The Weymouth, Massachusetts World War I Casualty List

The Great War

Because of the magnitude, in numbers of soldiers, civilians and dollars involved in this war, worldwide, it was originally called The Great War. There were over 8 million military deaths and 6 million civilian deaths from this world catastrophe in the years 1914 until 1918. The United States involvement was only for the last year, yet the impact we made represented our emergence as a world power.

Little did anyone know then, that 20 years later an even more devastating conflict would encompass the planet. That being World War Two, this conflict then became known as World War One, and without this war, there would not have been a second. It turned out to be quite ironic considering that Woodrow Wilson, as part of the Treaty Of Versaille attempted to include the Covenant of the League Of Nations so that this war would be "the war to end all war".

In all, the Town Of Weymouth would send over 700 boys overseas to fight. After the war, as those that made it through the war came home again, the American Legion was formed to help them find jobs and provide assistance. For the town's part, a new civic center area would be constructed, including the War Memorial Wall and Legion Memorial Field, to forever remember those that sacrificed.

Private Frederick Wells Polley

145th and 50th Canadian Overseas Infantry Battalion, KIA (killed in action) at the Battle Of Arras for Vimy Ridge on March 31, 1917

When Britain declared war on Germany on August 4, 1914, Canada and the other members of the British Empire were automatically involved; they had not been consulted beforehand. On August 5, 1914, the Governor General declared a war between Canada and Germany. Canadians of British descent—the majority—gave widespread support arguing that Canadians had a duty to fight on behalf of their Motherland. There are two men from Weymouth that died fighting for “their” country as well as the United States. Pvt. Polleys is the only one however, killed in action prior to America’s actual involvement in The Great War and the first of Weymouth’s war casualties.

Pvt. Polley was a member of the Alberta Regiment. He came to South Weymouth from New Brunswick, Canada. Prior to his attaining U.S. citizenship, Canada entered the war and Mr. Polley made his way back to Sackville, New Brunswick where he enlisted on December 31, 1915. He was 24 years old when he was killed at the Vimy Ridge Offensive. He is listed on the Vimy Memorial located in Pas De Calais, France.

Frederick Wells Polley Square is located at the junction of Elm and Pleasant Streets in South Weymouth, MA

The Yanks Are Coming!

Second Class Seaman Grover Sprague

U.S. Navy, USS New York, died at Yorktown, VA on June 13, 1917

Seaman Sprague grew up on 267 Columbian St., South Weymouth. He entered the Navy on April 18, 1916, a year prior to the U.S. entering World War I. He died of measles aboard the dreadnought battleship USS New York while patrolling the Atlantic Coast prior to heading to Europe.

Private William J. Johnson

U.S. Army, 5th and 101st Infantry, died at St. Nazaire, France on October 29, 1917

A large majority of the troops had been in active service, on guard duty or in training, following response to the call of the President on various dates before and after the declaration of war on April 6th. Mobilized at the State or other training camps, at Framingham, Westfield, and Boxford, Massachusetts; New Haven and Niantic, Connecticut; and Quonset Point, Rhode Island, the units of the Division were held there for further training, and to receive their equipment, until the time should come to send them overseas.

The first elements of the Division to arrive abroad were Headquarters, 51st Infantry Brigade, and 101st Infantry, which, sailing from Hoboken, N. J., on September 7, landed at St. Nazaire, France, on September 21, 1917. The remainder followed rapidly, until by the end of October all units had arrived in France.

Pvt. Johnson had lived on Madison St., East Weymouth. He enlisted on July 25, 1917 was among the first wave of American troops to be sent “over there”. He became ill on the trip across the Atlantic and died of pneumonia. He was buried at St. Francis Xavier Cemetery in South Weymouth on January 29, 1922, over 4 years after he had died.

William J. Johnson Square is located at the junction of 654 Broad and Madison Streets in East Weymouth, MA

Private Vincent A. Gorman

U.S. Army 50th and 100th Aero Bombardment Squadron, 15th Squad, lost at sea in the sinking of the S.S. Tuscania on February 5, 1918

Pvt. Gorman was officially declared "Buried at Sea" and his name is on the "Tablets of the Missing" at Suresnes American Cemetery Suresnes, France.

The SS Tuscania was a luxury liner of the Cunard subsidiary Anchor Line, named after a town in Italy. She was torpedoed on Feb. 5, 1918 by the German U-boat UB-77 while carrying American troops to Europe and sank with a loss of 210 American soldiers and 45 of the ship’s crew. It was the first time since the American Civil War, that the United States had suffered the loss of mass casualties on a single day. The news of the loss was published nationally in the states; the reaction was a mixture of surprise and shock. In 1920 the American Red Cross erected a monument on the Isle of Islay, where many of the victims had been buried before their transfer that year to the American War Cemetery at Brookwood [England] or to their homeland.

