New Hampshire WWI Military: Heroes of Peterborough

Posted on 9 August, 2018 by Janice Brown

Postcard of Peterborough’s original wooden
honor roll for WWI service. From collection of
J.W. Brown.

When the United States entered the World War in April of 1917, the citizens of Peterborough rallied to service.  Over 100 men joined or rejoined the armed service branches in some capacity. By the time the war ended, four gold stars would represent the heroic lives of those who would never return home–William H. Cheney, Edward F. Greene, Carroll D. Harpell, and David Johns.

Even before the war ended, service was being recognized on an Honor Roll made of wood, and hand painted by A.L. Holt. The board stood south of the Town House building on the west side of Grove Street. The names of those who fell or died in service were preceded by a gold star.  An old postcard of that sign is shown here.  On 11 November 1923 two bronze plaques replaced the wooden sign.  My own list combing the names from both is shown in the honor roll directly below.
Continue reading →

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New Hampshire WWI Military: Heroes of Pittsfield

Posted on 7 August, 2018 by Janice Brown

1919 Old Home Day parade of veterans in
Pittsfield New Hampshire. Granite State
Monthly magazine.

In August of 1919 the town of Pittsfield New Hampshire held its (then) grandest Old Home Day celebration. The young men and women of the town who had served in the military and other service capacities were recently home from the World War (now called World War I).  A plaque was being dedicated to all those who served.

It was not just the soldiers who were applauded that day. An account of the food production during the war was announced. A Granite State Magazine story by Edward Scott on this event stated: “There were forty war gardens which yielded vegetables for many families for the fall and winter. The use of the land was furnished free; its preparation for planting and, where necessary seed were also free. The farmers of the town did excellent service by increasing food production and the wheat crops were much greater than in previous years.” Continue reading →

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New Hampshire WWI Military: Private Roy H. Bent of Wilton

Posted on 4 August, 2018 by Janice Brown

The town of Wilton NH had about 1500 citizens when World War I began.  The town send its best and brightest youth to service including (not a complete list) Andrew W. Bean, Michael H. Barry, Joseph O. Berube, Roy H. Bent, John W. Brennan, William J. Brunelle, John F. Burke, Harold A. Butler, Edgar H. Butterfield, William M. Connors, Lawrence R. Duval, Louis A. Fairfield, George S. Forbush, Frank Lapointe, Marcel H. Nichols, Wilfrid S. Pellerin, Frank H. Quigley, Clarence A. Russell, Joseph M. Stanton, Fred Eugene Tuttle, John H. Tighe, Edward Varley, and James A. Wing. At least one of these men did not return from the war. Continue reading →

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New Hampshire WWI Military: Private Konstante Berestechki

Posted on 2 August, 2018 by Janice Brown

Photograph of the Arlington
National Cemetery Tombstone of
Konstante Berestechki.

Private Konstante Berestechki is a bit of a mystery. There are records that show that during WWI he served in the U.S. Army in Company A, 301st Engineers, and that he died of disease while serving overseas in Germany. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery with honors, and credited to New Hampshire. His name is even listed on the Roll of Honor in Doric Hall of the New Hampshire State House. But who was he, how old was he, and where did he enlist?

Private Berestechki’s records show that he was born in Russia and originally inducted on 1 May 1918 into the U.S. Army. Konstante Berestechki was a Private in Company A, 301st Engineers when he was shipped from Brooklyn NY to Europe aboard the ship Katoomba. His service number was 2721820. He stated his residence as Wolynska Gut Russia, and his father as being Kondrat Berestechki. It was slightly unusual not to list a USA connection but this was not the first I’ve seen. Continue reading →

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New Hampshire WWI Military: Heroes of Charlestown

Posted on 30 July, 2018 by Janice Brown

Charlestown NH’s WWI plaque on the
back of the Civil War monument.
Photograph courtesy of
Richard S. Marsh.

In front of the Silsby Pubic Library in Charlestown, New Hampshire sits a memorial to both the Civil War and World War I.  The Civil War monument was placed earlier, unveiled on 6 October 1911. At that time there was no inkling that only a few years later another war, the World War, would erupt in Europe.

After the Armistice of 1918, a list was compiled and a bronze tablet bearing the names of Charlestown citizens who had served in World War I was added to the west face (rear) in 1929.  The monument reads as follows, with an asterisk (star) denoting the soldier who did not return home.  [Editor’s note, the comments in parentheses in the following list do not exist on the original monument, as they are notes I have added to show their service regiments.  The names in brackets are those who claimed Charlestown NH as their home but they are not listed on the Charlestown NH plaque]. Continue reading →

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