy, N. Y., when he left to enter the service.
The men who gave their lives in the service and whose names and military records are carefully preserved by the American Legion are as follows : Harry B. Anderson, Herbert Atkins, William H. Baker, Warenzello J. Bickert, John R. Booth, Charles C. Buck, Thomas A. Cannon, John Castimore, Bertram Chamberlain, Samuel Chirella, Ber- tram F. Cox, James A. Donaldson, Frank Feeley, William H. Flatt, Ernest J. Harner, Michael J. Hartford, James C. Hennessey, Henry F. Meeker, William J. Hocking, Stephen Huested, Michael Kedzus, Wil- liam W. Lewis, Vincent Manning, George E. McKenna, Alward W. Meeker, N. Leslie Mulligan, Richard S. Parke, LeRoy Quail, John Reilly, Frank Reynolds, Edgar B. Rogers, Herbert Smith, Harry Stark, George T. Swackhammer, Anthony Sylvester, John Thomas.
The first year witnessed a continuous growth in the Post, resulting in more than 300 active members. The activities included social events, assistance to less fortunate comrades, furthering the interests of vete- rans through concerted action for the passage of beneficial legislation, and the formation of a Woman's Auxiliary. The Auxiliary was formed by Mrs. Frank F. Apgar, and has become one of the most active woman's organizations in this vicinity. Athletic activities and interest in com- munity affairs were also features of the Legion program. Through the courtesy of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen the Post was permitted
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the use of the aldermanic chamber in the municipal building for all meetings.
In 1921 the employment situation added a new problem to the officers of the Post, and in addition to the usual activities, efforts were directed toward the solution of the veteran's dilemma whose war service had placed him at the bottom of the employment list, due to an unfor- tunate condition in all industries. The men who entered the service were in many cases returned to their former jobs, but they had been unable to keep abreast of the progress of the industries, and when various plants were compelled to reduce the working force the veterans were frequently the first to be released. Many men were assisted by the Legion . in procuring employment.
During the three years of the Legion's existence in Dover it has consistently favored adjusted compensation, firmly believing that all men who served in the World War should receive at least one-half of the wages paid to an ordinary laborer. The five-fold adjusted compensation plan now before Congress has been repeatedly approved by veterans in this vicinity.
The Post has become one of Dover's leading organizations, and on May 27, 1921, formally dedicated their newly furnished headquarters on the third and fourth floors at 30 West Blackwell street. The rooms are equipped with amusement features which have proven to be a source of recreation for practically all of the members.
The membership includes more than a score of disabled men who are receiving compensation from the Government as a result of their injuries. The majority of these men served in the 29th and 78th Divi- sions. Meritorious deeds of valor on the field of action have been fre- quently described in the sketches and history of these divisions, but the members of William Hedges Baker Post who bear the scars of battle seldom refer to their achievements. Two members of the Post are still in hospitals, recovering from recent operations. They are permanently disabled, and all Legion men maintain an active interest in their welfare. The war will never be over for those who suffered, and the Legion has assumed the rôle of guardians, realizing that the general sentiment of the public is to leave the problem entirely in the hands of the Government agencies.
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