The Town of Canton had approximately 3,242 inhabitants in late 1860. Most had been following with great interest the political upheaval in Washington. The recent election of Abraham Lincoln had resulted in South Carolina seceding from the Union on December 20, 1860 and by February of 1861, six other states had followed its lead.

The papers had been full of stories for months about government installations being taken over by the seceded state governments. These states had formed a central government of their own, the Confederate States of America. The political debate went on for several months, until 4:30 AM on April 12, 1861, when one of the cannons that had been placed around Charleston’s harbor fired the first shot of a 34 hour bombardment. The result was the surrender of Fort Sumter and the start of a war that would pit brother against brother and nearly destroy the country.

On April 15, 1861, President Lincoln issued an appeal to those states loyal to the government for troops to defend the capital. The call was for 75,000 troops to join for three months duty. Massachusetts Governor, John Andrew, had been planning for this moment for some time and issued Special Order #14. Four regiments of the state militia received the call and swung into action.

One of the regiments was the Fourth Regiment of Volunteer Militia, commanded by Colonel Abner B. Packard of Quincy. This regiment was made up of companies from the small towns south of Boston. Some of the companies could trace their roots back to the Revolution when their grandfathers had responded to the call to arms on a moment’s notice, and forever would be known as "The Minute Men". The Canton Company, the "Union Light Guards" - Company "A" had that type of rich history.

Colonel Packard sent orders, via the train lines, to the captains of the various companies. The orders were for the companies to form as soon as possible and to report to the Boston Common and from there be prepared to take a steamer south.

The Captain of "Company A" was John Hall of Canton, a 42 year old father of three girls, and a blacksmith by trade. The tax records of 1856 show he had an active business with a store and two shops, in addition to a house, barn, land and live stock. Captain Hall helped get out the alarm to the members of the company with the assistance of Horace Seavey but resigned his office and did not go south with the company. Other men who did not leave with their companies had a tough time staying at home. Some were forced to sell their property and move away because they were considered cowards. John Hall stayed in Canton and later in the war he would serve with this same company and would be elected captain again. This clearly indicated that the members of the company respected his decision to stay at home.

Captain Hall and Horace Seavey completed all the paperwork the evening that orders were received and went through Sharon, Stoughton and Canton to summon all members of the company to report to the armory at nine o’ clock the following morning. They were to be armed, equipped and uniformed as the law directed for military duty.

Horace Delap Seavey was clerk of the company but by the time they left for Virginia he was First Sergeant. Born in East Machias, Maine, he moved to Canton with his family when he was 15 years old. At the outbreak of the war he was 28 years old and a carpenter by trade. After the war he was employed at the Eureka Silk Co. for many years, and lived with his daughter Miss Ida Seavey until his death.

On the night of the 15th of April one of the first stops was at the home of First Lieutenant Ira Drake of West Stoughton. Drake was 26 years old and the first Lieutenant of the company. He would be voted Captain to replace John Hall, and Henry U. Morse would be First Lieutenant to fill his slot .

Henry U. Morse, at 28 years old, was the oldest son of "Capt." Jedediah Morse , a manufacturer of printing presses on Walnut Street, Canton, and past member of the Company. Jedediah was too old to serve in the army, but acted as a drill instructor for new recruits until his death at age 62. A second son , Herbert, was also a member of the company from 1853 to 1854. No record has been found to prove that Herbert served with his brother. Herbert most likely had to maintain the business. Both these young men died of consumption as had their father, although Henry’s death was thought to be war related. No doubt Henry returned from his second enlistment in poor health, as did many others, which could have contributed to his death.

On the morning of the 16th of April, the streets of Canton were alive with people. Militia men, relatives, friends and neighbors all making their way to the Armory on Church Street. It was a gray day with intermittent showers which only added to the sadness of the family members who came to see their loved ones off. The interior of the hall was quickly filled, and soon Reverend Ezra Haskell, minister of the Orthodox Congregational Church, arrived to give the blessing. When the blessing was done the company filed to the front yard, formed into ranks and began marching down Washington Street to the train station in South Canton, today’s Canton Center station. As the men moved along the street, they were greeted with cheers from both sides of the road, and martial music from the fife and drum could be heard. James S. Shepard had paid T. B. Dean $8.00 to assemble the music for the occasion.

Reaching Minister Jewell’s house, James Shankland stepped from the ranks and took his lady friend, Annie, by the hand, stepped inside the house, where they became husband and wife.

Earlier in the spring, Minister Jewell’s family had been named as being involved in an incident that upset the town greatly and brought the patriotism of the Minister into question. Horror struck the hearts of many when they awoke and saw the Confederate flag flying from the flag pole at the corner of Church Street, and Will Jewell, his son, was among the missing. Later it would be learned that Will had joined the Confederate Army and was on the staff of General Wade Hampton.

Minister Jewell would speak out publicly about his patriotism from the pulpit, and his other son Edwin, would join the Union and serve in the Tenth Massachusetts Light Artillery with a good record.

At Canton Station, the men boarded the 3 P.M. train from Stoughton and in a short time arrived in Boston. From the station, the men marched to the Common as they had been instructed, but found that due to the heavy rain the troops had been moved to Fanueil Hall. People cheered from the doorways and windows as they marched to the hall. Once at the Hall the men found that they would be housed with other companies, and the hall would be crowded with about one thousand men. Once the men were in place, Colonel Packard presided over the election of officers. Hot coffee and sandwiches were provided for supper, and blankets were spread on the floor of this historic hall. Few were able to sleep with all the excitement.

Daybreak revealed that a large crowd of people had gathered around the hall, and guards posted the night before tried to keep order. Friends and relatives of the soldiers were permitted into the hall, but men in uniform were not allowed out, undoubtedly an effort to keep the soldiers from overindulging in the temptations of the city.

The troops marched to the State House at 5 P.M. on the 17th, where they received overcoats and listened to a few words from the Governor. They then proceeded to the Old Colony RR Station and boarded the train that would take them to Fall River, where the steamer "State of Maine" waited for them. While at the station, they could see the cars being readied for the 6th Regiment on the Albany track. Little did they know that ambush and bloodshed awaited the 6th in Baltimore. Arriving in Fall River about 9 P.M., they went aboard the steamer and by 10 P.M., were on their way to New York City, making this regiment the first to leave the state.

The steamer contained about 700 men, making it very tight quarters. The seas were rough, and many men were sick during the 22 hour trip to New York. Reaching New York about 8 P.M. on the 18th, they were present when the garrison from Fort Sumter arrived. While the steamer loaded more coal for the trip south, some of the officers had dinner at the Astor House with some of the prominent citizens that had greeted them at the wharf. Around midnight the steamer started south once more.

The weather on April 19th was much better and the trip along the New Jersey coast was much smoother. They arrived at Chesapeake Bay just before daylight on the 20th. After asking several other ships in the area which side held Fortress Monroe, they did not receive a satisfactory answer. As the sun came up, they saw the Union Flag being raised above the fort. With some uncertainty, they proceeded to the shore to land the men. Being greeted by a lieutenant from the fort, they were much relieved, due to the fact that since leaving Boston, they had only old Springfield Rifles and no ammunition. The garrison in the fort was just as concerned about who was steaming around the bay, since they had been worried that an attack could come at any time. The rebels had a sizable force three or four miles away at Hampton and support from the sea side was expected.

After being mustered into the service of the United States, they began the work of reinforcing the fort against attack, including the mounting of guns. Quarters were set up near the fort and the work of soldiering went on. While at home, by a vote of the town meeting, fellow towns people voted to established a fund of $5,000 to help aid and support the families of those volunteers in the service of the United States. The amount expended in 1861 was $564.59 to aid those families.

