New Hampshire’s World War One History

World War I plaque, Hall of Flags, New Hampshire State House, Concord NH. Photograph courtesy of Debbie LaValley. Used here with her permission.

“New Hampshire World War I Military” is a series of stories I’ve written  that revolve around the lives of heroic men and women who participated in The Great War (or World War) of 1917-1919. Many of these heroes fell on the battlefield. Others died in hospitals and on the home-front. A significant number died from diseases–mostly pneumonia preceded by influenza.

You often will hear “they made the supreme sacrifice.”  Some restrict that term of honor to only those who died in battle.  In my opinion death was the supreme sacrifice they all made regardless of how and where, and those who perished in service deserve our respect and acknowledgement.

My stories are ongoing, and I’ve written about the majority of those whose names are inscribed on the WWI plaque in the New Hampshire State House. But there were many who were left off this plaque. I have honored all the soldiers, sailors, marines, merchant marines,  aviators, nurses, telephone operators, and ambulance drivers with stories too. They all deserve to be remembered.  Some have individual stories, others have a biography in the story commemorating a town or city in New Hampshire.

If you are a relative, a friend, or an interested party who has photographs or World War I plaque, Doric Hall (ie.Hall of letters, corrections, or personal remembrances) I would love to hear from you.  [Look for my email in the “Contact” link].  I am extremely grateful to  Debbie LaValley of Boscawen, New Hampshire for taking photographs of the plaque for this article.  If you are looking for a comprehensive site that covers all of the United States, visit the United States World War I Centennial Commission web site.

EDITOR’S NOTE: I “broke” the first version of this page because it was too large and having too many links.  To avoid repeating this mistake, I’ve divided this page into sections. Each “panel” (Left, Middle Left, Middle Right and Right) of names has a separate page with the “links” (urls) to the biography of the soldier/sailor/nurse etc.

–New Hampshire and World War I–
New Hampshire participated in World War One by providing over 20,000 men for military service, investing $75,465,890 in the first four Liberty Loans, supplying 150,000 members of the Red Cross and contributing $935,000 to that organization’s work. Numerous groups including The Young Men’s and Young Women’s Christian Associations, The Salvation Army, the Jewish Welfare Board, and the Federation of Women’s Clubs, volunteered and donated funds. [From  “New Hampshire: Resources, Attractions, and Its People,” by Hobart Pillsbury; New York, 1927, III, page 804]

New Hampshire’s national guard, composed of 2,750 men, was mustered into service on 25 July 1917. They left Concord NH on August 22 and became part of the 103rd Infantry Regiment, 26th Division–the famed, “Yankee Division.” (Approximately two-fifths of this Division came from New Hampshire, about half were from Maine, and the rest were from Vermont and Massachusetts). The 26th Division was in France by the end of September
1917. New Hampshire men and women also served in other regiments and divisions.

A group of volunteers that would form the 14th Regiment of the Light Railway Engineers were assembled in May of 1917. They were trained in Salem, New Hampshire at what was then the Rockingham Race Track. This regiment went overseas in July of 1917 [See their history, “New Hampshire WWI Military: Railroad Regiment Daredevils.”

In March of 1918 an epidemic of influenza struck the United States, and quickly spread to Europe and the battlefield. New Hampshire was hard hit both in Europe and at home. A significant number of New Hampshire’s military and civilian population died from influenza-related diseases.  Though some were against having immigrants to the United States serve in the military, easily 1/3 of our soldiers and sailors had recently arrived here, and their service helped tip the scales in the favor of the American Expeditionary Forces.

When World War I ended, the New Hampshire legislature took action to recognize those who died. $500,000 was set aside for a joint venture with the State of Maine to build a Memorial Bridge across the Piscataqua River, between Portsmouth (NH) and Kittery (ME). This 1,200-feet long bridge was opened to the public in August of 1923. In 1919 the New Hampshire legislature voted to have a bronze memorial tablet created and placed in the State House. It bears the 697 names of New Hampshire residents who died in the military, naval or auxiliary services of the United States or any of the Allied countries. A transcription can be found below, and a photograph of this tablet is included in this article. Years later a Memorial Building at the University of New Hampshire was designated the official New Hampshire WWI memorial [see coming article].

