"William Baty, North Bergen & the Great War"

This year we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. What started out as Armistice Day to commemorate the ending of the Great War, would eventually change to honor all those who have served this great country which we now commemorate as Veterans Day. As is such with this recording of town history it is important we shed light on those who served and paid the ultimate price defending democracy. North Bergen would send 39 of her sons off to a foreign land during the war. Today, all those names but one are honored on a monument that sits in front of Town Hall commemorating the call to arms by those from North Bergen.

Jersey Journal April 6, 1917

Courtesy of the Jersey City Library

 President Woodrow Wilson would petition Congress on April 2nd warning, "the world must be safe for democracy." On April 6, 1917 the United States officially declared war on Germany. Within the first few days after the declaration of war, hundreds of North Bergen men rushed to enlist. Men who were well into their 50s and boys as young as 16 registered for the draft. By the summer of 1918, thirty nine North Bergenites would be scattered around the globe partaking in some aspect of the war.  Of those 39 residents only 18 would return back to North Bergen when the war ended in November of 1918.

North Bergen WWI Memorial

Courtesy of The U.S. World War I Centennial Commission

The following is a list of men and woman from North Bergen that served during WWI.

Hugo Adler*

Charles George Arnold*

Emil Bachara

Edwin Joseph Brickner

Louis J. Bruttell*

Albert William Butera*

Louis Chapman*

Anna G. Clements

Clarence Albert Clerke

Alton William Cobb*

James Corse

Lawrence John Dippold

August George Galowitch*

Baptisto Giordano*

Louis Graff (William Hill)*

Joseph Nicholas Kerber*

Albert Korten*

Stanley Kowel

Edward Albert Krug*

Louis Kwiskey

Edward Joseph McDowell*

Henry Christian Meierdierck*

William Francis O'Connell

Hjahmar Emeil Peterson*

Giovanni Picone*

John Sherman Porter

Anthony Quadre

Albert Alexander Samuelson

Christopher Schumacher

Eugene Charles Sullivan

Gustave Walter Theis*

Charles Thompson*

John Arthur Tyack*

August Wagner

Charles L. Walker*

Thomas Henry Woodruff

William Andrew Wykman

Not listed:

William Baty*

* denotes death

Of these North Bergenites listed there are a few names of interest for different reasons. Most noticeable is Anna G. Clements. Clements served as a nurse in the Red Cross as well as the U.S. Army Nurse Corps and stationed in France and the United Kingdom. Secondly, I found that William Baty was not on the list and he was only one of two men on the list that were born in North Bergen. As for the men on the list, they each have a unique story. Stories of heroism and heartache. Service in the Medical Department, 153 Depot Brigade, 102nd Infantry Division, 113th Infantry Division, 104th Engineers Division, 312th Infantry Division, 59th Pioneer Infantry Division, 33rd Infantry Division, 310th Infantry Division, 309th Infantry Division, and 106th Infantry Division. When the 38 of these men left Hoboken they all left with the notion that they'd return. Sadly that was not the case for 21 of them. Ten of these men fell victim to the Spanish Flu epidemic that plagued the globe during the war, one drowned, four succumbed to wounds received during battle and six were killed in action. 

Washington Street Hoboken Circe 1918

Courtesy of the National Archives

The men from North Bergen fought in some of the most notable battles of the war. They fought at the Battles of  Soissons (July 18-22 , 1918), the Meuse-Argonne (September 26-November 11, 1918), Saint Mihiel (September 12-19, 1918), Saint Thierry (September 30, 1918), Yrpes (September 28- October 2, 1918), Blanc Mont Ridge (October 3-27, 1918) and at the Second Battle of the Lys & Escaut (October 20, 1918). Below is a listing of the men wounded (* denotes succumbing to wounds) and killed during each battle.