By the beginning of May, President Lincoln was not yet satisfied with the response to his first call for troops, and called for more. After the Sixth Mass was attacked by the mob in Baltimore, spirit for the cause had been running high and many men in Canton & Sharon signed up for duty. Some of these men signed for a three year term, others signed to join Company "A" in Virginia. It was not the intent of the government to make more three month or nine month units, but that had not been clearly understood by all recruiting agents. New companies were formed and shipped south. The new group of recruits reached Fort Monroe on May 22, and the mustering in of the new recruits took place.

This was undoubtably a happy occasion for the troops from Canton, to see friends and neighbors after a long month of labor, mounting guns, reinforcing the walls, and learning the Army way of life. It must have also been a letdown for those new troops to hear that the war was not raging at the front gate of the fort, and that most would be working harder than they had ever done in the past, not to mention the bad food and poor living accommodations they would have to endure.

Work continued until May 27, when the Fourth and two other regiments, and some of the Second U.S. Artillery, boarded steamers for Newport News, about ten miles away. This would also provide a better base of operation, water supply, and docking facilities. With a three ship naval escort, they sailed up the channel. The rebels at Sewell’s Point, on the opposite shore, fired at them without effect; balls could clearly be seen as they skipped along the water. On their arrival at Newport News the naval vessels readied for action, not knowing if the shore was held by the enemy. Without resistance, they came ashore and quickly laid out an area of defense about 15 acres in size. With their backs to the James River, the 7th New York Militia ( Col. J.E. Bendix ) made up the right and the 1st Vermont Volunteer Inf. (Col. J. W. Phelps) made up the front. Parallel to the river, the 4th Mass. was on the left. Eleven members of the Second U. S. Artillery acted as drill instructors for the militiamen, and operated the cannon that defended the fort and commanded the channel. Breast works and ditches were constructed and the area was made strong against attack. This camp would be known as Camp Butler, in honor of their Commanding General, Benjamin Franklin Butler, a prominent lawyer and powerful Democrat from Lowell, MA.

On June 9th orders were received to be ready to move with three companies from each of the three regiments at Camp Butler. The operation would start that night, with one regiment from Camp Bulter to meet the 5th NY Reg. (Col. Duryea’s Zouaves) from Camp Hamilton at Hampton, and proceed to the rear of the rebel camp at Little Bethel. Other regiments from each camp would follow up about one hour later, creating a diversion in front, and acting as support. It was the later groups that would become confused in the dark and fire into each other, warning the rebels of the impending attack.

The three companies from the Fourth were commanded be Major Horace Whittemore, a former Canton school teacher from the Crane school. The companies of the Fourth were in the second group, but sustained no casualties that night. Company "A" was not among the three companies that evening. After the evening’s blunders, the expedition continued on to Big Bethel, even though the element of surprise had been lost. During that battle, Francis Souther of Quincy, Company "H", Fourth Reg., would be the first Massachusetts soldier to die in land battle combat, in the bloodiest war ever fought on American soil.

Shortly after the Battle of Big Bethel, the regiment was ordered to Camp Hamilton at Hampton, Virginia. The town is described as being a neat little village with two streets lined with handsome large houses. The Fourth would be one of the last Union Regiments to see Hampton standing. On Aug. 7, the Confederates would burn this village to the ground acting on newspaper reports that General Butler was planning to use Hampton as a living area for all the slaves that had come into his lines.

The Fourth stayed at Hampton until the end of its service, receiving orders to ship out on July 18, and arriving at Boston’s Long Island on the 21st of July and finally discharged on the 22nd.

Friends and relatives came to visit and spend the night and to hear the stories of army life in the south, and to talk of the disaster of the First Bull Run which had been fought on the previous day.

When Company "A" returned home, a reception was given by the citizens at the Massapoag House. At this time, many re-enlisted into the three year regiments. These enlistment papers would set into motion events that would change theirs and their families’ lives forever. The impact of the coming events could not be known to these men, who had visions of great deeds and glory on the battlefield. The time they spent in Virginia during this early stage of the war would be far different from the horrors yet to come.

Governor Andrew had always been one step ahead of the demands from Washington, and had encouraged the formation of several regiments even before the next call came from Washington. In fact, some enlistments had to be turned down because they exceeded the number required. Men from Canton enlisted in many of the units as they were formed; some joined the Navy, some the Cavalry and others, the Artillery.

One of the first regiments that Canton men heavily enlisted in was the 20th Massachusetts Volunteers. This was a three year regiment that was commanded by William Raymond Lee, a West Point graduate from Roxbury Mass. The recruiting was at Camp Massasoit in Readville, at the foot of Blue Hill, and began in July of 1861. Several of the staff officers were familiar to Canton men, since some had worked in their foundry, the Revere Copper Works. Major Paul J. Revere and Edward H. R. Revere where well known and respected by the citizens of Canton, although their principal residences were in Boston. These men undoubtedly greatly influenced the Canton men to enlist in this regiment.

Recruiting continued through the summer, and the main part of the regiment was mustered into service on August 28, 1861. Final arrangements were completed and the regiment shipped out for Washington D. C. on September 4, 1861.

The regiment was assigned to General F. W. Lander’s Brigade, part of General C. P. Stone’s Corps of Observation, which was spread out along the Potomac River in Maryland. The Twentieth was stationed at Camp Benton near Poolesville, Maryland, where it continued its training and finished recruiting to full strength. The main activity at this camp was picket line duty, guarding against the incursion of the rebel raiders that continually came over the river.

Life in camp was dull; everyday was the same; drill and more drill. The food, consisting of hard tack, salted beef, and dissected vegetables, was terrible. The men became ill from the hard living, bad food, water, and exposure to so many other sick men. The childhood diseases that are readily treatable today, were true killers. An out break of measles in the camp could kill hundreds. In fact, before the war was over, more men died as a result of disease than from battle injuries.

The monotony of camp life changed on October 21. At 3:00 A.M., the regiment was called out on a patrol across the river. A detachment of the Twentieth, totaling 318 men in seven companies, crossed the Potomac River at Harrison’s Island to Ball’s Bluff. Climbing the steep bluff, the troops proceeded inland some distance until they were engaged by the enemy. At first, the battle went well; however, the tide began to turn and the Union troops were slowly pushed back to the bluff. The rebels poured a murderous fire into the regiments from the top of the bluff as the Union men tried to cross back over the river. The small boats used to bring them over held only 4 or 5 men at a time and re-crossing under fire was deadly. Many men jumped in the river trying to get away only to be drowned. By the end of that afternoon the regiment had lost 194 officers and men. Thirty eight were killed, the rest were wounded, missing, or taken prisoner. Col. Lee, Major Revere, and Dr. Revere were all taken as prisoners.

The Twentieth remained at Camp Benton through the winter, waiting for the roads to improve and the spring campaign to begin. Major General George B. McClellan was named the new head of the Army; drilling continued daily from sun up to sun down, the food supply got better and morale improved. By March of 1862 the regiment was ready to do more. The first stop was out to the Shenandoah Valley as part of N.J.T. Dana’s brigade, Sedgwick’s division. Operations in the Valley were headed by a Massachusetts General, Nathaniel P. Banks. As Banks was pushing his troops up the valley, more troops were needed to guard the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, the main link between Washington and the West. Duty in the valley was short lived for the 20th. By the beginning of April, the regiment was called back to Washington.

The troops that had formed the line of defense along the Potomac were being shipped from Washington to a peninsula in Virginia that is formed by the York and the James Rivers as they empty into Chesapeake Bay. General McClellan’s plan was to march up this peninsula to the new capital of the Confederacy, Richmond, and end the war early. Over 100,000 men and all their equipment would be involved in this operation. Several of these regiments contained Canton men, and the first Cantonite to die in service would be lost here.

