WWI - Excerpts from The Times Picayune - April 2, 3, 4, 8, 16, 1917 -- Orleans Parish Submitted by: Rosemary Ermis Source: Times Picayune - April 2, 3, 4, 8, 16, 1917 Date: August 2003 ************************************************* Submitted to the LAGenWeb Archives ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http:/www.usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ Excerpts from The Times Picayune April 2, 1917 Five New Orleans boys, recently enlisted, have been sent to the city by the Navy Department to stimulate naval recruiting. They are: A. G. Bourda, 124 North Johnson street; A. C. Sims, 667 Jourdan avenue; I. H. Barrios, 2013 Camp street; E. P. Scoffier, 924 North Broad street, and L. O. Wilkin, 620 Pauline street. At. the Boys' High School, W. H. Reed spoke to the students Monday, urging them to enlist in the National Guard. Reed is a member of Company C, Louisiana National Guard. Orleanian Dies at Training School News was received here Sunday of the death at the Great Lakes Naval Training School, Chicago, of Camille Waltrude Braud, 17 years old, the son of Mr. and Mrs. L. P. Braud, of New Orleans. The young man enlisted in the United States navy about six weeks ago and had not been in the best of health since he arrived in Chicago. The body was shipped to this city and will arrive here Monday night. Young Braud was one of the first to volunteer for the Washington Artillery after the order came for the mobilization of troops to go to the Mexican border. He was assigned to Battery B and went with this command to Camp Stafford. United States inspectors did not accept him into the regular service, however, because he was slightly under weight. The dissatisfied young man then returned to his home, 3532 Constance street. But the desire to serve his country was still strong within him and he applied for service in the navy. This time he passed the physical requirements and was sent to the training school. His health declined steadily and the news of his death was not a surprise to his bereaved family. Besides his parents, Mr. Braud is survived by three sisters, Mrs. Nettie B. Erwin, Mrs. John Fitzpatrick and Miss Lucille Braud, of New Orleans; three brothers, H. E. Braud, of New Orleans; A. P. Braud, of the United States navy, and V. E. Braud of Galveston, Tex. Arrangements for the funeral have not been completed. **************************************************** Excerpts from The Times Picayune April 3, 1917 MANY APPLY FOR SERVICE There were a large number of applicants at the Canal street station during the day. The following men passed the examination and were sent to the naval station: Tharphill Reboul, 2196 Chartres street, Carl E. Olson, 820 Slidell; Norman B[page torn], 1208 Magazine; Otto Hallquest, 41[page torn] Burgundy; Robert Hart, 510 South Alexander; Frances McLaughlin, 719 Royal; Peter Lavigue, 918 Poydras, and Clayton A. Durkee, 443 St. Charles. Lieutenant LaBounty kept the recruiting office open until 10 o'clock Monday night and when the newspapers received information that President Wilson had asked Congress to declare war and asked for an army of 500,000 men there was a big rush at the office. It is expected that thousands of young men of New Orleans will enlist for the navy Tuesday. ****************************************************************** Excerpts from The Times Picayune April 4, 1917 (under photo) Mayor Behrman, Col. Lewis and others make addresses appealing to the patriotism of the young men of the community, and urging them to respond to the call of their flag and country in this hour of their need. "Uphold the honor of the Southland and Louisiana and enlist--in the army, the navy, or any branch of the service," he [Mayor Behrman] said. "Your country has called you--and I know you will not falter." Colonel Lewis, a native Louisianian, appealed to the men to "enlist now, and not to wait until they come after you." Later in the afternoon, when the excitement occasioned by the demonstration had subsided, the Canal street crowds grew more apathetic. Eight enlistments were the sum total of the day's recruiting. The declaration of the President that a state of war exists stimulated recruiting at other stations, however. The Washington Artillery had one of its best days. Fifteen men had been examined and accepted up to 5 o'clock and the examination of applicants continued until the close of the day. Colonel Lewis reported twelve recruits accepted out of twenty applications. Among those who enlisted were: J. C. Moore, Shreveport; William Shannon, Meridian; Broox Patton, South Pittsburg, Tenn.; Berry W. McDonald, Monroe; Frank Poster, Joplin, Mo.; Wilbur R. Rothell, Luccaa, Ga., and Tom Callahan, Ludwick Massmier, William H. Chiles, and Clarence W. Ebeyer of New Orleans. Several negroes presented themselves at the office, but it has orders to recruit only whites. The negro regiments are said to be full and there have been no steps taken by the War Department to organize additional negro regiments. The following enlisted with Lieutenant Baldwon: Francis Gorsmore, Charles Dovicourt, John J. Coate and Joseph Gurich. Major Blackstrom, in charge of the Southern Division of the Marine Corps, with headquarters in Common Street, sent two recruits to the training camp at Port Royal, S.C. ******************************************************************** Excerpts from The Times Picayune April 8, 1917 MANY ATTEND FUNERAL OF YOUNG BRAUD -- New Orleans Boy Who Died at Training Station is Buried Here. [photo] A large number of surviving friends followed the boy of Wallie Braud, the 17-year-old New Orleans boy who died at Great Lakes naval training station April 1, to Greenwood Cemetery Wednesday