Some of the photographs shown in my stories are taken from the book “Soldiers of the Great War,” compiled by W.M. Haulsee, F.G. Howe, and A.C. Doyle. Other photographs are from the New York Times pages of which I purchased originals. Yet other photographs are identified as being from local newspapers of the day.  The biographies are my own compilation from many sources, historical and genealogical. So many people have asked me about how I perform my research that I wrote a story called ” A Quick Guide To Researching United States WWI Military Genealogy” and then added to that to create a page called “Cow Hampshire’s Guide for Researching WWI.”

Recipients of the Medal of Honor from New Hampshire. Hall of Flags, New Hampshire State House, Concord NH. Photograph courtesy of Debra LaValley, used here with her permission.

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New Hampshire’s Honor Roll
in Doric Hall (Hall of Flags)
NH State House, Concord NH
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ROLL OF HONOR — 1917-1919
IN HONOR OF THE MEN AND WOMEN OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES
IN THE WORLD-WAR IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY

[LEFT PANEL] [Click here for Abbott-Eugene Desrosiers stories]
Thomas H. Abbott                George J. Bush
John B. Ahern                       Warren G. Bushee
Arthur J. Allard                     Frank A. Buswell
Harley W. Allison                  Paul H. Buzzell
Frank Altobelli                       Leslie C. Cady
Andrew Ansaldo                    Carlo Calderara
Percy Ashley                           Ernest J. Call
Ray R. Averill                         George Caouette
Charles H. Ayer                      Austin H. Carey
Willie J. Bacon                       Charles S. Carpenter
Armond J. Badger                  Joseph Carignan
Burns W. Bailey                      Donald A. Carter
Harold E. Bailey                      N.P. Castonguay
Percy H. Bailey                        Oswald Castonguay
Harry F. Baker                         James Catsavos
Herbert E. Baker                     George M. Cavis
Silas F. Baldwin                       Wilfred J. Chabott
Dante J. Baratelli                    Eugene Chagnon
Arthur J. Baribeau                   Mike T. Champa
Charles O. Barnard                 Clayton C. Chaplin
William H. Barrett                  Lester Chapman
Bernard B. Barry                     Herman C. Charlonne
Stephen F. Barry                     Antonio Chartier
Frank D. Bartlett-                   David Chartier
Harry E. Bassett                      Louis U. Chartier
Claude R. Batchelder              Frank H. Chase
Ray W. Beadle                         Leon L. Chase
Arthur L. Bean-                       Lester W. Chase
Arthur Beauchesne                 William H. Cheney
Sydney W. Beauclerk              Conrad J. Christianson
James H. Beck                         John W. Christie
Robert C. Beckett                    Arthur J. Clark