The 29th Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment was already stationed on the peninsula at Newport News, the old camp of the Fourth regiment but was not at full strength. They recruited in what is today Pawtucket RI, but was then part of Massachusetts. George and William Cobbert, James H. Cram, Elijah Estey, Lorenzo Macomber and Franklin Ramsell all of Canton, traveled to Pawtucket and enlisted in December 1861 and were part of this regiment on March 9, 1862. They witnessed the battle between the ironclads Monitor and Merrimack in Hampton Roads and would all see service in the up and coming campaign, and live to tell about it.

The first Canton man to die in service was George W. Bailey. He was 18 years old when he enlisted in July of 1861. While serving in Company "F" of the 18th Mass. he died of disease, at Gaines Mill VA on June 24, 1862 . Three days later, on June 27, Walter Glover of Canton, serving with the Mass. 22nd was killed at Gaines Mill, the first to die in battle, second casualty overall. The 22nd was part of the Third Corps, 1st Division, 1st. Brigade and was on the right side of the Union lines, facing Confederate General Longstreet’s Division. On the afternoon of the 27th of June, Longstreet’s troops made several charges, until they finally charged forward so fast that the Union troops could not load fast enough to stop them, and were forced to retreat. Many brave men were lost during this battle and it would be the turning point of the entire campaign, as the Confederates pushed their advantage for the next seven days, driving McClellan’s men across the peninsula to the James River. Making a stand at Malvern Hill, the Union was able to stop the troops of Robert E. Lee, but not without great loss of men and material. Camping at Harrison’s Landing on the James, the Union troops recovered from the rough handling they had just received. While at the landing, a third Cantonite, William Spillane, who was with the 15th New York Engineers Co. "C", died of disease on July 14, 1862.

So ended the grand plan of McClellan, and shortly the control of the Army would be turned over to Major General John Pope, who was in charge of the Army of Virginia along the Rappahannock River, southwest of Washington. General Pope had won some acclaim in the west earlier in the war, and was brought east to see if he could produce a victory for the Union. He had his Army of Virginia in the area between Washington and Richmond, and was originally to have joined McClellan on the peninsula by land. These plans were changed because it would have left Washington unprotected.

With McClellan's army out of the way at Harrison Landing, Robert E. Lee was able to send some of his troops including "Stonewall" Jackson and a cavalry force led by J.E.B. Stuart against Pope’s army. The cavalry was able to get behind Pope, cutting his line of supply and burning his supply depot. Meanwhile, Jackson marched his division to the plain of Manassas in Pope’s rear.

When McClellan left the Landing to return to the Washington area to provide some support to the Army of Virginia, even more of Lee’s troops were free to press northward. Pope was pushed back to Manassas, where he tried to attack "Stonewall" Jackson’s troops, who took a stand in the unfinished railroad cut along the northern edge of the old Bull Run battle field, site of the first Union defeat.

Canton’s fourth loss happened here, on August 29, 1862. The 16th Mass. was part of the Army of the Potomac, Second Division, First Brigade, commanded by Brigadier General Curier Grover. On the afternoon of the 29th, the 16th Mass. was on the left flank of the brigade as it made several charges into the unfinished railroad cut that was protecting "Stonewall" Jackson and his men. The men from the 16th, exposed to shell and shot in their front, pushed ahead and forced the deepest penetration of the battle that raged all afternoon. Some of the most intense hand to hand fighting of the war occurred in this part of the line. After pushing the rebels back, they came face to face with a battery of cannon that opened a terrible fire upon them, causing them to fall back in disarray, only to reform their lines and charge forward again. But the rebels had gotten reinforcements up to stop them. It was during this engagement that John McGinley, a Private with Co. "G" of the 16th Mass. was killed. The following day the Union forces were driven from the field, and John Pope’s time as leader came to an abrupt halt. He was sent into exile to a military post in Minnesota.

Canton’s fifth loss occurred ten days after this, on September 10, 1862, George Cobbert of the 29th Mass. died of disease at the hospital on Craney Island in Virginia. His body was shipped home, and rests in the Dry Pond Cemetery in Stoughton.

By September 6th, General McClellan was back in full command of the army. It had been driven back as far as Washington, much like the defeat on the same field a year and one half earlier. This time however, the rebels pushed on into Maryland and threatened the state of Pennsylvania. McClellan gathered his Army and moved after Lee. Not knowing just where Lee was, he relied on scouting reports. Around Frederick, MD, an unusual stroke of luck took place. Three cigars wrapped in a piece of paper were found in a field that had been camp to the recently departed rebels. The piece of paper turned out to be the entire rebel plan. McClellan moved ahead to take advantage of the information, but the movement was slow, and the rebels put up enough resistance to allow their divided forces time to regroup near the town of Sharpsburg, Maryland, along the banks of Antietam Creek.

On the fields just north of the town, the forces faced off on the morning of September 17. General Joseph Hooker marched his men into the corn field to his front and drove the rebels back with heavy loss. As they neared a small white church without a steeple, they were hit with a sharp volley that pushed them back. Again they advanced through the corn field. This time, they were cut down in rows, the stalks of corn were cut so close to the ground by bullets that it looked as if someone had cut them with a knife. The battle continued on through the morning without anyone gaining a clear advantage. Around nine o’clock, after Hooker’s Division was pushed back and badly beaten, Major General Edwin Sumner, commander of the Second Corps, formed his Second Division, headed by Major General John Sedgwick. The Division consisted of three separate Brigades totaling about 5,400 men. In the Third Brigade, was the 20th Mass., lead by Lieutenant Colonel Francis Palfrey, who commented after the battle that the lines of battle showed a total disregard for all ordinary military precaution. Major General Sumner personally lead the troops ahead into the cornfield. The dead and injured of Hooker’s Division lay in between the rows, begging for help and warning the others not to go forward. Sumner lead them on through the cornfield, up to the church, and into the West Woods beyond. In these woods, the 20th would find itself being cut to pieces. Sheets of fire came from the front, both sides, and even the direction from which they had just come. Many of these brave men were cut down before they could raise their own guns in defense. It was here that Canton would suffer her sixth and seventh loss, Dr. Edward H. R. Revere, Assistant Surgeon and Corporal George Kehr were cut down.

By the time the sun had set, it had been the bloodiest day in America’s history with more than 26,000 men killed or wounded in 24 hours. Lee’s army moved back into Virginia, and McClellan did not press the issue. For his lack of action, President Lincoln replaced McClellan, with Ambrose Burnside, a commander who did not really want the position.

Before the next major engagement Canton suffered its eighth loss, Charles Adams, a new recruit with the Twentieth died of illness in a hospital in Frederick, Maryland on Oct. 2, 1862. He was with the regiment only two months, and in that time he survived Second Manassas, Chantilly, South Mountain (a small holding action by the Confederates) and Antietam, only to be struck down by disease.

Burnside decided to try to get around Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia by moving on to the Town of Fredericksburg, Virginia, on the Rappahannock River, and the main rail line to the south. This was an important site, as the first army, to take control of this place, would have a decided advantage. Burnside arrived first but could not get his army across the river. The pontoons to bridge the river had not yet arrived, so while they waited, Lee was able to reinforce the hills to the rear of the town. Skirmishers in the town then slowed the progress of the bridge work once the pontoons arrived. In order to stop the sharpshooters in the town, several regiments were sent over by boat to flush them out. One of these regiments was the 20th Mass. The Union troops at first formed into their normal formation, but because the fighting was house to house they paid dearly for their uniformity. After securing the town, the pontoons were completed and the balance of the army crossed over. On December 13, Burnside ordered a general advance; the right of the line pushed forward to the base of Marye's Heights. The cannon on the heights could not help but make large gaps in the advancing lines which were immediately plugged. As the Union men approached the base of the hill, the rebels, who had been hidden behind a sunken stone wall, stood and opened a terrible fire, cutting down scores of Yankees. The Union men leaned into the storm of lead as if they were walking into a driving snowstorm. The charges continued all day but not one Union soldier reached that stonewall.