afternoon. The funeral was conducted from the residence of his brother, H. E. Braud, 5356 Laurel street, where the casket was taken on the arrival Tuesday night and where it lay in state draped in the folds of the American flag and guarded by six of his sailor comrades, who acted as pallbearers. He was given a soldier's funeral, representatives from the Washington Artillery, Naval Brigade and United States navy being present. As the cortege entered the cemetery the bugle called "taps." Father Ricken read the funeral service and as the casket was placed in the tomb and officer of Battery B, Washington Artillery, caught up the battle flag and unfurled it to the breeze while the bugle sounded the last call and the sailor boys stood at attention. Wallie Braud was the son of Mr. and Mrs. L. P. Braud, 3532 Constance street, and came from a family that always responded to their country's call. He was a pupil of Jackson School until about two years ago. When the Washington Artillery was called to mobilization camp last summer he was among the first to report for duty, but was rejected by the federal examiners on account of being under weight. He returned home despondent, and his parents, thinking the change would be beneficial, sent him on a visit to a brother in Galveston. But the longing for service was too great and he enlisted in the navy, was sent to Great Lakes training station and had been there less than six weeks when death claimed him. Besides his parents, he is survived by three sisters, Mrs. Nettie Braud-Ewing, Mrs. John Fitzpatrick, and Miss Louise Bondreau, and three brothers, Messrs. Henry E. Braud, of New Orleans, A. P. Braud, United States Navy and V. E. Braud [paper torn] ******************************************************************** Excerpts from The Times Picayune April 16, 1917 BRING HOME BODY OF YOUNG PATRIOT [photo] Arthur T. Brady, of 2459 Burgundy street, who died of pneumonia Friday night at the Great Lakes Naval Training School. The body reached this city Sunday night for burial. DIED -- BRADY--In the service of the United States government at Great Lakes, Ill., Friday, April 13, 1917, at 8:15 o'clock p.m., ARTHUR THOMAS BRADY, beloved son of John T. Brady and the late Katherine Burke, aged 18 years and 3 months, a native of New Orleans. The relatives, friends and acquaintances of the family, also the Catholic Benevolent Association are respectfully invited to attend the funeral, which will take place Monday, April 16, 1917, at 4 o'clock p.m., from the late residence of the deceased, No. 2459 Burgundy street, between Spain and St. Roch avenue. Interment in St. Patrick Cemetery No. 1. NEW ORLEANS BOY TELL EXPERIENCE IN THE TRENCHES -- Louis Wallis Wounded While Fighting with the Allies "You should be proud to know that you have a son who is willingly helping to rid the world of such a civilized, 'cultured' race," says Norman Louis Wallis, 19-year-old New Orleans boy, who has been fighting with the British forces for nearly two years, in a letter to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. M. G. Wallis, 1131 Marengo street. The letter was received Saturday and was sent at least two weeks before the United States declared that a state of war existed between this country and Germany. "I was wounded in the battle of the Somme after the action of September 15," writes the local soldier. "I suppose you have the particulars from the newspapers. If not, here goes: We were relieved from the firing line by another regiment and were on our way to the place about four miles away. Well, about half of that distance one goes through numerous communication trenches. My platoon officer, -- --, hurt his knee and could not keep up with his men, an, as old 'Fritz' was giving us shells, he told a corporal to take charge, but finally decided to stay himself. We were near the end of the trench when we stopped for a few seconds to rest. I heard the shells approach and then no more until some one carried me from the trench and then I awoke. I had a few shrapnel shots in my left side and in my left leg. I was in the hospital six weeks. Since then I have been pegging on O.K. "I read about the Mexican trouble, but how about the German trouble? They are the enemies of all civilized powers. They have overstepped the bounds of civilization and humanity. The Germans are nothing more than cannibals. I have witnessed some of their exhibitions of 'culture' and 'humanity.' You should be proud to know that you have a son who is willingly helping to rid the world of such a civilized, 'cultured' race. When I think of their many atrocities towards defenseless women and child of England, Belgium and France, I want to fight them without any pause of remorse." Young Wallis is well known in New Orleans, and from the time he enlisted with the British army he has sent many letters to his parents and friends. At the outbreak of the European war, he was a stenographer in this city and he and several of his boy friends took a trip to England as muleteers. When the mule ship reached England young Wallis decided to enlist with the Britishers and his friends returned home. After serving a few months he returned to this city. He remained here a few days and sailed away again. His father pleaded with him to return, but he refused. Mr. Wallis appealed to Washington authorities and H. Garland Dupre, Louisiana congressman, asked the American embassy at England to get the youth's release. The youth was released from the British army, but refused to return to America. He said he loved the English people and wanted to fight with them. He was placed aboard a ship bound for America, but he escaped. His father has made several attempts to persuade him home since.