OBIT: Charles E. McINTOSH, 1918, Hollidaysburg, Blair County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JRB Copyright 2005, 2007. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/ _______________________________________________ McINTOSH. Mr. and Mrs. Harry McIntosh of Hollidaysburg received word yesterday from the war department announcing the death of their son, Charles Edgar McIntosh, who was killed in action Sept. 25 on the western front. He left for Camp Lee April 30 of this year and was later sent overseas June 13 as a member of company I, 146th regiment, 37th division, composed of Ohio national guardsmen. The young man was a son of Harry and Myrtle (Diehl) McIntosh and was born in Newry in June, 1884. Before entering the service he was employed as an engineer by the Pennsy in the East Hollidaysburg classification yards. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic church of Hollidaysburg, the Knights of St. George, Y.M.I. and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. His parents and the following brothers and sisters survive: James of Muscle Shoals, Ala.; Frederick and Eugene, Mary, Lena and Eleanor, all at home. Altoona Times, Altoona, Pa., Saturday Morning, November 2, 1918 NEWRY Mr. and Mrs. H. A. McIntosh, former citizens of the town, now of Hollidaysburg have received the sad intelligence from the war Department at Washington, of the death of their son, Charles E. McIntosh, who was killed in action Sept. 25th, on the western front. Charles E. McIntosh was born in this town, where he spent the greater part of his young life. After completing his education in the schools of the town, he entered the employ of the Pennsylvania railroad at Hollidaysburg, as warehouse clerk. Later he became a locomotive engineer in the employ of the same company. Last April, feeling that his country in the present crisis needed his service, he resigned his position with the Pennsy and enlisted for service overseas. He received his preliminary training at Camp Lee, Va., and later was sent to France, as a member of Company I, 146th regiment. The snuffing out of life of this young man, just on the eve of manhood, when that life was holding out to him a bright and prosperous future, is sad in the extreme, sad to his parents, his brothers and sisters and his friends, and the home like many other homes in the land, will hereafter contain a vacant chair as a result of this cruel war. Charles was an exemplary young man. We who knew him from childhood, watched him grow up in the midst of temptations that usually beset the young, and can truthfully say of him, that these temptations held no inducements to him to depart from the strict rectitude of a clean upright life. He was absolutely proof against all the evils that surrounded him. It can truthfully be said of him, by those who knew him best, that he was the embodiment of all the virtues there are attached to a clean moral life. This bright young man has now made the supreme sacrifice for the upholding of his country's honor and the good of humanity. The fortunes of war have removed him from among the living, ere he had scarcely started on life's highway, but in the short life he was permitted to live, he has left a record of good deeds, well and faithfully done, that will cause his parents to rejoice in the coming time, that their son was among the number who sacrificed his life in the cause of humanity, and left to his young companions the fruits of a worth life, worthy of their imitation. We here join his numerous friends in tendering our sympathy and condolence to the bereaved parents in this their hour of sad bereavement. Altoona Times, Altoona, Pa., Monday Morning, November 4, 1918 HOLLIDAYSBURG. Requiem high mass for Private Charles E. McIntosh, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry A. McIntosh, of Church street, who was killed in France on Sept. 28, will be held in St. Mary's Catholic church tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock. Altoona Times, Altoona, Pa., Monday Morning, November 11, 1918 CHARLES E. M'INTOSH KILLED IN ACTION Father of a Hollidaysburg Soldier Boy Receives Direct News of His Death Private Charles E. McIntosh, of company I, 146th infantry, Thirty- seventh division, was one of Hollidaysburg's boys that made the supreme sacrifice for his country in France. His father, Harry A. McIntosh, of 512 Montgomery street, Hollidaysburg, has received a letter from Lieutenant Thomas D. Weaver, his commander at the time he fell on the field of battle, paying a tribute to the bravery of the soldier. His letter follows: "Bollzelle, France, December 23, 1918 - Dear Sir: I received your letter of November 13 in due time and gladly give you any information that is in my power to give. The official report from Washington was correct. Your son was killed on the field of battle on the 28th day of September, 1918. He is mourned not only by his relatives but by his comrades, who all miss him. "He lived a clean life as far as I know and a quiet, obedient and excellent soldier and a credit not only to his country but also to his parents. I was but a few yards from him when he fell, but being in command of the company had my attention attracted in another direction. "As near as I could ascertain, he was hit across the chest about four times with machine gun bullets and died almost instantly, without speaking a word. We were taking a hill held by machine guns and had already advanced that morning about a mile under heavy fire, not only of machine guns, but also artillery. I hardly think it possible for you to receive any of the trinkets he might have had in his possession, for we did not stop to bury him, for no one could stop when he fell. I do not know the name of the chaplain who buried him but I will try and get all the information I can before I return to the United States. The only chance I know of finding any of his personal possessions is in his barracks bag, which was stored away in July. If there is anything personal in it I will see that you get it. "His company has since taken part in two drives in Belgium and was on the line when the armistice was signed. I do not know just where he was buried, but no doubt very near where he fell, along a road between Montfaucon and Clerges, near Clerges. I will close hoping that this may be at least a little consolation to his parents. "I remain, as ever, Yours, THOS. D. WEAVER, "First Lieutenant 146th infantry, Company I. "Home address - 893 Huron street, Akron, O." Private Charles E. McIntosh was born at Newry, June 30, 1893. At the age of 14 years he entered the employ of the P.R.R. company as messenger at the freight station at Hollidaysburg, and through his merit was promoted to a clerkship. He was later transferred to the motive power department as a fireman and three months prior to his going to Camp Lee, Va., for training, was promoted to engineer. Altoona Tribune, Thursday, February 6, 1919, page 3