Posted on 02/23/2009 1:13:13 PM PST by nickcarraway
Jarrad Freitas was installing an alarm in the home on Durfee Court in New Bedford where he and his family have lived for four years when he felt something under the insulation in the attic.
"I rummaged around and found this," he said, displaying a photograph that dates from 1917. It shows a group of noncommissioned officers from the 4th Company, 55th Coast Artillery who were stationed at Fort Rodman before their departure for France with the American Expeditionary Force during World War I.
A further search turned up more sepia toned photographs, in addition to old military magazines, bundles of letters, telegrams, embroidered postcards from France and even pictures of World War I German soldiers wearing spiked helmets.
After examining the trove, which apparently had lain undisturbed for decades, Freitas and his wife, Dena, got in touch with the military museum at Fort Taber and its vice president and curator, Robert Bromley.
When Bromley was able to examine the find in depth he became quite excited by what he saw, particularly the old photographs.
"This is quite a find because of its local connection," Bromley said. "The guys in the 4th Company manned 155 millimeter howitzers in France.
"One of them was killed in November 1918, Christopher Southworth. His name is on the plaque in the library downtown. This company was one of the three Army and Navy units that marched through the city to board trains at the declaration of war. It was made up primarily of New Bedford area men."
The stash in the attic apparently once belonged to one of those men, Joseph Foley, who formerly owned the house.
The postcards, many beautifully hand-embroidered, include sentimental messages, in English and French, such as "To A Dear Sister."
One particularly striking example includes the flags of all the Allied nations, the colors still as vibrant as the day they were created, nearly a century ago.
Most of the letters found in the attic were penned by Foley and addressed to his sweetheart Catherine Carroll, who lived at 10 Vine St. Foley was a city firefighter. Included in the find is an excellent photo of the firefighters of Station 7 aboard their Ariens-Fox truck, the same one now on display at the city fire museum, according to Bromley.
"There is also photo dated December 15, 1943, of the late Richard Saunders, who served on the Housing Authority," Bromley said.
"He is about 10 and is with his sister Mary and two other kids, Herman Eddy and Babe Bruce. They're on Mount Pleasant Street behind Station 7. Mr. Saunders was one of our supporters.
"It would have been great to have seen his expression if he saw it again."
Mr. Saunders is the father of current county commissioner Chris Saunders.
Many of those who saw service during World War I lived to see their own offspring marching off to war. Foley's son, Richard, served in World War II, and some of his letters home also were discovered in the attic, including a 1944 Western Union telegram from Portland, Maine, addressed to his mother, asking her to wire him $5 quick.
"Did he get into a crap game?" Bromley wondered.
Richard's father, meanwhile, had seen enough of warfare to take out a special insurance policy on all of the Foleys' worldly goods.
Their wartime policy, found in excellent condition, spells out the terms. For a $3 annual premium, the Durfee Court house was insured for $2000, its contents for $700 and the family car, a '36 Chevy, for $300.
"I didn't know these kinds of policies existed for war damage," Bromley said. "We've heard from people who come here that there was a panic once when a U-boat was reported in Buzzards Bay. Maybe this was a reaction to that. I would love to include this in our World War II exhibits."
The Freitas family has agreed to loan the materials to the museum for an indefinite period. After it has been fully catalogued, it will join the rest of the exhibits there.
"I love history, and I can't use it, so this is pretty neat," Freitas said.
"This just goes to show how much valuable material from local history must still be out there," Bromley said. "We urge anyone who might find military objects not to throw them away before contacting us at the museum."
Perhaps the most poignant letter among those found was one written from Metz, France, in September 1945. Addressed to Foley, it was written by a man named Maurice Harrington, whose relationship to the elder Foley has not been established. The two were obviously close, as Harrington confides: "I'm hoping that we'll never have another war. They never were made for poor people anyway."
How terrible was it to be killed in November 1918?
Somebody must have made a fortune on that insurance scam.
Isn’t it a universal fact that there are no insurance policies that pay off for acts of war?
I believe that’s why most of the post WWII British Colonial fracases were called “Emergencies.” Palestine Emergency, Malayan Emergency, Mau-Mau Emergency, etc.
Pingeroo
That is excellent! Left me in tears too.
My grandfather got wounded by gas on October 28th. But my other grandfather was in the 55th.
My maternal grandfather was assigned to AEF HQ (I think) served in late 1917 or early 1918. He blew out his knee (or was otherwise injured, and returned home in 1919.) I don’t have his service records and he died when I was very young.
Watch the video
They were a remarkable breed.
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I think the time has come to start a separate modern history list. I'll ask everyone about this in the Digest ping message on Saturday. |
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My Great Uncle was wounded two hours before the Armistice, Newfoundland Regiment, he though it sucked, three years and not a scratch, was still upset about it 50 years later.
My Little Bill Grandfather was with the Rainbows, 42, Artillery, he died before I could hear the tales.
My grandfather, William Howard Mackirdy, was a Coast Artillery officer, and shipped to France with the American Expeditionary Force. I don’t know what unit he was with, but i would sure like to pursue this further!
We have something strong in common. I spent 25 years in the field artillery. Those Grandfathers of ours were very special!
There is something that binds men who put their lives on the line, passing the test.
I’m confused. “Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori” means “Beautiful and Honorable it is to die for ones fatherland.”
Confused by what? “It is sweet and honorable to die for one’s country” Horace’s Odes (iii 2.13)
My grandfather was wounded by gas too. It scarred his lungs and made him bald at age 25.
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