THREE HALEY BROTHERS SERVED IN WW1

HALEY FAMILY SENT THREE SONS
TO SERVE IN WORLD WAR ONE

Published July 25, 2019 Gazette 

By Bob Lessard, Commander and Historian

 Post 64 American Legion

(Middleborough is celebrating its 350th Anniversary this year, while the Simeon L. Nickerson Post 64 of the American Legion, which was founded on June 23, 1919, will be observing its 100th birthday. From time to time, as part of the dual celebration, we will be offering biographical sketches of some of our town’s World War 1 veterans.) 

As the draft for servicemen in 1917-18 for World War 1 was posted in Middleborough, Hiram F. and Rose Haley of 18 Arch Street saw their three sons Charles, Herbert and Franklin called to United States Army service.Franklin J. Haley, who was also known as “Frank,” was the first son of the family to join the service. On September 28, 1917 he reported to Camp Devens in Ayer, MA to serve with the 301st Supply Train of the 76th Division. During his time at Camp Devens he was assigned as a chauffeur in Motor Truck Company #5. 

While stationed at the Massachusetts base, Frank suffered a re-occurance of an old leg injury. Due to problems with his leg, he contacted the Middleboro Commercial Club by a letter dated January 7, 1918,  asking for help. 

(Longtime residents may have heard of the Commercial Club. The club stationary stated: “Organized to look after the welfare of all Middleboro men in the armed forces of the United States.” A Service Committee of five handled requests from our soldiers. On that committee were Fred N. Whitman, George E. Doane, Theodore N. Wood, James H. Kennedy and James H. Creedon.)

Portions of Private Haley’s letter, which was directed to club member George E. Doane, stated, “A short while ago, I received a letter telling me that if there was anything that Middleboro people could do for me, why to let them know so I am going to.” The letter then informed the club how he attempted to join the service with the Plymouth group, who no doubt included Simeon L. Nickerson and John Glass.Jr. 

“I got my examination at Plymouth and the doctors didn’t pass me for they saw I had a bum leg.” (Author’s note: This was perhaps sometime in late 1917 when Middleboro men were serving at the Plymouth Armory.) Frank then states in his letter, “But when I got over to the Middleboro exam they hurried me there and pushed me through not looking at my leg.” 

According to Frank’s letter, he had been serving at Camp Devens for three months, when the leg started bothering him. He informed Mr. Doane that he had been to the base hospital several times and his leg was causing “suffering every night with my leg and not getting any sleep.” He added, “I am not a slacker. I just want to get treated square.” 

Mr. Doane of the Commercial Club forwarded a letter dated January 11, 1918 to Lieut. John Achorn, who was Commander of Company E and Frank Haley. In that letter Mr. Doane requested in part “…that we shall appreciate any personal notice which you may be able to take of the case, with a view to securing for this man the proper medical or surgical treatment.” 

Second Lieutenant Achorn in his answering letter, “In reply to yours of January 9th, I am giving the case of Pvt. Haley personal attention and will see that he gets the best treatment possible.” Subsequently, Franklin Haley was discharged from the military in April, 1918, after receiving medical treatment.

DEAD MAN’S CURVE 

After he was discharged, Frank went to work in Plymouth at Riverside Garage, working with another Middleboro resident Flavell Shurtleff. 

A Gazette story in the May 23, 1919 edition headlined “Fatal Auto Accident” reported the death of Frank Haley. According to the article, which carried a photo of Franklin J. Haley in his Army uniform. Franklin was riding home from Plymouth as a passenger in Flavell Shurtleff’s Stutz. 

The one column wide story states in part, “At the intersection of Wall and Plymouth Streets (Writer’s note: this is in Middleboro) there is a sharp curve and as the machine turned, the rays of the sun struck so acutely on the eyes of the driver—that he lost his view and the auto crashed through the fence, overturned two times and righted  itself.” 

“Shurtleff managed to clear himself and after getting Haley from beneath the machine hastened to the home of Harrison C. Shaw, where he telephoned Middleboro for assistance. Dr. A. V. Smith made a hurried trip to Shaw’s home, where first aid was rendered and he was removed to his home, dying shortly afterward.” 

Franklin was 24 years at the time of his death. Funeral services were held at home. A few weeks later Shurtleff pleaded guilty in the auto death of Franklin Haley. 

(Author’s note: Longtime residents know of the Wall /Plymouth Street location as “Dead Man’s Curve. Was the Haley death the first deadly accident to occur at that intersection?) 

SECOND SON SERVES

Charles Edward Haley was the second of the three boys to enter the military. A news account of his reporting for duty, informed the reader that he “enlisted when but 18 years of age at Brockton, July 9, 1918. He was sent to the United States Army Motorcycle Corps at Fort Slocum in the 21st Company and then Camp Humphreys in Virginia for training. He passed his 19th birthday in France.” 

The article about Charles declared that “He went over with Company D. 116th Engineers, 41st Division.” It continued “…he was sent to a non-commissioned officers’ training school.” Through that school, he earned his rank as a corporal. The news account mentioned that he was “undoubtedly the youngest man in this town to hold such office.” The article stated, “He passed his 19th birthday in France.” 

In a short Gazette report about Charles E. Haley, dated September 13, 1918, it stated, “Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Haley have received word that their son, Corp. Charles E. Haley, of his safe arrival overseas. He is in the 8th Prov-Eng. Co, A.E.F.” 

Charles returned home from France during February 1919 and was discharged from the Army on March 7, 1919 at Camp Dix. Soon after discharge, he returned to his job as a shoemaker. He also joined Middleborough’s American Legion Post, where the annual dues was $1.50 per year.

THIRD HALEY ENLISTS

Herbert Benjamin Haley was the third son of Hiram and Rose Haley to enter the service of his country. He was inducted into the United States Army on September 1, 1918. He initially was sent to an ordinance repair school conducted at the Franklin Institute in Boston. 

(*For some reason, Herbert often signed his name as “Benjamin H.”, which has caused some confusion while researching the family.)   Following his training at Boston, he was shipped to Camp Raritan in New Jersey, where he earned his corporal rank. Later, he was posted to the ordinance depot at Pedrickton, N.J. He was discharged from the service on March 20, 1919 from the General Ordinance Supply Depot. 

He also joined the Simeon L. Nickerson Post 64 American Legion after his military service. He listed his civil occupation as that of a chauffeur.