Middeboro Six Day Fund Raiser Ironically Held During End of WW1

Middleboro Gazette, July 23, 2015: - By Bob Lessard, Historian Post 64 A. L.

.............During World War 1, Middleboro residents banded together to ensure that the boys and men from town serving in the military wouldn’t be forgotten. As seen in a recent column, the business community’s Commercial Club established a program to maintain contact with the local lads during the war.

............Among items discovered during the transfer of files and equipment by Middleboro’s Simeon L. Nickerson Post 64 American Legion from South Main Street to the group’s new headquarters on Thatcher’s Row were several souvenir copies of a fund raising event.

............In November of 1918 Middleboro participated in a huge national fund drive for united war work, which was attempting to raise $250,000 in support of our soldiers. Middleboro’s committee was led by Chairman Albert A. Thomas, who hoped to raise $15, 450 through a six day event called “Middleboro Drive.”

.............Local organizations offered to participate in this major fund raising event. Middleboro’s participants were a divergent group as seen by this listing: Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), National Catholic War Council, Jewish Welfare Board, Knights of Columbus, Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), American Literary Association, War Camp Community Service and the Salvation Army.

............A four page souvenir program had been printed and distributed by the group’s publicity committee. The theme for the local event was “Keep the Home Fires Burning.” Amazingly, due to the efforts of the Commercial Club, the names of 412 Middleboro servicemen were printed on the fourth page of the program under the title “Middleboro’s Honor Roll.”

............Among the citizens listed as serving on the executive committee for the United War Work campaign were: Albert A. Thomas, Chairman, Theodore N. Wood, Henry W. Sears, George Knox, George Levy, Bourne Wood, Alton G. Pratt, William T. McCabe, Granville E. Tillson, William M. Haskins, Morrill S. Ryder and Thomas H. Kelly.

............Also, James H. Kennedy, Lyman P. Thomas, Fred N. Whitman, Martin L. Saunders, David R. Walker, William G. Boynton, Walter L. Beals, Allan R. Thatcher, George W. Stetson, Lorenzo W. Rice, William J. Coughlin and Fletcher L. Barrows.

............Other residents also were engaged in the fund drive. They were George H. Dupont, Austin L. Beals and William H. Crough, who served on the publicity committee. Albert G. Mathers, Thomas H. Kelly, John J. Sullivan and William C. Barden comprised the public meetings committee. Mr. Barden also was director of music for the event.

............Listed as serving as team captains were Bourne Wood, John C. Sherron, Howard H. Stiles, Albert Lightbown, Fred F. Churbuck, William H. Cronin, Thomas H. Kelly, J. Frank Gardner, Fred L. Bowman, Elwyn B. Lynde, Clifton F. Babbitt, Sylvester H, Keith and Lyman P. Thomas. This committee was involved in seeking subscriptions (donations) throughout Middleboro neighborhoods.

............The six day event was scheduled to be held in Town Hall from November 10th through the 16th, 1918. Gazette readers will note the dates. World War 1 effectively ended on Monday, November 11 with the announcement of the Armistice with Germany. That news caused spontaneous victory celebrations throughout the town, according to the Gazette.

............ Middleboro’s fund raising campaign continued however.

............Guest speakers at Town Hall during the weeklong campaign drive were: Mr. John P. Meade of Brockton, Deputy Commissioner of Labor; Mr. Albert E. Roberts, former Y.M.C.A. secretary; Mr. John A. Lowe, state chairman of the American Library Association; Mr. George E. Gordon, speaking for the Jewish Welfare Association.

............Also, Mrs. Brigadier Sheppard of Boston, an officer for 33 years in the Salavtion Army; Miss Irene H. Armes of Brockton, social secretary of the Y.W.C.A. hostess house in Paris; Judge William J. Day of Boston, State Deputy of the Knights of Columbus; and, Rev. G. Edgar Folk, minister of Upham Memorial Church in Forest Hills, who was engaged in war work for the Y.M.C.A. in France.

............The Namasket Press printed a two page song sheet called “Middleboro Community Wartime Music,” which was inserted with the souvenir program.

............Among the patriotic tunes provided were: America, The New America, The Star Spangled Banner, Over There, Keep the Home Fires Burning, There’s a long, Long Trail, Pack Up Your Troubles, Scatter Sunshine and the Battle Cry of Freedom. Mr. William C. Barden conducted the music program.

............The Middleboro Gazette reported in its December 22nd edition that the United War Work Campaign final tally was $12,033.64, according to chief auditor W. L. Beals. Chairman Albert A. Thomas remarked that “the result is most pleasing.”

.............Mertie E. Romaine in her “History of the Town of Middleboro, Massachusetts 1905-1965” described the town’s method of honoring of the WW1 servicemen. She wrote, “Middleboro made its recognition to those who served their country in the form of a Roll of Honor. The 412 names of men and women in the various branches of service were inscribed on wood panels and placed in the lobby of the Town Hall.”

.............She further added, “The work of the plaques was done by a New Bedford firm and the plaques were put in place in December, 1918. According to this record, fourteen Middleboro men and one woman lost their lives in the Great War.”

.............Miss Romaine also wrote about Post 64’s namesake Simeon L. Nickerson. “The first Middleboro man to lose his life in the conflict was Simeon L. Nickerson of Co. D., 101st Infantry. He was killed in the advance of July 23, 1918. Sergeant Nickerson was in his twenty-sixth year.”

............In addition of his death report, she also wrote of his military and family history. Plus, she included the language of his Distinguished Service Cross award.

............“For extraordinary heroism in action near Epieds, France, July 23, 1918. Sergeant Nickerson, Corporal M. J. O’Connell am Private Thomas Ryan volunteered to cross an open field in front of their company in order to ascertain the location of enemy machine guns. While engaged in this courageous enterprise, they were shot and killed. The heroic self-sacrifice of these three men saved the lives of many of their comrades who would have been killed had the company attempted to make the advance as a whole.”

.............She also wrote, “Later reports state that the fire of German guns disclosed the enemy’s position and every German in that detachment and the machine guns were obliterated.”

............In relation to the 415 names now listed on the wooden plaques in the Town Hall lobby, Commander Don Triner of American Legion Post 64 is offering to provide copies of any information in the files left by the Commercial Club of those WW1 veterans.

............Relatives of those Middleboro WW1 servicemen may obtain the copies free of charge, if they are in the files. Requests must be in writing and sent by mail to American Legion Post 64, PO Box 0135, Middleboro, MA., 02346-0135. No phone calls please.