Frank Beggs                              Earl B. Clark
Herbert H. Bell                        Joseph F. Clark
Osburn Bell                              Millard C. Clark
Frank O. Bemis                       William H.T. Clark
Burton Q. Benjamin               George Clayburn
Aime Benoit                             Edward Clifford
Roy H. Bent                              Merrill Clough
Konstante Berestechki           William O. Clough
Arthur O. Bergeron                 Joseph Clougherty
Henry J. Bergeron                   Gerald K. Clover
Percy Bergin                             James E. Coffey
Ray H. Berry-                           Alfred J. Colby
Joseph Bettenski                     Myron O. Colby
William Betz                             John J. Collins
Seth P. Bickford                       Arthur L. Coleman
James H. Bissell                      Edward J. Condon
Charles E. Bitgood                   James D. Conley
Guy H. Blackstone                   John J. Connors
Herbert W. Blackstone           Ray E. Cooper
Clarence L. Blair                      Andrew F. Connell
Herbert E. Blake                      Paul L. Corriveau
Charles H. Blakeley                 Alfred J. Cote
Paul G. Blandin                        Philias Cote
Arthur H. Bliss                         Theobald P. Cote
Chester A. Bock                       William E. Cote
Hollis I. Bockus                       Louis Coty
Omer Boissonneau                  Earl A. Covey
Frank Booma                            Charles Cox
Robert M. Borland                  Thomas J. Coyne
Dennis J. Bossie                       Earl W. Cram
Lionel Bouchard                       John E. Crawford
Edward Bouford                       Clayton W. Crippen
Emile Boulay                             Daniel J. Cronin
Raymond Boulay                      George H. Cronin
Charles O. Bouley                     James J. Cronin
Eli Bouley                                   Leon H. Crosby
Emil J. Bourassa                       Clarence J. Croteau
William M. Bourdeau               Stanis J. Cullerot
Everett J. Bourdon                    Arthur W. Currie
Alfred N. Bousquet                    Harry L. Curtis
Peter R. Bradley                         William Cyr
William F. Brennan                  Walter Dale
Claude J. Brewster                     Walter G. Dale
Armand A. Brien                        Milo M. Damon
Carl P. Britton                           Alpha J. Danis
Charles H. Brooks                     Thomas Daudier
Frank L. Brooks                         Harry E. Davey
William J. Brown                       Carl G. Davis
Alba F. Brunelle                         John E. Davis
Horace Buckman                       Lawrence C. Davis
Julian J. Bugail                          Ernest W. DeCato
Charles C. Burdick                     Paul C. Dennett
Bertram M. Burke                      Amedie Deschenes
John E. Burnette                        Frank E. Desfosse
Emile T. Burns                            Leo A. Desilets
Eugene Desrosiers

