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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New Hampshire WWI Military: Private Joseph Arthur Irene Brisebois aka Rene Woods of Sandown

Posted on 28 July, 2018 by Janice Brown

Photograph of Rene Woods from the NY Times insert of 1918. This photo scanned from the original in the possession of J. W. Brown.

The town of Sandown New Hampshire sent more than its share of heroes to serve during World War I. In fact that small place sent the highest percentage of men based on population. Among those men was one who would not return. The newspapers called him Private Rene Woods, and stated he served in B Company, 104th Infantry, and was of Sandown NH.

It was not easy to track Rene down. I looked at the census records, the WWI Registration forms and burial records. There were Woods families who lived in the area, but I could not find Rene’s. The Gold Star Record of Massachusetts gave me my biggest clue. Apparently Rene and his family had used the surname Brisebois interchangeably, and even then the Gold Star record didn’t get it exactly right. Continue reading →

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