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8, 193S.EARLY MILITARY COMPANIES WHICH THRIVED IN BATHBattery H of Today Is Splendid Successor to the OthersolsiKProbably few Bath people are acquainted with the complete roster of the men who go to make up Battery H. 240th Coast Artillery. Maine Na-! tional Guard, of Bath. In the 240th Coast Artillery Year Book, recently off the press, Sidney Cullen of Rockland, formerly of Bath, publisher of the Year book, gives not only the roster of the Bath company but also a history of military organizations in Bath from the French and Indian War of 1745, up to date.He terms every settler in Bath a soldier during the dreaded French and Indian War. In the Revolutionary War. 1775 to 1783, Bath supplied a large number of men for the Continental army. After the revolution came the organization of militia, several companies of which were founded in Bath. They served in the War of 1812-14.In 1820 when Maine became a State, the militia system of enrolling every citizen was adopted and Bath had four companies. In 1854 the Bath City Grays patrolled the city for two days and two nights to quell a riot. In 1848 the Bath Light Grays were organized. In 1855 the Bath Light Guards were organized.It was 1883 that the unit was founded from which Battery’ H evolved. This was a Reserve Militia styled as the Bath Light Infantry with Capt. Harry E. Stetson as its first commander. In 1890 it became Co. C. 2nd Infantry, Maine Vol. Mil. In 1893 it became the National Guard and during the Spanish American War. 1898, Co. C. was called to Augusta but was sent back a few days later as they were not needed.In 1908 Company C was transferred to the 1st Infantry and became Co. D. In 1910 it was designated as the 4th In the World war, 1917-18, the 4th Company was mobilized on July 25. 1917 and sent to Fort Baldwin and assigned to man Batteries Hawley and Hardman in the Harbor Defenses of the Kennebec river. Its designation was changed in 1917 to 1st Co., Fort Baldwin.On December 25, 1917, it became part of Battery D. 54th Arty., C.A.C., and sailed as such from Portland on March 22, 1918 on U. S. Transport Canada, arriving in France April 8. 1918. Upon arrival at LeHavre, France, the company was sent to Mailly-le-Camp (Aube) and on May 2, 1918, was transferred to Hausimont (Marne).On September 21. 1918, the company as a part of the 2nd Battalion. 54th Artillery, was designated as Tractor Artillery Replacement Battalion and sent to Dpulevant le Chateau (Haute Marne).Battery D left Fiance Feb. 23. 1919 and was completely demobilized on March 31. 1919 at Camp Devens. Mass.The battery was reorganized in Bath on June 24, 1925, with a nucleus of former members of the old 4th Company.It was designated as Battery H, 240th Coast Artillery, which designation it now bears.In Augusta, 1926, the battery was on active duty for 10 days fighting forest fires at Phippsburg. This was State service.On Jan. 1, 1931, this battery was designated to Anti-aircraft machine gun.It saw service in the Summer of 1934 fighting forest fires at Georgetown losing one man by death due to illness received while on duty.The commanders of the Battery since 1883 have been:Capt. Harry E. Stetson. 1883-85 Capt. Henry W. Howard, 1885-86 Capt. Albert A. Reed, 1886-87 Capt. George H. Clark, 1887-89 disbanded Capt. Charles F. Nealey, 1890-91 Capt. James B. Bell, Jr., 1891-95 National Guard Capt. William R. Kimball 1895-1906 Capt. George A. Buker 1906-1912 Capt. Ralph P. Mank .1912-1913 Capt. Henry W. Owen 1913-1917 Capt. J. Horace McClure 1925-1930 Capt. Elver A. Stickney 1930 The roster today has Joseph A. Butler as 1st Lieutenant and Harold M. Holmes as 2nd Lieutenant. Harold J. Carter is 1st Sargeant.Sergeants are: Lawrence W. Palmer, Walter J. Anliker, Frank L. Higgins, Walter J. McElman, John F. Osborne and Arthur W. Hall.Corporals are: Almon R. Mitchell, Edmund L. Coombs, Joseph C. Arsenault. Arthur M. Holmes. Edmond Guinn. Keith Z. Pierce, Clayton E. Palmer.Privates 1st Class: Lewis W. Boyd, Owen Burgess, George H. Burns, Martin Butler. John T. Callan. Walter W. Clark, Myron M. Coombs, Thomas A. Deojay. James H. Guynn, Calvin Kimball. Merle D. Niles and Francis W. Norton.Privates: Clarence H. Ayer, Earl W. Burns, John O. Butler, Addison P. Ca-ton, Clifford A. Caton, Lewis Daniels, William P. Davis, Cleveland C, Else-more. John J. Gallant. Willis B. Hall. Jr.. Arnold P. Holmes. Arthur R. Jenkins, Percy King. William C. Lancaster, Forrest L. Maines, Norman D. McDonald, John D. McEarchern.Stewart E. McEarchern, William J. Miller. Charles F. Mitchell, Hilton P. Mitchell. John W. Murray. Alfred J. Nason. Charles W. Osborne. Curtis Pearson, Joseph A. Pinkham. Alfred J. Proctor. Frederick C. PUshard, Arthur*] E. Rideout, Leon L. Robinson, Harvey V. Rowe, Edward M. Staples, William A. Steadman, Avon M. Temple, Thomas i H. Trainor and Guy Wright._ j -(o
Newspaper Details
Bath Independent
Bath, Maine, US
Thu, Mar 28, 1935
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USA 27 Feb 2024
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