103rd MG Dog Tag
VT NG Dog Tag
WWI Soldier Registry Entry
Daughters of the American Revolution Application
Grave Site in St. Albans
Followers of PoW will know that I love WWI Vermont material. I actively seek interesting groupings of World War 1 items to add to my collection; today I was able to add a wonderful little piece of 26th Division and Vermont history. This set of dog tags once belonged to a Joseph Allen Evarts from St. Albans, VT. Originally born in Swanton, Evarts attended Norwich in 1904 and eventually joined up with the 1st VT National Guard. He was a direct descendent of the famous Allen family and can claim Ethan Allen as a great-great-uncle. He went overseas in October of 1917 with the 101st Machine Gun Battalion as a 1st LT and was promoted to Captain in August of 1918. He was assigned as Company Commander of Company D of the 103rd Machine Gun Battalion of the 26th Division. Evarts was well loved by the citizens of St. Albans and was sorely missed after he passed away in 1920 from gas-related lung complications.
He was cited at least two times for bravery while overseas and likely saw a lot of combat. I was able to track down an interesting article with some original material from Evarts:
PICTURE PROVES HIM A PRISONER
Lieut. Evarts Writes of Seeing Tenney’s Photo in Group of Men Missing
Arthur G. Tenney, of Fairfield st., received a letter Saturday from Lieut. Joseph A. Evarts, of this city, who is with the American Expeditionary Forces in France, saying that he had seen a German propagandist paper in which was a picture of those missing in action at a certain place on the American line and among them was Lieut. Walter M. Tenney, of this city. Lieutenant Tenney was reported missing in action April 20. He went from this city over a year ago as second lieutenant in the machine gun company of which Evarts was first lieutenant. The company was later divided and Lieutenant Tenny went with a division composed of Connecticut and Massachusetts men while Lieutenant Evarts remained with St. Albans men. In his letter Lieutenant Evarts says that he and his command were stationed just to the left of where Lieutenant Tenney was.
The portion of the letter received here by Mr. Tenney, which tells of the picture is as follows:
“In Trenches, “June 12, 1918.
“Mr. Arthur Tenney, St. Albans, Vt.
“Dear sir:–
“I have just received a St. Albans Messenger that tells about Walter being missing in action.
“I have something that may be of interest to you.
“Today a few German planes came over spreading propaganda in newspaper form printed in French. The boys brought me some of them, and to my surprise I found it was an illustrated paper, and had a group picture of those missing in action at the place where Walter was. I recognized quite a few, and Walter was very plainly among them, and all of we boys recognized him. I have all the details and the picture with me.
“I felt that you would want to know this right away, and I must say it was a strange coincidence.
“If Walter ever writes you, will you write me and let me know about him?
“Our boys were in a big fight just to the left of where Walter was.***
“Sincerely, “J. A. Evarts.”
St. Albans Daily Messenger, St. Albans, VT 4 Jul 1918
Another article of interest:
ALBANS GIVES
ROYAL WELCOME
Greeting for City’s Home-Corn-ing
Boys Is Wildly
Enthusiastic
St. Albans, April 30. Capt. Joseph B.
Evarts, First Llouts. Walter Tenney,
James McConncll, Francis Shannon, Ar
nold Spauldlng, and 13 members of the
original Machine Gun company from
St. Albans returnod this evening nt
0:40. Thoy were mot at tho station by
Co. E, V. V. M St. Albans Brigade band
and tho Boy Scouts and thousands of
their friends. Tho boys wero escorted
to tho armory by the band, Company K.
and tho Boy Scouts. Tho armory wns
lined with a Bolld mans of people, can
non boomed, bolls rang, whistles blow
and tho people shouted a welcome home
to their boys.
At tho armory tho boys were served
with hot coffoo doughnuts, lco-cronm
and cake.
At 4:30 a. m. Tuesday the military
call was sounded which was a signal
to notify St. Albanians that tho boys
were coming on train No. 1 at C:30
oclock. During Monday evening Wel
come Homo signs had been hung up
on Lake street and flags hung from tho
business places. Tho exterior of tho
armory was gayly decorated with flags
and bunting. With tho sounding of mil
itary call whistles and bells did all that
was possible to awake tho inhabitants
of St. Albans. The members of Com
pany 11, V. V. M., assembled at the
armory and marched down to tho train.
