By Jack P.
As November 11th, 2018 draws closer it marks the 100th anniversary of a very significant event in human history; The end of the first world war. Over 60 million soldiers, many as young as 18 participated in what was later called “The War To End All Wars.” Of those more than 60 million, more than 8.5 million never returned. It went down as one of the bloodiest conflicts in human history. From the ashes, new nations and empire would rise. But some great empires like the Ottoman Empire would not survive the war. It’s hard to imagine that a small town of less than 20,000 would greatly help contribute to the United States war efforts. But one little town did, and its name is Marblehead, Massachusetts.
Of the 4,355,000 soldiers mobilized by the United States in World War 1. A surprising 1,346 of those brave men and women were from Marblehead alone. Over 189,000 Massachusetts residents also served in the war. Of the total 5,775 bay state residents killed in action, 6 of them were headers. The 6 receivers of the Golden star were Lt. Charles H. Evans, John Alexis Roundy, Irving E. Brown, William F. Farry, Christian S. Christensen, and John MvGee. 10th Deck Division member and Swampscott resident George W. Morrill also lost his life overseas.
Since even during the American Revolution. Marblehead has done everything it can to preserve American Freedom and Liberty. During the American Revolution, if General John Glover and his Marblehead Regiment of fishermen and sailors had not saved Washington’s rear end by rowing the entire continental army across the freezing Delaware river in the pitch black of the night, then most likely Washington and all this troops would have been slaughtered! Then 85 years later. At the outbreak of the Civil War. Marblehead was one of the fist towns to send troops to support Lincoln. Then after request were sent to Washington by the little seaside town in 1915 were approved. That lead to the formation of last of five naval malitals. The Tenth Deck Division. They were deployed and operated from the Dreadnought class Battleship USS NEBRASKA. (BB-14).
Many Marbleheaders overseas in France wrote home to their families about the horrific conditions. Leonard Oliver, a member of the Battery D, 101st field artillery wrote home about some of this trench experiences. “I found a pair of German leather boots the other day and they are the only things that kept my feet dry. I look funny walking around with them on, but as long as they keep my feet dry I am going to wear them.” In this particular letter home, Oliver also describes a ‘Cottie Bath’. Later writing that the Huns (Germans) landed a shell right in the middle of the Cootie bath. Luckily Oliver wrote that nobody was killed or seriously injured by the blast.
This all goes to show that even the smallest and most obscure places can greatly contribute to such a massive event. This the Marblehead we need to remember and respect all those Marbleheaders that served, and the 6 that died fighting in the trenches of World War 1.
Credit Sources: Marblehead In World War 1, At home and overseas. By Margery A. Armstrong (Book), Britannica.com, Marblehead.wickedlocal.com, and wikipedia.org(only for dates of wars starts and ending years!).
As November 11th, 2018 draws closer it marks the 100th anniversary of a very significant event in human history; The end of the first world war. Over 60 million soldiers, many as young as 18 participated in what was later called “The War To End All Wars.” Of those more than 60 million, more than 8.5 million never returned. It went down as one of the bloodiest conflicts in human history. From the ashes, new nations and empire would rise. But some great empires like the Ottoman Empire would not survive the war. It’s hard to imagine that a small town of less than 20,000 would greatly help contribute to the United States war efforts. But one little town did, and its name is Marblehead, Massachusetts.
Of the 4,355,000 soldiers mobilized by the United States in World War 1. A surprising 1,346 of those brave men and women were from Marblehead alone. Over 189,000 Massachusetts residents also served in the war. Of the total 5,775 bay state residents killed in action, 6 of them were headers. The 6 receivers of the Golden star were Lt. Charles H. Evans, John Alexis Roundy, Irving E. Brown, William F. Farry, Christian S. Christensen, and John MvGee. 10th Deck Division member and Swampscott resident George W. Morrill also lost his life overseas.
Since even during the American Revolution. Marblehead has done everything it can to preserve American Freedom and Liberty. During the American Revolution, if General John Glover and his Marblehead Regiment of fishermen and sailors had not saved Washington’s rear end by rowing the entire continental army across the freezing Delaware river in the pitch black of the night, then most likely Washington and all this troops would have been slaughtered! Then 85 years later. At the outbreak of the Civil War. Marblehead was one of the fist towns to send troops to support Lincoln. Then after request were sent to Washington by the little seaside town in 1915 were approved. That lead to the formation of last of five naval malitals. The Tenth Deck Division. They were deployed and operated from the Dreadnought class Battleship USS NEBRASKA. (BB-14).
Many Marbleheaders overseas in France wrote home to their families about the horrific conditions. Leonard Oliver, a member of the Battery D, 101st field artillery wrote home about some of this trench experiences. “I found a pair of German leather boots the other day and they are the only things that kept my feet dry. I look funny walking around with them on, but as long as they keep my feet dry I am going to wear them.” In this particular letter home, Oliver also describes a ‘Cottie Bath’. Later writing that the Huns (Germans) landed a shell right in the middle of the Cootie bath. Luckily Oliver wrote that nobody was killed or seriously injured by the blast.
This all goes to show that even the smallest and most obscure places can greatly contribute to such a massive event. This the Marblehead we need to remember and respect all those Marbleheaders that served, and the 6 that died fighting in the trenches of World War 1.
Credit Sources: Marblehead In World War 1, At home and overseas. By Margery A. Armstrong (Book), Britannica.com, Marblehead.wickedlocal.com, and wikipedia.org(only for dates of wars starts and ending years!).