Pvt. Gorman was born and raised at 22 Centre St., East Weymouth. He liked baseball and played as a second baseman for the Weymouth High School team as well as other local teams. He left for France on the Tuscania just a few days after marrying Grace Gooding. He is officially listed as "lost at sea".

Vincent A. Gorman Square is located at the junction of Commercial and Middle Streets in East Weymouth, MA adjacent to the Legion Memorial Field.

Private Arthur B. Hurley

Company M, 9th Infantry, U.S. Army, died on June 27, 1918 of wounds received at the Battle Of Chateau-Thierry. He was the first Weymouth boy to be killed in action at "the front".

Pvt. Hurley grew up at 42 Norton St., North Weymouth the son of Mr. and Mrs. Simon Hurley. His body was returned home in May of 1921 and he was laid to rest in St. Paul's Cemetery in Hingham, Mass.

Arthur B. Hurley Square is located at the junction of North and Sea Streets in a section of North Weymouth, MA also known as Thomas’ Corner.

Private William R. Monteith

U.S. Army 6th Engineer Regiment, 3rd Army, killed in action at the Champagne-Marne Defensive on July 15, 1918.

Buried at: Plot A Row 24 Grave 32, Oise-Aisne American Cemetery, Fere-en-Tardenois, France.

Pvt. Monteith lived with his parents on Birch Brow Avenue in North Weymouth. He was killed in action while attempting to rescue 2 comrades under heavy artillery fire. He was laid to rest in April, 1919 in Weymouth.

William R. Monteith Square is located at the junction of Union and Central Streets in South Weymouth, MA.

Second Lieutenant Parker Bradford Jones

U.S. Army Co. C, 1st Corps Cadets, 101st Engineers and 23rd Infantry, killed in action at the Aisne-Marne Offensive on July 19, 1918.

Lt. Jones was born in Hyde Park, Mass. and later lived at 490 Pond St., South Weymouth. He was laid to rest in Hingham Cemetery on May 30, 1922.

Parker B. Jones Square is located at the junction of Main and Pond Streets in South Weymouth, MA

Corporal Harold Beaton

U.S. Army 3rd Air Service Signal Corps stationed at Camp Hancock, GA and Camp Greene, NC, died at Camp Greene on August 18, 1918

Corporal Beaton lived at 55 Broad St., East Weymouth.

He is listed as dying of disease while stationed at Camp Greene, NC. He had attained the rank of Sergeant at the time of his death.

Private First Class Nicodemo Fudo

U.S. Army 306th Infantry, 77th Division, killed in action at the Aisne-Marne Offensive on August 27, 1918

Buried at: Plot B Row 13 Grave 28, Aisne-Marne American Cemetery, Belleau, France

Pvt. Fudo had lived at 11 Lake St., East Weymouth.

Second Lieutenant Harold W. Hyland

U.S. Army 309th/129th and 127th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Division, killed in action at the Oise-Aisne Offensive on September 1, 1918

Buried at: Plot D Row 25 Grave 16, Oise-Aisne American Cemetery, Fere-en-Tardenois, France

Lt. Hyland was raised in Weymouth at 47 King Ave. and graduated from Weymouth High School in 1909 and Mass. Agricultural College in 1913. He was working as a professor on the west coast when he was called to duty. He attended Officer's Training School and was deployed overseas as a 2nd Lt. where he was severely wounded in battle and later died. The American Legion Post #53, located in Hemet, California is named for him.

Harold W. Hyland Square is located at the junction of Main and Washington Streets in Weymouth, MA

Sergeant James C. Glencross

U.S. Army 317th Field Signal Battalion, died on October 2, 1918 of wounds received at the Meuse-Argonne Offensive

Buried at: Plot B Row 27 Grave 15, Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Romagne, France.

Sgt. Glencross grew up at School Street, East Weymouth. He entered the Army on March 2, 1918.

Private Thomas F. Donovan Jr.

U.S. Army 302nd and 9th Infantry, killed in action at the Meuse-Argonne Offensive on October 3, 1918

Pvt. Donovan, of 20 Franklin St., Weymouth had been employed in the shoe industry in Weymouth prior to entering the service. He mustered into the Army on October 5, 1917 and almost a year to the day later, shrapnel from a bomb that exploded while he was on patrol in St. Etunne, France killed him instantly. He was returned home and buried at St. Francis Xavier Cemetery in South Weymouth on December 18, 1921.