Only a few St. Albans boys appeared,
but they wore given a royal welcome,
by tho largo crowd that had assembled
at tho railroad station. Company E.
had prepared hot coffee, sandwiches
and doughnuts, but only two return
ing soldiers appeared at the armory.
so tho members of tho company enjoyed
an unexpected repast. Among tho boys
who returned Tuesday morning were,
Harris W. Alexander, Dewey Daniels,
John Daley, Herbert Laduo and Earl
Swlggott.
Portraits of War 
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Have been doing research on my two Grandfathers who both served in WWI. My Grandfather, HEnry E. Lambert, served inf France with the AEF in Company K, 103rd Machine Gun Battalion, 52nd Infantry Brigade, 26th Infantry Divison. He lived in Berlin,New Hampshire. Just reciently found information about his service in the War, thru the Adjuntant General of New Hampshire, He was wounded in the Defensive Sector, and currently I am applyinf for his Purple Heart.
Very cool!
My great uncle was in Co. D, 103rd machine gun battalion, 26th Div and survived the war. He died when I was a small child so I never knew him but my grandmother (his sister) said when he came home from the war he was “shell-shocked”. He later married but had no children and died in 1960. His records were destroyed in the fire in St. Louis in 1975 and I have been trying to find out about his service. I have a copy of his grave marker request with just his unit info. His name was Erie G. Davidson. I don’t know how someone from Kentucky ended up in the “Yankee Division”…maybe a replacement soldier as in WWII ? Any info would be appreciated.
Your great uncle served with my grandfather William Winfield in Co. D 103rd MG. My grandfather was a sergeant until promoted to lieutenant near the end of hostilities. You might find it interesting to google Xivray et Marvoisin. Company D was involved in a major action there on July 16, 1918. I know this because my grandfather received his Citation Star (later equivilent Silver Star) there.
Just found out one of my father’s uncles, Raymond Bertwell Durling, was in Co. A of the 103rd. He was gassed in July 1918, but survived the war. Do you know of any unit roster images or anything related to Company A/
Mr Durling, I’m reading your post and it appears my great grandfather served with your family member. I’m reading his d/c and battle experience which reads, he was also gassed on July 19, 1918. His name was John Herman Wright. If you have any added info, I would love to swap details.
Sincerely,
Corey Wright
Herman J. Wright was in Company A of the 103rd MG Bn.
My grandfather recently introduced me to his father’s (John Herman Wright) Co. Patches, original d/c papers from the 26th div, 103rd MG Bn. I would love to track down more detailed accounts of their service or even Co. Pics. Any help would be greatly appreciated
I stumbled across this page while researching J.A. Evarts. I just purchased his 1913 Eagle Scout Medal. I found the information on this page very interesting. You show his headstone…can you tell me when he passed away?
My uncle, Clair R. Regan, joined Company D, 103rd MG Battalion, in April 1917, and later served in France where, according to family history, he was involved in several major battles during which he was both wounded and gassed. He was in the hospital recovering when the war ended. I would be interested in learning more about Company D’s service history in France during 1917/1918.
I’m trying to understand the inscription on the grave of a distant uncle. I’m fascinated that he was in WWI.
Wm. F. Hickey MA CPL Co B 103 MG BN WWI
10/9/31 (which I believe would be his date of death, obviously after the war)
He’s buried in Randloph, MA
Patricia,
It looks like your uncle was Corporal (CPL) in Company B of the 103rd Machine Gun Battalion. I can dig up some other info on him if interested.
Really! How would you do that, or how would I do that. I believe he is my father’s mother’s brother and he died the year before my father was born (1932). My father’s mother died when he was just a little boy so he doesn’t ever remember this uncle being talked about. I would like to be able to tell me dad things about him if I was able to find anything. Thank you for your interest. Patty
Patty,
I would have to track down records from his company to see if he made it into any of the daily memos or communications. He would certainly appear in a unit photograph, but I have no idea what he would look like. Do you have any period photos of him?
Brennan
Hello Brennan. I have no photos of him, but will check with an elderly Aunt to see if she might have any information. I found that he was born in 1896, which means he was only 35 when he died. So sad. Thank you.
Patty
Patty,
I noticed that he died in his 30s. So sad…. not too much older than I am. If you do find a shot of him, I would be more than happy to post it here for the world to see!
Brennan
Brennan, thank you for your interest. I’ll see what I can find on him.
Patty