Jim Nolan's Blog

Boarding Passes to Mars for WWI Heroes

Two images sent to me by my friend Matt Conrad. Matt had these boarding passes made at a NASA site to honor his relative Lieut. Michael J. Duddy and my great-uncle Lieut. John V. Curry. Both were from Plains, PA and killed in action in World War I. Matt writes: "Every few years NASA does a thing where you can put your name or a family member name up into space." So he put both soldiers' names on them. You can read about the program here and add the name of your own hero, if you like, until September 30. Thanks for sending, and for remembering, Matt. 

 

Plot A, Row 26, Grave 6

Sara Curry's son's headstone in the Somme American Cemetery in France. Lt. Curry was originally buried in the American Military Cemetery in Cantigny, then disinterred and reburied here near Bony. From Gold Star Mother's Pilgrimage of Remembrance by John W. Graham: "Each woman visited the grave over three or four successive days. The Army provided each woman a wreath of flowers, a photograph of the mother at the grave, and plenty of time alone. Cemetery visits were viewed as a time for private mourning and reflection, not for ceremonies and empty speeches."

Fismes, France Remembers Le Lieutenant Duddy

Bob Corcoran of Plains, PA is a retired educator and has contributed so much to my understanding of my great uncle, Lieut. John V. Curry. His son Bob recently traveled to France where he met the editor of the magazine "L'Echauguette de Fismes." I believe "l'echauguette" means watchtower. Lieutenant Michael J. Duddy of Plains was killed in action in Fismes on August 12, 1918. You can read about the Battle of Fismes and Fismette here. Ninety percent of Fismes was destroyed. Two thousand American lives were lost in the first two days. The editor was aware of Lieut. Duddy, and Bob returned with the May, 2018 issue. Scans of the cover and p. 16 appear above. Note the photo of the restored Hugo Walsh portraits of Duddy and Curry that hang in the Plains American Legion Hall, a project spearheaded by Bob and Bob. My French is bad, but the article seems to say that Lieut. Duddy's body was brought back to Plains in 1921. Thanks to Bob and Bob for sending this to me, to Mireille Robbe for writing the article, and to the people of Fismes for remembering Lieut. Duddy's sacrifice. 

100 Years Ago Today

Although his marker says he died on May 30, John Curry was killed in action 100 years ago today, Memorial Day, in the Battle of Cantigny. He is buried in the Somme American Cemetery in France. It is not difficult to understand how devastating this must have been for the family. His mother, Sara Curry (my father's mother's mother) visited the cemetery as part of the Gold Star Mothers Pilgrimage. My sons and I have visited as well. A century may have passed, but the sadness we feel over the loss of his life—and the lives of millions of others, including my mother's uncle Robert Koenig and Lieut. Michael Duddy, like John from Plains, PA—continues. We remember you, John, and Robert, and Lieut. Duddy. A century later, your examples of courage and sacrifice remain alive to us. 

Today in France: Centennial Ceremony at Somme American Cemetery

Screengrab from American Battle Monuments Commission website

The Somme American Cemetery near Bony, France, is where my great uncle, Lieut. John V. Curry, is buried. This year will mark the 100th anniversary of his death on May 28, 1918, as well as the Centennial of the first U.S. offensive of World War I, the Battle of Cantigny. I have visited the cemetery with my sons, and made a short essay about it here. My great grandmother, Sara Curry, wanted him to "rest where he fell." You can read her letter to the Army about that here. Sara visited her son's grave as part of the Gold Star Mother's Pilgrimage in 1930. You can hear her story here. 

Curry-Duddy Literary and Debating Society, 1926

This was sent to me by my friend Matt Conrad, a relative of Lieut. Michael J. Duddy, who was killed in action in World War I in France on August 12, 1918. My great uncle, Lieut. John V. Curry, was killed in action a few months earlier, on May 28. Both were raised in Plains, Pennsylvania, educators, and went to training camp at Ft. Niagara, New York. Both were killed by snipers. Thanks for sending this, Matt. 

2107 Bastille Day in France Honors U.S. Soldiers

As you may know, this year's Bastille Day honors the 100th Anniversary of the U.S. entering World War I. In 1930, the French also honored the American Gold Star Mothers who lost their sons and daughters in the war. My great-grandmother, Sarah Curry, was one of them. You can read about her trip here. Above is information about the hotel she stayed at while in Paris. 

From "The War Mother Goes 'Over There'": "Mrs. Brown and the other members of her unit will travel by rail to Paris where they will find that all arrangements have been made, prior to their arrival, for their first class hotel accommodations. After a day of rest, they will attend the placing of a wreath, by them, on the tomb of the French unknown soldier, and in the afternoon, a reception will be held in honor of these American mothers and widows, and French government officials and prominent civilians will participate." Almost 1,400,000 French soldiers died in WW1, 4.29% of the French population. Germany lost over 2 million.

Sara F. Curry Is Grateful

An essay about my great-grandmother, who lost her son in World War 1. You can follow more of her story here. 

Sara F. Curry Is Grateful

Britains Hollow-cast Soldiers with Mike Niederman Comments

More William Britains toy soldiers wearing masks. Below is a photo of Vickers machine gun crew wearing masks in WW1. My great uncle, Lt. John Curry of the 28th Infantry, was gassed in the War. He eventually returned to duty where he was killed in action in the Battle of Cantigny. Click any image to enlarge. 

 

Front and rear photos: Imperial War Museum. 

W. Britains soldier with a machine gun. 

Mike's comments:

"The figures... The crawling gas masked troops were in a few sets, but set 1611 is their "home" set. There is a heroically posed officer with sword and pistol leading them. First issued 1937, and the paint style on these is an early one.

"The machine gun was also used (with a seated gunner) in a few sets. "Home" set is 198, issued 1920-40. The style of gun changed from a Maxim to the pictured Vickers around 1925, and the lighter shade of khaki marks this example as an early one. The guy in the back is a stretcher bearer. from set 1719 - Stretcher Party Unit of the RAMC, in Service Dress with Steel Helmets. This figure is fairly rare, issue only 1939-41. It was replaced by a figure with a battledress uniform in set 1723, also first issued in 1939.

"Britains made sets that reflected contemporary events and troops, from the 2nd Boer War to the Italian invasion of Ethiopia, from Coronations to Blitz fire watchers. After the Great War, military toy sales fell off due to the horrors experienced, so Britains launched a very successful farm series, and other non-bellicose subjects like model flower gardens. Rearmament in the late 30s brought back military subjects."

Thanks, Mike!

"I want him to rest where he fell"

Sara reconsidered, and decided to have Lt. Curry permanently interred in an American military cemetery in France. Note that she gives May 28, not May 30, as the day he died.