The Lost Faces of World War One — Part Two

This is the continuation of a series of stories about men who died in World War 1, and whose photographs appeared in a publication called “Our Nation’s Roll of Honor.” The original post and explanation can be found at this link.  There will also be a complete listing of all the names researched at that same blog post.

LOST FACES OF WORLD WAR ONE: Our Nation’s Roll of Honor — Part 2

ATKINSON, Private Clermie [Clemmie]
Denmark Oregon
Died of Wounds

Clemmie Atkinson was born 27 November 1894 in Ursula,  Sebastian Co., Arkansas, according to the registration form he completed [though he spelled the town “Arsula.”]  He was the son of James & Eliza (Autria/Antria) Atkinson, grandson of Jesse & Elizabeth (Easter) Atkinson.  He grew up in a farming family who lived in Arkansas, and then later removed to Sutton, Oklahoma, and even later lived in Denmark, Oregon.

The Boston Sunday Post of May 12, 1918 at first lists Clemmie Atkinson as being “Mildly Wounded.” The very next list published within days states that he had died of those wounds.

The official “History of the First Division during the World War 1917-1919” describes the scene where Clemmie was wounded. “On the night of May 3d-4th, it was estimated that not less than fifteen thousand high explosive and mustard gas shells fell on a battalion of the 18th Infantry in Villers-Tournelle [see video] in the space of three and one-half hours. More than eight hundred and fifty casualties resulted. The wounded and gassed were treated at Field Hospitals Nos. 12 and 13, where the skillful and tireless devotion of the personnel was a tribute to their efficiency and morale. It was necessary to obtain French uniforms to replace the ruined clothing of the survivors…”

Originally buried in France, Clemmie’s body was returned home for reburial at Arlington National Cemetery. Find-A-Grave’s listing for his grave shows a larger and clearer photograph of this handsome, young man.

His “Interment Card” shows the following:
Atkinson, Clemmie, 47350
Pvt., Co. G, 18th Regiment Oregon Infantry, 1st Div. WW
Died May 6, 1918
Grave #33 #170 American Cemetery, Bonvillers, Oise, France, Section White
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Re-interred: April 7, 1921 at Arlington National Cemetery, VA; Section 18, Site 1326

Clemmie never married.  His family included his mother, Eliza who had married a second time to Samuel Montague. His siblings included: Harvey William “Dutch” Atkinson (1890-1981), and Elizabeth J. “Lizzie Atkinson (1895-?).

BALDWIN, Private George
Chicago IL
Killed in Action

Private George Baldwin’s death was reported 17 June 1918 in various newspapers. The Chicago Daily Tribune of 4 July 1918 shows: Killed in Action: George Baldwin, 29/39 W. Thirty-third St., Chicago IL.

After much research, I have been unable to positive prove who this George Baldwin was.  There were are least six men named George Baldwin, or a close variation, who served during World War I, and all of them appear to have lived beyond July of 1918.  If you know, and can show primary evidence of this man’s identity, I welcome your comment.

BARNETT, Maurice E., Lieut
Neenah, Wisconsin
Killed in Action

Maurice Edward Barnett was  a 2nd Lieut. 79th Co. 6th Regt USMC.  He died 1 November 1918 at Meuse-Argonne, while fighting in the Argonne Forest campaign. He was awarded “two French croix de guerres and the distinguished service cross for bravery.”

2nd Lieut. Maurice E. Barnett is buried in Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Plot C, Row 45, Grave 32, Romagne, France.  His mother, Ida, attended the “Mother’s Pilgrimage” in 1930 to visit her son’s grave.

Maurice Edward Barnett, born 12 October 1897 in Wisconsin, was the son of Maurice E. & Ida (Kreuger) Barnett.  His father owned and operated a pharmacy in Neenah, Wisconsin.   He was unmarried, and had three older sisters: Margaret Sarah Barnett (b. 19 Oct 1890 Wisconsin), Ida Marie (Barnett) Athey (b 17 July 1892 Wisconsin), and Laura (Barnett) Webb (b 15 June 1894 Wisconsin).

Private [Sergeant] Earl C. Bates
Columbus Ohio
Died of Wounds

Earl C. Bates, was born  Feb 1887 in London, Ohio, the son of Horace G. & Cora Bell (Crawford) Bates.   He was inducted into the military on 10 Sep 1917.

Detached to: AHQ Tr 77 Div
10 Sep 1917 Private (Pvt 1 class)
18 May 1918 Sgt.
Served overseas from 29 March 1918 to 3 June 1918
Died 3 June 1918 of wounds received in action
Person notified: mother, Mrs. Cora B. Bates,
202-13th Avenue, Columbus Ohio

Prior to his induction into the military, he was an attorney. “Numerous persons involved in the coach-building trade made sacrifices during America’s involvement in the First World War, including the Keystone Vehicle Company, which lost once of its founders,”  as reported by the September 1918 issue of Law Notes:
“Died In The Service.—Earl C. Bates, aged 31, former well-known Columbus attorney and more recently connected with the National City Bank of New York, is dead in France as a result of wounds received in action.”

Earl A. Bates was single, and had siblings Nora Gertrude (b 16 Nov 1891) and William K. (b 5 Nov 1888, d. 1952).

Private Charlie B. Bolden
Porterville, Ala
Killed in Action

Charlie “Charley” Benjaman Bolden was born 23 September 1893 in Dawson, DeKalb Co., Alabama, son of Vaden H. & Plinia D. “Paulina” (Mitchell) Bolden.  He grew up in a farming family, along with siblings, Chestley, Ross, Jennie and Ethelder, in Lydia, DeKalb, Alabama.

Private Charlie B. Bolden served in Co. B, 30th Infantry.  In 1917 this Regiment was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division.  He died 28 Jul 1918 in France, killed in action, and is buried at the Oise-Aisne American Cemetery   at Fere-en-Tardenois, France, Plot A Row 5 Grave 31.

[Editor’s Note: A tree on Ancestry dot com shows this Charley Bolden as living beyond 1918, marrying and living in other locations.  I believe those trees to be in error, and if anyone has primary evidence to prove me wrong, please contact me by commenting here.]

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