It was here that Canton’s casualties climbed to nine, ten and eleven. Not all of these men died on the day of the assault. Two listed as killed were John Donahue, who was with the 20th, and Andrew L. Hill (died, Jan. 21, 1863) was with company "F" of the 18th Regiment, 1st. Brigade, 1st, Division, Fifth Corps. His brigade was involved in an afternoon assault in support of the first wave. Walter Davenport with the 35th Mass. was reported to have "died" on December 13. However, he was most likely killed in action or died of wounds received. The 35th was part of the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division of the Ninth Corps, who advanced to the support of the first wave and suffered very heavy losses on the day.

After this disaster, Burnside was replaced by General Joseph Hooker, who marched the Army into a worse defeat at Chancellorsville. After this defeat, Lee marched his army around the defeated Federals and moved into Maryland and Pennsylvania. Hooker was replaced by George Meade, who followed Lee’s movements until they met in the little town of Gettysburg, in central Pennsylvania. After three days of bloody fighting, Lee was driven back. On the third day, the Twentieth Mass was at the forefront, being to the left of the famed Angle in the stone wall, which was charged so gallantly, but with great loss, by General George Pickett’s Division. Major Paul Revere died on this day.

After the defeat of McClellan on the peninsula, President Lincoln had requested additional troops. In Canton, recruiting continued and the citizens voted to pay bounties to all the men that enlisted to fill the forty man quota and to those who volunteered for the nine month enlistment.

The Fourth Mass. reformed and volunteered, and on September 17, 1862, - the same day as Antietam, the Canton Company boarded the train at Canton station with the bells ringing and a large band playing. Traveling south from the station, they proceed to the army training camp in Lakeville. The camp was named in honor of Massachusetts General Joseph Hooker, who was that day forging a reputation for himself. At this camp, training continued through the fall, and on December 28, 1862, the regiment sailed to New York on board the steamer "Empire State". After a two week stay, they continued on to Louisiana. After a little over two weeks at sea, they arrived at the mouth of the Mississippi River on Jan. 27, 1863, and by the next morning they reached New Orleans. At 7:30 that night the Fourth had its first death and the town its twelfth Charles Fuller, of Company "A" died of disease while still on board the ship. Over the next month they changed camps several times, finally landing at Baton Rouge. Each time, they were greeted by people who heard they were from the Boston area; sometimes by other Canton residents who were stationed near by.

While the Fourth was settling into their new quarters, John Pooler, with the 1st. Mass. Light Artillery, in White Oak Church VA, succumbed to a disease and died on March 14, 1863, becoming the thirteenth man from Canton to die in service.

The life in the new camp became routine after awhile, with drills, picket duty and the occasional patrol in the direction of Port Hudson. During the beginning of April, orders were received to pack their tents and board a steamer. Sailing back towards New Orleans, they got off on the opposite shore and proceeded by train to Brashear City, the end of the rail line. The Fourth, along with several other regiments, occupied Fort Buchanan, an earthwork fort on the edge of Bayou Teche, a navigable river west of New Orleans.

On April 12, another of the company, John Geddis died of disease at a hospital in New Orleans, he was the fourteenth from the town. William Foster, became the fifteenth when he succumbed to illness at New Orleans on April 21.

The troops headed by General Banks at Brashear City began an advance on the rebels that were entrenched up the river near Centerville in Fort Bisland. While he approached up the river, General Cuvier Grover moved to get behind them. On the 13th, a sharp engagement took place, and the following morning Banks was going to storm the rebel works but they had left during the night. The rebels retreated into the Union troops advancing with Grover but were able to escape. These two actions cost the Union about 575 men-killed, missing or wounded. The advance continued until the rebels fell back to Shreveport. After these engagements Company "A" and some others were ordered back to Brashear City with the prisoners that had been taken, while Banks and the others proceeded across land to the back side of Port Hudson. On May 26, the investment of Port Hudson was complete, and the long siege began. With the end of May and the coming of June, the company was looking forward to the end of their tour of duty, having been mustered into service in September. While at Brashear City the sound of heavy guns in the distance told them otherwise, and on the 30th of May they received orders to proceed to Port Hudson to join the rest of the Corps.

The Fourth was part of the Nineteenth Corps, Third Division, First Brigade. Col. Timothy Ingraham was Brigade commander. Company Commander, Henry Walker, was former Adjutant of the old Fourth. Stationed to the northeast of the town, and in the middle of the Union lines, the company worked the advanced picket lines for several weeks, changing every few days with the other companies. During this period, they received word that three more of their comrades had died of disease back at their camp at Brashear City. On June 3rd, William Brewster died; June 5th, John Ayers and on June 6th, Owen Shonsey. They became the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth Cantonites to perish.

On June 13, word was passed that extra rations should be prepared and the canteens should be filled; they would be moving against the fort at Port Hudson. Around 2 A.M. on the 14th, there was cannonading for about one hour. The left of the Union lines moved ahead, but were misguided, and their attack came to nothing. On the center of the line, the Fourth was ordered into formation with the rest of the Division for a general assault on the works to their front. The ground was badly broken up by deep ravines, brush, cotton plants and obstacles installed by the enemy. The point of attack was an angle in the works know as the Priest’s-cap, and it would prove to be the strongest point in the entire rebel line. As the Fourth moved down the road, the 4th Wisconsin and the 8th New Hampshire were in front of them.

After the Division gained its starting position, a terrific fire opened from every battery. In the gray twilight of the dawn the sight was unforgettable to all that witnessed it. With a cheer, the Wisconsin and New Hampshire boys dashed ahead, then the Fourth. Immediately, the air was alive with the whiz of bullets. As soon as they started forward their organization broke into pieces. Shouts of the wounded could be heard, along with the swearing and orders of the officers. The sacrifice was terrible. In this slaughter, two Canton men were killed; Sergeant Charles Bootman and Stephen Smith. Many of the others were wounded. These poor men would be numbers nineteen and twenty to gain a place of honor.

The remainder of the men were pinned down in the ravines till they could escape under the cover of darkness. Limping back to the lines they found the attack gained nothing and cost the Union dearly. The siege and bombardment of the fort continued until July 8th, when word was received that Vicksburg had fallen and that Lee had been defeated at Gettysburg. The following day, Port Hudson was surrendered. The Mississippi was open to the Union along its full length.

During this time, part of the Fourth was stationed at their old camp at Brashear City. On June 23, they were attacked by rebels commanded by General Richard Taylor, who was looking to release some of the pressure on Port Hudson. A group of the company was overrun by the attacking rebels and taken prisoner. The rebels continued the attack but were stopped and driven back in their attempt to cut the Union lines of communications. Two days later, the captured men were released on parole. Allegations were made that the men of the Fourth had failed to do their duty. A story surfaced that the men of the Fourth had thrown away their guns and hid in the bushes before they were captured. Also, some of the other troops in the Union ranks claimed that not a shot was fired in warning by the Fourth. Statements were collected and an investigation was conducted without finding.

The twenty-first Canton man to die was Corporal Jerome Snow, a 44 year old laborer, who died of disease at New Orleans on July 10,. The next to die was one of the paroled men, Asahel White, a 45 year old farmer, who by his death by disease, on July 26, made him the twenty-second victim from Canton. On the date of his death he had served ten months on a nine month enlistment.

