WW1 Casualty of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive: Manchester NH’s Pvt. Henry Gossler (1896-1918)

Posted on 8 June, 2014 by Janice Brown

GOSSLER HENRY PHOTO watermarkHenry Gossler was born on 15 Mar 1896 in Manchester NH, the son of German immigrants, Henry & Lena (Viehweg) Gossler. In 1899 Henry’s parents and grandparents had left their home in the town of Hof, on the banks of the Saale River in the German state of Bavaria, seeking a better life in America.

Henry was the fourth of seven children, and the first to be born in the United States. He grew up at 151 Thornton Street, only a few blocks from the park and school that now bears his name, and no doubt he played there as a child in the large wooded lot. Henry attended the local schools (probably Rimmon Grammar School at Dubuque & Amory Streets). Continue reading →

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WW2 U.S. Infantry Casualty of Operation Overlord: Capt. Jeremiah Aidan Sheehan (1911-1944)

Posted on 6 June, 2014 by Janice Brown
Photograph of Capt. Jeremiah A. Sheehan with wife Helen Marie and daughter Marguerite. Photograph copyright Marguerite Sheehan Redwine, used here with her permission.

Photograph of Capt. Jeremiah A. Sheehan with wife Helen Marie and daughter Marguerite. Photograph copyright Marguerite Sheehan Redwine, used here with her permission.

Jeremiah Aidan Sheehan was born 8 October 1911 in Manchester NH to Irish immigrants, Daniel & Mary Agnes (Sullivan) Sheehan. He grew up in a his parents home at 430 Auburn Street, a house that overlooks the very park named after him. His father Daniel was a tinsmith. Jeremiah attended the local schools of the city, graduating from Central High School [probably], and later the University of New Hampshire in 1934, with a Bachelor of Science degree [confirmed by UNH Alumni office] as a premed major.

He had served as a 2nd Lieutenant in New Hampshire’s National Guard (Battery F, 2nd Battalion, 172nd Field Artillery), and in 1941 when he was called to active duty in the United States Army. He was assigned to the 343rd Field Artillery Battalion, 90th Division as a replacement. At some point, the 90th was sent to Fort Hood, Texas. According to his daughter Jeremie, it is here where he met (at the officer’s club) and married Miss Helen Marie Wise of Louisiana and where his first child was born.  As D-Day approached he was shipped to Europe.  Continue reading →

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Manchester New Hampshire’s Sheehan-Basquil Park and Hunt Memorial Pool

Posted on 5 June, 2014 by Janice Brown
Aerial view of southeast Manchester pre 1957. Gill Stadium in the center, diagonally up and left is the empty lot that would eventually become Sheehan-Basqil Park. Photograph by Pete Caikauskas Sr. Copyright held by his family, used here with permission

Aerial view of southeast Manchester pre-1957. Gill Stadium in the center, diagonally up and left is the empty lot that would eventually become Sheehan-Basquil Park and Hunt Memorial Pool. Photograph by Pete Caikauskas Sr. Copyright held by his family (Dave Caikauskas); used here with permission

According to a 2009 Manchester Union Leader newspaper report, in the early 1950s, Alderman John F. Mills (Ward 7, last year served 1953) “proposed that the landfill area bordered by Maple, Auburn and Wilson streets be turned into a neighborhood park. His proposal, which included naming the park jointly after Captain Jeremiah Aiden Sheehan (killed on Aug. 7, 1944, in LeMans, Normandy, France) and PFC James H. Basquil was approved by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.”

Continue reading →

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Manchester NH’s Casualty of D-Day: Sgt. T/4 Charles William Blanchard (1922-1944)

Posted on 3 June, 2014 by Janice Brown

It is estimated that 2,500 Americans and 3,000 other Allied troops died on D-Day,”

Charles W. Blanchard as a young man. Photograph property of Judith Hardy, his great-niece, used with her permission.

Charles W. Blanchard as a young man. Photograph property of Judith Hardy, his grand-niece, used with her permission.

according to the D-Day Museum. Among them was a 21-year old Manchester man, Charles William Blanchard.

He was the only son of Harry Dwight & Agnes (Johnson) Blanchard, born 18 August 1922 in Manchester, Hillsborough Co., NH.  He grew up at 139 Knowlton Street (1930) and at 121 Oakdale Avenue (1940+). He attended local Manchester schools and was a high school graduate (probably of Central High School). Charles W. Blanchard enlisted on 6 November 1942 and was inducted into the U.S. Army on the 20th of the same month. He was assigned to HQ Company 175th Infantry. Continue reading →

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WW2 Army Yankee Division Casualty in France: PFC James H. Basquil (1922-1944)

Posted on 2 June, 2014 by Janice Brown

James H. Basquil was born 12 January 1922 in Manchester New Hampshire to Irish

Photograph of James H. Basquil (1922-1944)

Photograph of James H. Basquil (1922-1944), son of James & Nora (Kelley) Basquil.

immigrants, James & Nora (Kelley) Basquil.  His father James had been born in Couty Mayo Ireland, and arrived in America about 1911.  James met, then married Nora Kelley in Manchester in 1916. They both became naturalized citizens of the United States and began to raise a family.

When James was born, the family was living at 398 Cedar Street [which is only a few blocks from Sheehan-Basquil Park]. Tragedy struck the Basquil family when his mother Nora died suddenly, on the day after Christmas in 1926–James was only 4 years old.  The children were placed in orphanages, at least for a while.  In 1930 James Basquil, along with his brothers Lewis and Edward can be found in St. Joseph’s Boy’s Home in Manchester, while his sister is at St. Patrick’s Orphanage.  By 1940 the Basquil children were back living with their father James at 335 Lake Avenue. The then 18-yearo-old James H. Basquil had completed four years of high school at St. Joseph’s, and was listed as being a “NH Arts & Crafts Student NYA School Project.” [The NYA was a federal program to provide youth with employment]. Continue reading →

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