Thomas F. Donovan Square is located at the junction of Broad and Webb Streets in Weymouth, MA

Ensign Lawrence Hill Cate

U.S. Navy stationed at Hampton Roads, VA and Pensacola, FL died at Pensacola on October 9, 1918

Listed as an Ensign on the Memorial Wall tablet, Lt. Cate had been promoted and was a squadron commander and instructor at a training facility when he contracted influenza and died. At the time of his death he was engaged to be married. He was born on April 19, 1896 and attended Weymouth Schools. He graduated from Thayer Academy in Braintree in 1916 and went to Bowdoin College for 2 years prior to enlisting. He successfully completed Naval Aviation School with high marks.

Lt. Cate is buried at Village Cemetery in Weymouth, Mass.

Corporal Joseph Haskell Whall

U.S. Marine Corps, 134th Co., 6th Regiment, wounded in action at the Battle Of St. Mihiel in September, 1918 and died from those wounds on October 9.

Corporal Whall grew up in Quincy before living and operating an auto repair business at 18 Willow Ave., Weymouth. He was laid to rest in August, 1921 at Mt. Wollaston Cemetery in Quincy, MA.

Joseph H. Whall Square is located at the junction of 375 Bridge and Standish Streets in North Weymouth, MA

Sergeant Neil Morrison

Canadian Forestry Corps, died in Jedburgh, Scotland on October 10, 1918 and is buried there at the Castlewood Cemetery.

The Forestry Corps was created during the First World War when it was discovered that huge quantities of wood were needed for use on the Western Front. Duckboards, shoring timbers, crates -- anything that needed wood had to be provided. The British government concluded that there was nobody more experienced or qualified in the British Empire to harvest timber than the Canadians. At first the idea was to harvest the trees from Canada's abundant forests and bring them overseas. But space aboard merchant ships was at a premium, so rather than stuff ships' holds with timber; it was decided to use the Canadians over in Europe, cutting down forests in the UK and France.

Private First Class James Henry Corridan

U.S. Army 13th Co., CAC/55th Artillery, killed in action at the Meuse-Argonne Offensive on October 14, 1918

Pvt. Corridan grew up in Weymouth at 228 Washington St. and attended Weymouth schools. One of the first boys from Weymouth to enlist on November 14, 1917 he was killed in action at the age of 25 years old. He had delivered a message to the front battle lines and returned unharmed to his Company's safety when he was cut down by shrapnel from an exploding shell. He was engaged to be married at the time to an East Weymouth woman.

Pvt. Corridan was buried in St. Francis Xavier Cemetery on October 23, 1921 with full military honors.

James H. Corridan Square is located at the junction of Hunt and Washington Streets in Weymouth, MA

Private Walter Joseph Healy

U.S. Army 5th Company CAC 6th Anti-Aircraft Battalion died at Liverpool England on October 15, 1918.

Pvt. Healy mustered into the Army on July 9, 1918. While on transport to Europe he contracted pneumonia. He was hospitalized for a time but could not recover and died at the Sherlock Hospital. He was buried at Everton Cemetery in Liverpool, England until being repatriated and buried at the Holy Family Cemetery in Rockland, Mass. on August 23, 1920.

Private First Class George T. Nesbitt

U.S. Army 1st Squadron Cavalry/102nd Machine Gun Battalion, 26th Division, died on October 25, 1918 of multiple gunshot wounds he had received a month ealier at the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. He was 27 years old.

Buried at: Plot F Row 21 Grave 13, Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Romagne, France

Pvt. Nesbitt was born in Quincy, Mass. but lived most of his life at 215 Pond St., South Weymouth.

George T. Nesbitt Square is located at the junction of Thicket and Pond Streets in South Weymouth, MA

Second Lieutenant Ralph Talbot

U.S. Marine Corps, First Marine Aviation Force, died during a test flight in La Fresne, France on October 25, 1918.

Private Ernest Burnside Mowry

U.S. Marine Corps 5th Regiment, 6th Machine Gun Battalion, killed in action at the Meuse-Argonne Offensive on November 2, 1918.

Pvt. Mowry enlisted in the Marines on April 17, 1917. He is an original member of the 5th Regiment of Marines, activated on June 8, 1917 in Philadelphia, PA. He participated, as part of the 6th Machine Gun Battalion, in the offensive campaigns at Aisne, St. Mihiel and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. He had been wounded on 3 separate occasions, returning to battle each time. Nine days prior to the surrender of the Germans, Pvt. Mowry, along with 2 comrades, was killed by a bomb at 5:35 a.m. as his company advanced toward the town of Stenay, France. The 5th Regiment, due to their actions in France is one of only two U.S.M.C. units that wear the Fourragere, which became part of the units' uniform and is only worn by members of the unit.