When the regiment first arrived in the area of New Orleans, they had met some of the men of the Forty-Second Mass., also a nine month regiment. The Forty-Second had been formed during the fall of 1862 in Readville. One of its members was a Canton man, Thomas Curran. Thomas endured the hardships of his service, returned home with the regiment on August 10, at which time the regiment was furloughed until the 20th. Thomas died at Canton on August 19th, the twenty-third victim, one day before being paid off and discharged.

The Fourth protested to their commanders that they should be discharged, since their tour of duty was up. The protest did not fall on deaf ears because the records show that the commanders advised the commanding general that the Fourth was on the verge of mutiny because their time had expired. On August 4th, the troops boarded a steamer north sailing up the Mississippi River to Cairo Ill. where they boarded a train for the remainder of the trip home.

At least three of the company were to sick to go along and they remained in Baton Rouge. All three would die of their illnesses. Charles Knaggs, August 24, Longbottom Crowther, August 27, and Joseph Jenkins on August 29 . They were the twenty-fourth, twenty-fifth and twenty-sixth Canton men to die in service.

As the men from the Fourth settled into life at home, the Army of the Potomac was still fighting on. Several actions of note took place in the eastern theater that fall, but the biggest news came out of the west.

Union General Rosecrans, Commander of the Army of the Cumberland, had pushed Confederate General Bragg out of Kentucky and was advancing through Tennessee. Rosecrans had taken Chattanooga and Bragg had a position south of town, along the Chickamauga Creek. Bragg hoped to draw Rosecrans out of Chattanooga so that he could attempt to defeat him and take back that vital town.

With the relative lack of action in the east, Robert E. Lee was able to send reinforcements to help Bragg, by means of General James Longstreet, and his Division of veteran troops. Starting on September 18th, the armies fought a fierce, three day battle, until the Union line broke and retreated back into Chattanooga. The Confederates, however, did not follow up the victory and settled in for a siege. Over the next several months the Union forces slowly starved, only one line of supply was open and this could not supply the entire army.

The supplies that did get in cost the army nearly all the horses and mules they had to haul them over the narrow rocky road that was still open. Late in October, General Grant arrived to assess the problem. The first order of business was to open a new food line, and get the troops in shape to break the siege.

This Army contained the Massachusetts Thirty-Third Regiment, part of General O. O. Howards, Eleventh Corps, Second Division, Second Brigade. The 33rd was formed in July and August of 1862 in Lynnfield MA. Company "K", was raised in Sharon and many of the men who enlisted did so to the credit of Canton, collecting the bounty money that was offered. This regiment had been involved in several engagements in the east before being transferred to the west.

On October 29, 1863 the 33rd was involved, with heavy loss, in a night engagement at Wauhatchie Tenn., at the foot of Lookout Mountain. This engagement forced the rebels from their commanding position on the river at Browns Ferry, which allowed the opening of a new supply line that became known as "The Cracker Line". At least two members of Company "K" died that night; John Drake and Addison Johnson who had both enlisted to the credit of Canton. Later, others would meet the same fate, as the 33rd stayed in the western theater and was a part of Shermans " March To The Sea". Their names, along with others in the same position, do not appear on the tablets in the Memorial Hall. It has been left to their towns to honor their memory.

During the winter of 1863, the Army of the Potomac, still commanded by General George Meade, was north of the Rapidan River in Virginia. Lee’s army was on the opposite shore around Chancellorsville and the thick forested area known as the Wilderness. U. S. Grant had been appointed head of all the Union armies and had laid out the up and coming campaign, part of which was Sherman’s March across Georgia. Meade was to take the Army of the Potomac across the Rapidan and press on to Richmond. They were to surprise Robert E. Lee so that they could get through the Wilderness and into the open plain on the other side, where the Union troops would have a greater advantage. Lee was ready and caught the Union troops in the woods. On May 5th and 6th, 1864, a bloody battle was fought with great loss on both sides. The woods were set ablaze from the gunpowder and many of the wounded lying in the woods burnt to death because they could not get out of the way. In this hell of a place, Canton would loss three more of her sons, the twenty-seventh, twenty-eighth, and twenty-ninth deaths; Sergeant Robert Blackburn Jr., 20th Mass., John Denningham, 19th Mass., and John O’Brien with the 58th Mass.

Unlike previous battles of this type, the Union Army did not retreat; it pushed on to Richmond. Over the next forty days the losses to both armies would be staggering. The Union loss was almost 55,000 men killed, wounded or missing. Records on the Confederate side were not kept as well. Their loss was less because they were the defending force. It has been estimated that the Confederate losses equaled forty percent of the Union ones, for a total of over 75,000 men lost on both sides. This was three times the currant population of our town, or over twenty three times the population of Canton in 1860.

When Grant found he was not going to get around Lee, he had his army cross the James River and attacked Petersburg, Virginia, in the middle of June. The first blow was not successful, and a siege began that would last until April of 1865, when Lee’s ragged army attempted to break out of Petersburg and join forces with General Joseph Johnston, who was being pushed northward by Sherman’s army after they completed their march across Georgia.

The conditions in the trenches around Petersburg caused more deaths then the constant shelling and repeated attacks back and forth. On January 13, 1865, Canton lost its thirtieth and final man, with the death of Charles Slattary, who was with the 14th Massachusetts Light Artillery. He died as the result of one of the many diseases that plagued all the camps of both armies around Petersburg.

Canton also provided its share of support through the Sanitation Commission and the general support of the families left behind. All the industries in the town put forth their best. Of great note is the production of cannon by the Revere Copper Company. They provided some 1,200 Napoleon style, 12 pound bronze cannons during the course of the war. Today, if you tour almost any one of the battlefields, you might find one of these cannon. In fact, on a recent trip to the Gettysburg Battlefield, we found that the visitors center has one of them as the center piece of their artillery display. Number 65, weighing 1218 pounds and manufactured in 1862, it bares the initials T.J.R., showing that it passed inspection, also that its place of manufacture was Canton, Massachusetts.*

Seeds of the next major conflict began to grow shortly after the American Civil War and before the Spanish-American War, when a border dispute between Germany and France in 1870 ended in the seizure of two French provinces. Germany was a powerful force that was growing all the time. In 1879, the German's formed an alliance with the Austria-Hungary Empire, and became the cornerstone of the "Central Powers". In 1882, Italy joined the "Central Powers" and together they became the "Triple Alliance".

Russia had already been snubbed by the Alliance, and with the death of Wilhelm I of Germany in 1888, a new leader took the throne, Wilhelm II, who Russia detested openly. This forced Russia to join forces with France in 1893, and they reached an agreement for mutual aid in the event of invasion of either territory. Europe was now an armed camp and a tinder box waiting to erupt into flames.

Shortly afterwards, the United Kingdom became attached to the French-Russian Alliance, mainly because of Germany’s stand with the Boers during Britain’s conflict in South Africa, and Germany’s rapidly growing navy was a direct threat to Britain’s power on the high seas.

During the period between 1890 and 1914, many small incidents occurred, all of which came to an equitable conclusion but kept tension high. On June 24, 1914, seven Serbian nationals assassinated the Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria in the city of Sarajevo, southern part of the Austrian empire. The Serbian press praised the incident, inciting war fever against the powerful neighbor which it felt was an oppressor. This in turn caused a violent reaction in Vienna, and a call for an invasion of Serbia. The Austrians however, had to give some consideration to Russia siding with Serbia, since they were long time allies. Austria went to Germany to see if they would side with them in the event they went to war against Serbia. German diplomats agreed, not thinking that anything would come of it.

On July 24, 1914, a list of demands was presented to the Serbian government that included the stopping of all anti-Austrian propaganda, and legal action against those who fomented it. Those who had plotted the murder of the Archduke would be prosecuted. Another part of the demands was the free entry into Serbia for Austrian officials to lead the investigations and see that the demands where carried out. All this was to be agreed to within forty-eight hours. The world was in shock at the list of demands and awaited the reply.