Battles of  Soissons 

August George Galowitch (KIA)

 Battles of the Meuse-Argonne

Gustave Theis*

Giovanni Picone*

Baptistio Giordano*

William Baty (KIA)

Battle of Saint Mihiel 

Albert Korten*

Battle of Saint Thierry

John Arthur Tyack*

Battle of Ypres

Edward Krug (KIA)

Battle of Blanc Mont Ridge

Albert Butera (KIA)

Charles Thompson (KIA)

Battle of the Lys & Escaut

Edward McDowell (KIA)

Private "William Hill"

Drowned in the Panama Canal Zone

Courtesy of the New Jersey State Archives

When I began researching for this post my goal was to highlight and honor those from our town that served. During my time researching this names on a patina-stained, bronze plaque I found stories that should be preserved within our town. For example, from all of the names only three were born and raised in North Bergen. August George Galowitch whom fought at the Battle of the Marne, was killed during a German artillery barrage at the Battle of Soissons making him the first North Bergenitie to be killed during the war. Edward McDowell was shot and killed at Battle of the Lys & Escaut. While Henry Christian Meierdierck feel victim to the Spanish Flu. One lied several times trying to enlist. Louis Graff, originally from Jersey City, took on the identity of "William Hill" a 19 year old North Bergen resident. Under the identity of "Hill" he enlisted at Fort Slocum. He was ultimately shipped to the Panama Canal Zone with a detachment to protect the vital waterway. While on leave Graff accidentally drowned. According to records from his father and Veterans Affairs, Graff was given a full military burial in Corozal Cemetery in Panama. 

Faces from North Bergen

Private August G. Galowitch

KIA at the Battle of Soissons

Courtesy of the New Jersey State Archives

Private Charles Thompson

KIA at the Battle of Blanc Mont Ridge

Courtesy of the New Jersey State Archives

Private Giovanni Picone

Died from wounds at the Battle of Meuse-Argonne

Courtesy of the New Jersey State Archives

Corporal John Arthur Tyack

Died of wounds at the Battle of Saint Thierry

Courtesy of the New Jersey State Archives

Lastly, I'd like to bring to light Mr. William Baty. He is the only resident from town not honored on our World War I Monument. Baty was born and raised in North Bergen, specifically the former neighborhood of East New Durham. His parents William and Elba settled and raised their children, 5 in total, at Church Lane, present day 46th Street. Baty was a graduate of the North Bergen school system, graduating from Granton School. The Baty family were members of Grove Reformed Church. Prior to the war, he worked as tire maker for a local carriage company and for the West Shore Railroad as a boilermaker. He enlisted on May 11, 1918. Baty was mustered in as a private at Fort Hancock in Augusta, Georgia in early July of 1918. He was shipped out on July 30, 1918. He was originally a member of the 83rd Infantry Division and then transferred to the 102nd Infantry Division on August 28, 1918. Baty fought at the third phase of the Battle of Meuse-Argonne. During the battle Baty was part of two American forces tasked with taking on 31 German divisions. The third phase of the battle lasted from October 31st until the end of the war. Baty was killed during the fierce fighting that took place on November 3rd, 8 days before the war ended.  He is listed amongst the soliders KIA and MIA at Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial located in Meuse, France.

Battlefield Experience: The Meuse-Argonne Offensive

Courtesy of the American Battle Monuments Commission

Jersey Journal November 11, 1918

Courtesy of the Jersey City Library

Today we memorialize all those who served this country. We must reflect on the fact that this year marks the 100th Anniversary of  "the war to end all war." The first global war, at the time, the bloodiest war in history and the war that would thrust the United States into a global leadership role. Nonetheless, lets focus on the roles of those 39 names listed above. They came from all walks of life to serve their country. They were stenographers and railroad workers, North Bergen-born and immigrants, but all felt a duty to their country. Again, during this research I found out about the lives of these people. The 18 that would return would go on to live their lives in a world now safe from war. A domestic and peaceful life they so rightfully deserved. On this solemn day I feel the words of Thomas Hardy's And There Was a Great Calm are best fitting when discussing Armistice Day,

"Calm fell. From Heaven distilled a clemency;

There was peace on earth, and silence in the sky;

Some could, some could not, shake off misery:

The Sinister Spirit sneered: 'It had to be!'

And again the Spirit of Pity whispered, 'Why?'