[MIDDLE PANEL – LEFT SIDE ] [Click here for Desrosiers-Houston Stories]
Francois X. Desrosiers             Louis P. Fraser
Wilfred J. Desrosiers                Ronald C. Fraser
William Desruisseaux               Clifford A. Frains
Timothy F. Dickinson               Fred Frechette
George Dilboy                            John E. Freeman
George E. Dion                          Charles T. Freihofer
William H. Dobbins                  Ray M. French
Thomas M. Donnelly                Robert A. French
Charles P. Doran                       Osborne P. Friend
Chris. L. Dougherty                  Mark W. Frost-
Lorenzo Douglass                     Mike Frost
Leroy E. Dow                             William G. Fugere
Harold E. Dowd                         Kenneth E. Fuller
Arthur N. Downing                   Odilion Gagne
Charles J. Downing                   Henry J. Garrett
Francis A. Downing                  Albert Gauthier
James H. Downs-                     Joseph Gay
Charles A. Doyen                      Aimee D. Genard
Elden W. Drew-                        Edward Gerard
Herbert C. Drew                        George R. Gerard
Leon S. Drew                             Mark J. Gilbert
Walter T. Drew                         Patrick J. Gildea
Arthur E. Drouin                      Arthur J . Gillingham
George W. Drouin                    Harold W. Gilman
Amey J. Duby                            Patrick Gilmore
Joseph C. Dubuque                  Harold C. Glass
Joseph Dumas                           Harold E. Glidden
Alphonse Dumond                   Lynnwood C. Glover
Edward J. Dumoulin               Ernest Godreau
Alfred Dunt                               Harold E. Goodell
Ernest J. Dupont                     John R. Goodwin
Adelard C. Dupuis                   Grant H. Gordan
Ezra Dupuis                              William O. Gordon
George E. Dupuis                     Henry Gossler
Otto L. Durand                          Clark A. Goudie
Robert G. Durgin                       Frederick W. Gould
Steve Dusannki                          Harold F. Gove
Harold L. Dutton                       Josaphat O. Goyer
Harold F. Eadie                         Edward J. Grady
Bernard W. Eastman                Frank H.N. Grant
Wesley M. Eastman                  Fred E. Grant
John H. Edmonds                     Clement W. Gravelle
Orrin H. Edwards                      Arthur Gregoire
George H. Elam                          James J. Griffin
Wilmer R. Ellingwood               Roy H. Griggs
Harry Elliott-                              Jean Grimard
Wilkie I. Elliott                           Joseph A. Guerin
Roy S. Ellison                             Theodore H. Guething
Alvah W. Emerson                     Luc Guignard
Harold A. Emerson                    Arthur G. Guyer
Harold R. Emerson                    Joseph N. Guyette
Lloyd F. Emerson                       Albert P. Haas
James D. Enright                       Woodbury D. Hagan
George N. Erlando                     Eugene C. Hagemann
Roy C. Estes                                Walter R. Haire
Dan Evans                                   John P. Haley
Fred Evans                                  Charles W. Hall
George E. Evans                        Amos F. Hamburger
Earl D. Farley                            Frederick C. Harnold-
Irving J. Farley                          Carroll D. Harpell
Charles A. Farrie                       Harry A. Harriman-
Rosario Faucher                        Lynn H. Harriman
Clarence W. Faulkner               Charles Hart
Pawel Fedoreczyk                      Edgar C. Hartford
George F. Feeny                         Louis S. Hartshorn
Apostal A. Fenga                        Estathios Hassotis
William A. Fenlason                  Fay E. Hatt
James H. Ferguson                    Everett M. Heath
Harold M. Field                          George E. Heath
Henry A. Fifield                          Joseph Hebert
Louis J. Fingleton                      Frederick J. Hickey
Amedio Fiori                               Lester H. Hicks
Ervin R. Fisher                           Irving W. Higgins
James E. Fitzwilson                   Hugh C. Hill
Alfred S. Flanders                      Frederick F. Holland
Lester R. Fletcher                      Roy S. Holland
Lucy N. Fletcher                        William A. Holland
Robert H. Fletcher                    William H. Holland
James B. Flynn                          Allen Hollis Jr.
Martin J. Foley                          William S. Holmes
Francis E. Forest                       Grant Holt
James M. Forsaith                    Don S. Hooper
Napoleon Fortier                       Charles F. Horan
William F. Fountain                  Joseph F. Horne
Louis D. Fournier                      Napoleon Houle
Gilbert D. Fraser                        Theodore E. Houle
George S. Houston-