On July 26, the reply was completed and Serbia conceded almost all of the demands, but this was rejected by the minister from Austria as unacceptable. On July 28, 1914 Austria declared war on its smaller and weaker neighbor to the south. Germany now found itself drawn into this war it did not want, but they began to act. Russia received word of the declaration of war, and asked Germany to stop Austria's pending invasion of Serbia, Austria shelled the undefended city of Belgrade and the following day the Russian army was mobilized and on the move. The next day, Germany's army was mobilized, and the maxim that "mobilization means war" would come true. Within a month, 6 million troops were under orders across Europe, many of whom would be dead before four years passed.

The British were cautious in not wanting to become involved in the Austria-Russian rivalry and they took no position at first. The British watched the Austrians, and the Germans began to move into Luxembourg and had it completely occupied within 24 hours. The Germans then demanded free passage across neutral Belgium on the pretext that France was invading Belgium from the opposite side. When permission was denied, Germany invaded, and the world was in shock. England had long been a defender of Belgium's neutrality and was now forced to respond. At midnight on August 4th, 1914, England declared war on Germany.

Germany continued to push into Belgium against heavy resistance. However, the small army of this neutral country was no match for the well equipped and highly skilled German army. France fielded five armies and posted them along the French border and at strong points inside Belgium. The British sent in an expeditionary force of some 100,000 men, all to no avail. The Germans pushed forward, backing these forces to the Marne River, just outside Paris. The losses were heavy on both sides and each side poured in reinforcements. The first Battle of the Marne would stop the German onslaught and drive them back to the Aisne River, where each side would began to construct the trenches that would become the defining symbol of this war.

As all this was taking place, the war in the east against Russia and Serbia was coming to the same stalemate. Even as the armies ground to a halt, other countries became involved. Italy broke out of the "Triple Alliance" and along with Japan, entered on the side of the Allies. Turkey and Bulgaria sided with Austria and Germany, and their respective colonies in Africa erupted in conflict.

America was a neutral party, supplying food and munitions to the warring parties. The invasion of Belgium however, had turned some Americans towards the Allies. One of the largest turning points was the sinking of the British liner Lusitania on May 7, 1915 and the continued mining and U-boat attacks in international water. The steady expansion of the conflict throughout the world during 1915 & 1916 meant that the Untied States could not remain neutral for long.

Massachusetts had always been ready to offer its services to the federal government; this time would be no different. Since the Spanish-American War, the state had maintained a militia, equipped and ready for service. The state forces however, were gradually being federalized. With the growing problem in Europe and the incursions of Pancho Villa over the Mexican border, more federal control of the many state militias was required to insure that all troops were trained to the same level.

The Nation Defense Act of 1916 had been passed in early June and by the middle of that month it was put into action. On June 18, the National Guard of Massachusetts was called to service because of trouble on the Mexican border. Some time was spent in preparation, drilling and training at the National Guard camp in Framingham. Then on September 1st they shipped out by train for Texas. Riding regular coaches, three men to every four seats made the five day trip to El Paso very uncomfortable.

From September 5th to Feb. 18th, the National Guard troops trained with the regular army troops. They learned the "Army Way", not knowing that in little less than a years time they would be putting that training to practical use.

At the beginning of 1917, Germany stepped up the unannounced submarine attacks on Allied shipping, and as a result the United States broke diplomatic ties with Germany. Then it was discovered that Germany had invited Mexico to join them and recommended that they attack the United States if and when the U. S. went to war against Germany. This and the stories of German atrocities in Belgium caused anti-German sentiment to rise in America, until on April 6,1917, the United States declared war on Germany.

The United States had a very small national army, a respectable navy and no air force to speak of. Much work would be required if America was to be effective in this war. President Wilson insisted that the nation adopt conscription in order to meet the need for troops. Able-bodied men between 21 and 31 years of age would be drafted into the army for compulsory service. To make this program sound better the law was dubbed the "Selective Service". In the first year over 516,000 were drafted.

The state could see that when the federal government called the National Guard troops back into federal service, they would have no state wide body of troops to deal with any large problems that might arise. To prevent this, the Committee on Public Safety proposed to the legislature a bill providing for the formation of the "Home Guard". These troops would have to be exempt from the regular draft, but fit for duty. Three brigades of 11 regiments were formed and when the federal government called up the National Guard they were a force of 9,000 men around the state. They were given the same powers as deputy sheriffs and constables in criminal matters all around the Commonwealth, very much like today's State police.

Canton's "Home Guard" had its first meeting on March 23, 1917 in the Town Hall. At this meeting, Selectman Joseph A. Murphy was appointed president, and H. Ware Barnum secretary. It was agreed that a letter of intent would be drafted and signed by those present who wished to be a part of the Home Guard. This would be an important duty and not to be taken lightly, guarding the bridges, railroad and factories in the town against attack by the enemy. They would hold regular drills, and train under the guidance of local men, like Winthrop Packard, James Doody and Edward Beatty, who all had some kind of formal training or were in the National Guard. They also resolved to form a rifle club for training in the use of firearms and to join the National Rifle Association so that they could adopt their regulations and by-laws.

On April 6, a large parade started at Neponset St. and marched down Washington St. to the Town Hall. Police Chief Flood and a platoon of his men lead the way with Major William N. Tenney, a prominent doctor in town, acting as marshal. National Guard privates Edward Beatty, Arthur Thomas, Thomas Danahy and Frank Howard followed close behind and were cheered by the crowds that lined the way. At the Town Hall, they listened to speeches by Secretary of State Albert Langtry, Lieutenant Frederick Cutler of the Coast Artillery, and finally Major O' Keefe who reminded the people that Canton residents, Mrs. Joseph Thompson and her son Norman had died when the German's sank the Lusitania back in 1915.

On April 10th, the Home Guard had its first drill in the Town Hall with 125 members reporting for duty. The drill was lead by Sergeant Corbett and seven other men of Company "C" of the 9th Mass. National Guard. Seven different committees were set up; The Executive; Conservation of Food Production, A. A. Boutello, Chairman; Recruiting & Publicity, John J. Haverty, Chairman; Automobile & Transportation, Benjamin Morse, Chairman; Home Guard Drill, Winthrop Packard, Chairman; Finance, Abner Morse, Chairman.

At this time, Company "C" of the "Fighting 9th" M. N. G. was stationed at Canton Junction to guard this critical point on the railroad. They were housed on railroad property, until the school committee offered the use of the old Revere School. Arrangements were made to have a stove installed in the school so the troops had someplace to prepare a hot meal and rest comfortably out of the weather. Hot meals were also supplied by the Canton Board of Trade, in the lower Town Hall, lovingly prepared by a group of local ladies . When the Home Guard discovered that the troops had to walk guard duty in a blizzard without water proof shoes, the Finance committee arranged for the purchase of overshoes for them. In return these troops participated in just about every flag-raising in the town and helped drill the Home Guard in the ways of the military.

Throughout the town, everyone got involved in the war effort. One of the largest projects was the growing of food in home gardens. The Conservation of Food Production committee of the Home Guard provided advice on the types of vegetables to grow, tips on how to prepare the ground, and solicited contribution of open space to community gardens. Nearly every open space would have a garden in it including the playgrounds and some of the space at one of the cemeteries. In order to care for these gardens, a drive was started to have 14 year old boys enlist in the Canton Home Garden Association, much like their older brothers had enlisted to fight in the war.

The local Red Cross was in full swing, collecting money, clothing, personal articles and peach pits for gas masks as well as anything else that would add to the comfort of the men doing the fighting. They also took up collections to help provide relief for children in Belgium who managed to escape the oppression of the Germans.

