Edward Harold Dowd aka Harold E. Dowd was born 2 Aug 1895 in Manchester NH, to John D. & Bridget “Delia” (Connor) Dowd. Harold’s father John was by occupation a shoemaker. In 1910 the family was living at 145 Pine Street, Apt #9. Harold had two siblings, John F. and Matilda.
In 1917 when Harold completed his War Registration form, he was residing at 145 Pine Street Manchester NH. At that time he was the
recruiting officer for the State of NH’s National Guard, as a non commissioned officer. He listed he had served in the NG for 4 years. He was of medium height and build, with blue eyes black hair.
He, like other young men of the NH National Guard, was mustered into the regular army. He served with the rank of Sergeant in Co. K of the 103rd Infantry. He was sent to the battlefield of Europe, where he was killed in action on 20 July 1918.
At first all those who fell were buried nearby. When the war ended his remains were returned home to Manchester, where he was reburied in the Old St. Joseph Cemetery. A military headstone was ordered by his mother, and placed on his grave. His name is inscribed on the WWI Roll of Honor in Doric Hall of the New Hampshire State House.
The Nashua Telegraph newspaper of Aug 7, 1918 states, “Miss Matilda Dowd, one of the nurses training at St Joseph Hospital, is a sister of Sgt Harold Dowd of Manchester, who was reported as among those killed in action in France in July.”
For additional stories of Manchester NH military in World War I, see: New Hampshire WWI Military: Heroes of Manchester.
[Editor’s Note: this story is part of an on-going series about heroic New Hampshire men and women of World War I. Look here for the entire listing].
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