Pvt. Mowry grew up at 29 Central St., South Weymouth, MA. His body was returned home on August 13, 1921 and is buried at the Pond Plain Cemetery in South Weymouth, Mass.

Ernest B. Mowry Square is located at the junction of 1055 Front and Main Streets in Weymouth, MA

Engineman First Class Daniel Bresnahan

U.S. Navy assigned to the USS Pueblo died at St. Elizabeth Hospital, Washington D.C. Naval Hospital on November 3, 1918 as a result of illness. He was buried at St. Francis Xavier Cemetery in South Weymouth in May of 1921.

Corporal Harold Britton Klingeman

U.S. Army 1st Squadron/ 102nd Machine Gun Battalion, 26th Division, killed in action at the Meuse-Argonne Offensive on November 10, 1918

Corporal Klingeman had lived at 73 Hollis St., South Weymouth. He had enlisted in February of 1917 and was killed in action the day before the Armistice was signed, officially ending the war. He was 21 years old. He was buried at the Pond Plain Cemetery on February 5, 1922.

Harold B. Klingeman Square is located at the junction of Hollis and Pond Streets in South Weymouth, MA

The Eleventh Hour Of The Eleventh Day Of The Eleventh Month

All is quiet on the Western Front.

Sergeant First Class Harold L. Proctor

U.S. Army 53rd/16th/38th and 39th Aero Squadron Flying School Detachment in Rich Field TX. In September of 1918 he became ill and died at the Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington D.C. on March 19, 1920. He was buried on March 22, 1920 at the Pond Plain Cemetery in South Weymouth.

Not listed on the Weymouth Memorial Wall but casualties with ties to Weymouth, Massachusetts are the following:

Pvt. First Class Frank E. Pickering

U.S. Army 314th Infantry, 79th Division, G Co., killed in action on September 29, 1918 at the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, during the first drive from Verdun to the Argonne Woods.

Buried at: Plot E Row 25 Grave 29, Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Romagne, France

Organized as part of the 79th Division A.E.F. the men of the 314th were trained at Camp Meade, Maryland. Arriving at the camp in September, 1917 the unit completed training and sailed to France aboard the USS Leviathan in July, 1918. Upon arrival at Brest, France they continued training until September when they took part in the Meuse Argonne Offensive. Capturing the town of Malancourt on September, 26 1918, they assisted the 313th Infantry the following day in the capture of the town of Montfaucon. It should be noted that Montfaucon was a heavily defended area and observation post of the German army. Of the four infantry regiments of the 79th Division involved in the offensive, the 314th was hardest hit. It took several days to account for all the missing and bring the regiment up past the halfway mark in manpower.

Corporal Waldo Ducca

U.S. Army Co. K, 101st Infantry

From 14 Grove St., in East Weymouth, Corporal Ducca attended Weymouth Schools. He enlisted on June 25, 1917, served 18 months overseas and had been “gassed” 3 times. Mr. Ducca had made it home from the war only to die from his wounds six weeks later on June 1, 1919. He is buried at the St. Francis Xavier Cemetery in South Weymouth.

Charles Burgess

Co. A, 7th Infantry

Mr. Burgess had lived on Pearl St., North Weymouth with an aunt, Dora Spear. He had been listed as wounded after the war had ended but it was later learned that he had been unable to recover from those wounds received in action on July 22.

Norman Francis Hunt

Headquarters Co., 101st Field Artillery, 26th Div.

Mr. Hunt was a member of Weymouth’s Hunt Family and a direct descendant of Enoch Hunt who had settled in Weymouth in 1638. He had attended Weymouth schools until his junior year of high school when he moved with his family to Stoneham. He died in France on June 20, 1917 of complications from bronchopneumonia.

Patrick J. Crowley

U.S. Army Co. G, 311 Infantry

Participated in numerous battles from May, 1918 until September of 1919 including St. Mihiel and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. He became ill and died on September 4, 1919. He is buried at the St. Francis Xavier Cemetery in South Weymouth, Mass.

Percy Smith

U.S. Army, Co. K, 18th Infantry

Pvt. Smith was born in Brockton on November 10, 1894 and later moved to Weymouth. He was an early participant in the war and was involved in the action at Cantgny, The Battle On The Marne, St. Mihiel and the Argonne Forest. On October 3, 1918 he was wounded and taken prisoner. A month later he died of his wounds at Germersheim Hospital. A marker in his name was placed at the Village Cemetery by the American Legion Post from Brockton although he is not buried there.

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