The Canton Institution for Savings was selling war bonds and stamps through the Liberty Loan program, and the weekly sales were published in the Canton Journal. Every drive was a great success, with Canton being one of the first towns to go "over the top".

In the middle of May, the Governor called for all young men between the ages of 21 and 31 to register with their town officers so that when the call came from Washington, they would be prepared. 482 men were thought to be eligible in the town, but when registration ended 524 had signed up, plus there were 11 absentees. All the names were published in the paper, as were the names of those seeking an exemption for what-ever reason. A five man board was appointed to be registrars, including, William Revere, Benjamin Morse, Andrew Cunningham, Albert Morse and Joseph Daly.

Although the country had only recently declared war officially, young adventurous individuals had all ready gone off to war. One of these individuals was Private 178,203, as he was known. This was the heading on the articles that appeared in the local paper. He was Robert Cushman, who had left Canton early in April of 1916 and had gone to St. Johns, Quebec, and there joined the Canadian Grenadier Guard and shipped out to England. At the time his first letter appeared, he had already been wounded twice, the most recent being October 18, 1916 in the Battle of the Somme.

The area of the Somme was thought to be impregnable. The German's had been reinforcing it since the first battle of the Marne, and on the morning of July 1st, the British and French troops started the "Big Push". In this attack, the British lost 60,000 men before the first day was done and the bloody battle would continue until November 18. When it was all over the British had made only a small bulge in the German line, only gaining eight miles over a twelve mile front.

The loss to the British, French and German armies at the Somme was a staggering 1,250,000 men. Adding to this the losses at Verdun, which was fought at the same time, the total was 2,150,000. The losses to the British Empire in the Somme would match the entire total of World War II. The one notable item from this battle was the introduction by the British of the first tank, which helped break the stalemate in the Western Front.

Robert Cushman was finding that the glory and adventure he was looking for was actually living in a muddy, rat-infested trench with death and destruction all around, as well as the constant pounding of artillery and the fear of gas. He spoke truly when he said that he missed his home in Canton.

By this time in the war, Canton had its first loss, though they did not know it. John G. Shaw, the nephew of Mrs. T. Wright of Chapman Street, who had left Canton on May 28, 1915 to enlist in the Canadian Army had been killed in action in June of 1916. He was born in Leeds, England in April of 1889, emigrated to America, came to Canton and worked at the Neponset Woolen Mill as an assistant dyer. Jack was well liked around the town. He was the treasurer of the Canton Soccer Football Club and a member of the Canton Cricket Club, and attended the Congregational Church on a regular basis. Two days before he left town, a surprise party was given in his honor at the Brewster Club. Jack would be the first recruit to leave town and would be the first fatality, Canton's first "Gold Star".

As the year 1917 progressed, more and more young men were drafted "Red Ink" lists, as they were known, were in the paper every week. By the end of the year, Canton had 145 men in the service and a second Gold Star could be added to Canton's list.

Ettore Delvecchio had joined the Italian Army with his cousin, Fiorenzo Delvecchio, also of Canton. Ettore was born in Italy on Dec. 3, 1890. His mother and one sister were still living in Italy at the time of the war. Like many others, he had emigrated to America to seek his fortune. Working in the leather industry did not make him a fortune, but it was a living. At the outbreak of the war in Italy, Ettore and his cousin returned to the old country and joined the Italian Army. Ettore never returned to his adopted country. He was killed in action at Il Berelta on Dec. 13, 1917 during the stalemate that developed after the fiasco that was the Battle of Caporetto.

The winter of 1917-1918 was very hard on the citizens of Canton. Supplies of coal, the main heat source, had dwindled to the point where it was thought that the Fuel Committee would have to commandeer the less desirable bituminous coal used in the factories to supply heat for those in need. Selectman Ernest Guild opened his wood lot on Pleasant St. to anyone who needed or wanted wood for their own consumption. Many took him up on his offer to cut wood at his lot, and a birch wood lot on High St. that had been purchased by the Fuel Committee. Some people were soaking bricks in oil in order to burn them in their cook stoves. By the first of February, the coal was gone and the business in the center of town came to a standstill. Shortly after this news, it was discovered that the water supply at the Springdale well had frozen and the only well supplying water to the whole town was at Henry Spring. Only extra effort on the part of the water department would thaw the plumbing and forestall a major disaster.

Added to all of this was a shortage of food; sugar, wheat, pork and beef were in very short supply. Published in the paper were instructions on which day what food would not be eaten. Monday would be a totally wheatless day and no meat would be eaten at breakfast. It was also a workless day; each day had its own schedule.

As the spring of 1918 approached, talk turned to the home gardens. Instructions were given on how to grow just about any type of vegetable. Instruction was also given on how to tap maple trees for their sap in order to make maple syrup to replace the hard-to-come by sugar. Rules were established early on how the coal that did arrive would be rationed.

Amid all this, Canton received news of its first death in the service. Sergeant Josiah Fuller, regimental supply sergeant with the 323rd Field Artillery, Camp Sherman in Chillicothe, Ohio, died of pneumonia on April 16, 1918, 2 days short of his 29th birthday. The son of Mrs. Helena Fuller of High St., he was educated in Canton schools, and worked for the Asbestos Protected Metal Co., formerly of Canton, in their Ambridge, Pennsylvania plant and was drafted into the Army from Beaver Falls, Penn. Services were held in the Baptist Church, and he was buried Sunday, April 21, 1918. Within two weeks of this news, the report of the first battlefield death was received.

Sergeant Edward James Beatty was killed in action on April 20th. Born on April 10, 1892, he was educated in the Canton schools and was a carpenter by trade. In 1913 he joined the Roxbury Horse Guards, and continued to reenlist until he served during the problem on the Mexican border in 1916. He was part of Troop "D", 1st Separate Sq. Cavalry, Mass. National Guard and was mustered into National service on July 31, 1917. He was then transferred to Co. "B" 102d Machine Gun Battalion, 26th Division (Yankee Division), and was shipped out to the front on Sept. 23, 1917.

While Edward was at the front, his father died and his mother was left to take care of his brother Arthur, and three sisters, Mildred, Margaret and Harriet, all at home at the time. Two other sisters were married and lived in Walpole and Medford.

Edward had written home just before he died that he was worried for his mother and she should pray for him and his father. He also wrote to a friend what it was like at the front. Most of the time the trenches were knee deep in water and staying dry was one of the biggest problems. He also described an attack that took place several nights before he died.

" Its was so dark that you could almost feel the blackness and as still as a tomb. Then all at once turn on a thousand flashes followed by a deafening roar, and the noise of as many invisible express trains racing through the air. Then in the distance (not over 150 yards) you could see the black night torn in as many shreds by blood red balls of fire (pieces of broken shell) and a second great piercing roar and all the time small arms were spitting and snapping their share of destruction."

The battle he describes is probably the Battle of the Apremont Forest on April 10, his birthday. The letter that the excerpt is taken from was dated two days before his death. The Germans were testing the American lines, and pushed in on the 104th infantry, driving them back some distance and then were themselves driven back. After a short quiet period the Germans attacked again. On April 20th, at 3:00 A.M. they started again with a heavy bombardment, then a small force of shock troops to secure a foothold in the line. They came under a cover of fog and were upon the 102nd before they knew it. The Germans drove the Americans back through the town of Seicheprey with heavy hand to hand fighting and many acts of personal bravery. In a letter received from Robert Dallahan of Canton, Edward's mother learned how her son had stayed with his gun, buying time for his comrades to escape. He kept up his firing even as he became weak from the loss of blood. When the Germans had him surrounded and the fighting got hand-to-hand he took out his pistol and kept shooting. A German bayonet plunged into his body finally stopped his gallant defense.