[MIDDLE PANEL – RIGHT SIDE ] [Click here for Humiston-Partridge]
John Humiston                         Thomas D. McLaughlin
Cyril T. Hunt                              Arthur W. McLellan
Frederick R. Huson                  John MacNee
William B. Hussey                    Clarence W. McNeill
Dewey W. Ingerson                  Horatio Machut
Arthur O. Jacob                         Ralph L. Mack
Alfred Jacques                           John J. Maguire
David Jones [Johns]                Arthur P. Mahaney
Arthur C. Johnson                    Edward J. Maher
Homer A. Johnson                    Nulo Mahonen
John W. Johnson                      Apostolos N. Makris
William H. Jutras                      John D. Mallon
Christos N. Kalivas                    John J. Malloy
John C. Kameras                       John P. Mannion
Ancatas Karveles                       Harry A. Mansfield
Arthur P. Kelley                         Emerson Maple
Clarence F. Kelley                      Harold F. Marsh
Daniel F. Kelley                          Fred A. Marshall
Peter Kelley                                Jesse H. Marston-
Ralph H. Kelsey                         Albert S. Martel
Boleslavas P. Kemes                 William Martel
Joseph A. Kennedy                   John T. Martin
Vernon H. Kenneson               Joseph A. Masevich
Charlie C. Kilborn                     Gustave Mason
Frank E. Kilduff                        Leander Massicotte
Thomas Kilrain                         George E. Matson
Chauncy A. King                       Earl R. Maxwell
George E. King                          George J. Maxfield
Lee H. Knapp                             John P. Meade
Alojzy Kubicki                          Alexander Melnik
Leon Labonville                       George E. Merrill
Nelson A. LaBounty                Alphonse J. Messier
Oliver J. Lacasse                      Louis Michaud
Oliva Lachapelle                      Edgar E. Miller
George E. Ladd                       John H. Miller
Arthur W. LaFlamme            Edward W. Millerick
George J. LaFleur                   John E. Minatt
Albert J. Lagasse                    Albert C. Minnon
Kenneth B. Laird                   Charles H. Moberg
Alfred A. Laliberte                 Earl R. Montgomery
Harry P. Lambrukos              Valere Montminy
Raymond C. Lamere              George J. Moody
Owen B. Lamotte                    Arthur J. Mooney
Harold H. Lang                       Frank G. Moore
Amede LaPlante                      Oscar G. Morehouse
Ernest A. LaPlante                  John M. Moriarty
Harry H. Larendeau               Jeremiah T. Morley
Aurele J. Larue                        Leslie H. Morrill
Arthur J. Lavigne                    Harris D. Morrison
Alphonse J. Lavoie                  Arthur W. Morse
Edmond LeBlanc                     John H. Moulton
Frank E. LeBlanc                     Orris P. Mudgett
Amos O. LeClair                       Michael Mulroy
Henry J. LeClair                       William Mundell
Cecil W. Leighton                     Teresa M. Murphy
Victor W. LeMay                       Ralph B. Murray
Arthur Lemieux                        William M. Myers
Arthur J. Lemire                       Albert N. Nailer
Ralph LeVasseur                       Victor J. Nartoff
Allen D. Lewis                            Harold P. Nelson
Donald W. Libby                       Ray B. Nelson
William H. Libby                       Napoleon Nevu
Frank L. Litdker                        Joseph Niding
Herman F. Little                       Edgar I. Norcross
Thomas Lizotte                          Anne F. Norton
Chester J. Loiselle                     Harold R. Noyes
William J. Longever                  William F. O’Brien
Edward W. Lorick                      Albert OClair
Ralph J. Loveren                        Frank J. O’Connor
Lester E. Lovett                          Thomas O’Connor
John Luczko                               George B. Oliver
Milford H. Lunt                         Olof E. Olson
Michael J. Lynch                       George L. O’Neil
William H. Lynch Jr.                 James W. O’Neil
James A. McCann                      John E. O’Neil
Charles J. McDonald                 Leon R. Otis
Samuel F. McDonald                 Burt L. Paige
John McElroy                              Stephen Panaras
Patrick McGoff                            Stratis Papanastasion
Edward J. McGoldrick              Edmond Paquette
Clarence W. McGown                Fabien Parent
Earl O. McGrath                         Foster Parmerton
Robert MacInnis                        George D. Parnell
Jane McIntosh                            George E. Parr
Francis P. McKeown                  Patrick J. Parsons
Peter A. McLaughlin                  Merritt E. Partridge

[RIGHT PANEL ] [Click here for Patch-Young]
Arthur T. Patch                           Fred W. Sleeper
Charles H. Payson Jr.                Christopher Smart
Clarence L. Perkins                    Archibald L. Smith
Harry R. Perkins                         Forrest E. Smith
Ralph H. Perkins                        Joseph N. Smith
James W. Perrott                       Patrick J. Smith
William N. Perry                        Perley V. Smith-
Evelyn V. Petrie                          Robert P. Snow
Carleton L. Petry                        Louis Somers
George A. Philbrick                  William B. Southmayd
Vernon N. Phillips                    Harold M. Spaulding
Emile Pichette                           Herbert E. Staples
Sydney R. Pickles                     Stanislaw Stefanski
Lewis A. Pierce                         George H. Stenstream
Almon R. Pingree                     Fred N. Stevens
Murray S. Plante                      John H. Stevens Jr.
Joseph A. Pourier Jr.              Willis A. Stevens
Oliver Pombrio                         George L. Stratton
Clarence J. Popple                   Riley V. Strong
Leopold Portinari                     Charles A. Sturtevant
Clarence O. Post                        Walter D. Sturtevant
Morris P. Potvin-                      Edward J. Sullivan
Charles F. Prauman                 Henry J. Sweeney
Cecil H. Prentiss                      Omar J. Talbot
Isaiah J. Proulx                        Sidney A. Taylor
Wilfred R. Provencher            Albert Thibeault
Andrew J. Provost                   Harold A. Thomas
Albert N. Pyne                          William H. Thomas
Benjamin F. Quinlan              Forrest A. Thompson
Wallace E. Rand                      Raymond W. Thompson
Walter F. Randall                   William S. Thompson
William H. Randall                Robert M. Thornburgh
Florence G. Ray                      Frederick A. Toomer
Hypolite J. Raza                     Frederick S. Towle
John J. Reddington               Howard A. Towle
Charles O. Reed                      Milton S. Towns
Philip B. Reid                          Arthur T. Trottier
Albert W. Reynolds               Edward A. Trottier
Rosario Ricciardi                   Willard L. Tucker
Joseph O. Richard                 Harry H. Turcotte
Carl H. Richard                      Ralph A. Turgion
Joseph L. Richardson           Paul L. Underwood
Robert L. Rickard                   Samuel Valley
Joseph M. Rivers                    Cyrille Veilleux
Leroy G. Rivers                        Irving Veno
Alfred Roberge                         Leopold Vincent
Joseph H. Roberge                  Pascal E. Vincent
Maurice H. Roberts                 Roland H. Waitt
David Robidoux                       Ivan V. Walker
William H. Robinson              Edward Walsh
Ervin H. Roby                          Raymond E. Walton
Harold R. Rogers                    Russell H. Ward
Harry J. Rogers                      Clyde A. Warren
Perley F. Rogers                     Earl A. Webster
Horace Rose                            Verne H. Weld
Frank L. Ross                         George H. Wentworth
Tracy J. Ross                         Howard F. West
Irving W. Rossiter                Ike Whatley
Ludger Roy                            Arnold H. Wheaton
Joseph Rouleau Jr.             David L. Wheeler
Charles Russell                     Elwyn S. Wheeler
Matthew M. Ryan                Ralph W. Wheeler
Thomas J. Ryan                   Fay E. Whipple
George A. Ryder                  Roswell D. Whitcomb
Emile St. Hilaire                 Verdi E. Whitcomb
Charles E. St. Pierre           John P. White
Ellis R. Sanborn-                Warren H. White
Ernest F. Sanders-              Frank C. Whiteman
Joseph Sanel                        Leslie G. Whiteman
Azade Savoie                        Franklin H. Whittemore
Everett Scammon               Willis Whittier
Theodore D. Schmidt         Frank W. Wilkins
Francis A. Scott                    Pitt S. Willand
Frederick P. Seelig              Alexander E. Wilson
William J. Seelye+              Donald K. Wilson
Sarkis H. Semonian            George H. Wood(s)
Chester H. Shapleigh          Chester W. Woods
Henry W. Sharkey              Leland H. Woods
Arthur E. Shaw                   Rene Woods
Howard H. Shawney         Clifton Wormhood
Allen Shea                            Laurent Wouters
Daniel K. Shedd                  Fred W. Wyman
Arthur L. Sheldon              Lynn H. Yeaton
Ralph W. Shirley                Ernest W. Young
Arthur H. Skinner              Gleason W. Young
Randolph T. Zane

+should read “Julius F. Seelye”
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A D D I T I O N A L   R E A D I N G
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World War I STORIES of Towns and Cities in New Hampshire
—World War I: Women of New Hampshire
—WWI Era: 100 Years Ago in New Hampshire
The New Hampshire WWI Service Medal
—World War I: More NH Heroes
Cow Hampshire’s Guide to Researching World War I

If you wonder why I write my stories, please watch this video.
*For A Soldier Died Today* (Steve Harper)

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