The battle raged for two days until the Americans drove the Germans back and secured their original lines. When it was over, the Germans and the Allies knew that the Yanks were there to fight and that they could hold their own against some of the best seasoned troops.

Sergeants Fuller and Beatty were actually the third and fourth losses to the town; John Shaw and Ettore Delvecchio were the first and second casualties, but that fact would not be known for sometime. The slow moving news and the fact that they were in foreign armies delayed notice to the town. Edward Beatty would be the first Canton born battle casualty, and would be remembered by having the American Legion post named in his honor.

After the news of that the spring, the war effort seemed to pick up in Canton. Draft requirements were met and exceeded. All the Red Cross drives were huge successes and the liberty loan drives all went "over the top".

On July 15, the Germans started an offensive, which the Allies knew was coming. The first German drives were successful and they gained ground. However, by the middle of the day the drive was stopped. The American lines had yielded but had not broken, and the counterattack began. At nightfall, the Allies had recovered all the ground that they had lost in the morning, and began the build-up for the planned push into German territory. On July 18, the Allies started the counteroffensive. Despite the heavy rains, the Allies were gaining ground rapidly and the Germans were falling back from the Marne and Somme Rivers. During this battle, Canton actually suffered its fifth loss, Patrick Joseph Cronin. The offensive continued through August and as it did the causality list mounted at home. By September, the Allies had pushed the Germans to the lines they had held in the spring.

In September, a new enemy appeared, Spanish Influenza and the secondary diseases associated with it took its toll at the front and at home. In Canton, public meetings were canceled, while the doctors and nurses worked around the clock to stem the tide. In a month's time the imposed ban in Canton would be lifted, but not before some 600 people contracted the disease and almost 60 lost their lives. Among those in Canton was a 20 year old nurse named Mary Goodie of Orono Maine. Mary wasn't known to the people of the town; she had come to help the sick but was herself struck down within several days of her arrival and died on October 11, 1918, far away from her home.

Deaths in the state were estimated at 10,000 during the month of October. By the time the epidemic was over, it was thought to have claimed more lives worldwide than the Black Plague of the Middle Ages.

Corporal Leo Vincent Gray was one of the first to succumb to this deadly disease in Canton. Leo, the 26 year old son of James and Catherine Gray of 61 Leonard St., had attended Canton schools, graduating from the 2 year high school program with honors. After attending Maltby's Shorthand School, he landed a job as a stenographer with the Department of Agriculture in Washington DC. Later, he went on to work for the Navy Department in Portland, Maine. At the time he enlisted, he was employed with Texas Oil Co. Leo had been at training camp and was granted a furlough to return home, where he became ill and died September 21, 1918.

Albert "Allie" Gavigan died of pneumonia September 24, at the age of 23, while stationed in France. He was son of Thomas and Joanna Gavigan of 98 Mechanic St., and a member of the Catholic Club and Holy Name Society, and was employed at the Plymouth Rubber Co. Albert, had enlisted on May 31, 1918, went through training camp, and was shipped overseas on July 10, 1918. At the time of his death, he was a wagoner with Truck Co. "D", 2nd Corp Artillery. It was later learned that Albert had been "a bit under" for sometime before his actual death. In fact, he worked his post hauling ammunition to forward positions for 48 hours straight during the attack on the St. Mihiel salient on September 12th, no doubt contributing to his demise.

George Horton was the 30 year old son of Isaac Chester and Harriet Horton of Washington St. in Ponkapoag. George died on October 3rd while still at the training camp at Syracuse NY, never reaching the front. He had attended Canton schools and before the war, was employed as a shipper for Crimmins & Pierce in Boston.

During the epidemic, two more men had been reported as having died over seas, Pietro Gallo and Allan Douglass. The first reports had very little information but in subsequent reports it was found that Pietro Gallo had enlisted in the Italian Army early on, and had been fighting with the troops in the mountains around Trentino, Italy. After serving three years on the front, he returned home to Mirabello, Italy to see his mother and sister, only to be struck down by disease. Pietro had come to Canton to improve his life and had lived here for about eight years. He would be remembered by his fellow soldiers when his name was added to the Gold Star list.

Allan Wilkins Douglass, the 23 year old son of Mr. & Mrs. Edwin Douglass, had been attending Yale when he enlisted in the Army. He received his basic training at the Madison Barracks at Fort Niagara in upstate New York and was transferred to Camp Devens as a 1st Lieutenant in the field artillery. While at Camp Devens he came to Canton and married Rachel Priest Capen on March 8, 1918 in a grand military wedding. Shortly after the wedding, he was transferred to Battery "E", 113th Field Artillery, 30th Division and was shipped overseas on May 27, 1918. While in France, he become the Aid-de-camp to one of the Divisions generals. On September 9th he wrote home to his new bride telling her that he had requested a transfer and that his time at headquarters had been an "interesting but profitless experience". Allan went on to give his reasons for requesting the transfer.

" when a man's mind has been taught to think in terms of war, and specially trained to practice certain principles, it is quite a change and a come down to be a valet, as it were, and to think principally of dress and manners, ten kilometers behind the line. It just wasn't me."

Four days later, Allan was killed. He received the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in action near Limey, France, September 12, 1918. During the engagement, after having been struck by a shell splinter, Lieutenant Douglass continued his work of removing dead and wounded horses, and assisting in moving the carriages to a place of safety. He was again struck, and killed. By his courage and devotion to duty, he inspired the men of his section to continue their work successfully.

On November 8th, came the joyous news that an armistice would be signed and the hostilities would stop. (The actual signing occurred November 11, 1918 at 11 A.M.). The town had a huge parade with 2,000 people participating and another 5,000 lining the streets. With the happy news however, came a sad note. A notice was printed telling that Canton's first recruit, John "Jack" Shaw had been killed in action with Co. "D", 41st Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Forces in France, on June 10, 1916.

On November 22, word was received of two additional deaths. William Monahan had been killed in action and Helen Homans, a nurse with the Red Cross in France, had died of pneumonia.

Corporal William Patrick Monahan, 29 year old son of Matthew and Martha Monahan of Norfolk St., had been a ticket clerk and telegraph operator in Uxbridge, MA before the war. He enlisted in July of 1917 and went to France on September 23, 1917 with the rest of the 26th Division. While in France, he received a letter of commendation for his efforts in the same operation that had cost Edward Beatty his life. William's superiors in the 101st Field Signal Battalion wrote home to his family about how he had given his life in the face of the enemy and died a hero's death.

On September 12th the American forces went "over the top" in a charge against a German strong point at St. Mihiel. As a telegraph operator at a forward observation post, William was pushing forward with a roll of telephone line when he was struck down by a German bullet.

Miss Helen Homans had resided in Canton for most of her youth and graduated from the Canton school system, and then went on to Miss Winslow's School. She was the daughter of the late Dr. John Homans and Helen Perkins Homans, who had moved to Boston shortly after Helen went to France. Helen had a love for medicine, and when her three brothers, all Harvard graduates, joined the Army, Helen did the only thing she could. Traveling to France, she joined the Red Cross or French Ambulance service in 1915 and received her training at a French military hospital at Yvelot. Receiving several transfers to other area hospitals, she eventually was stationed near the front lines and served with such valor that she received from the French government the "Croix de Guerre" with palm, meaning "cross of war", a medal given for bravery in combat.

On November 26, a telegram was received stating that Joseph Patrick Cronin died on July 31, of wounds received during the action on Hill 212, near Sergy, France. Joseph was the son of Michael and Mary Cronin and the husband of Katherine Ellen Redmond. As newlyweds, they had moved into a house at 31 Neponset St. and set up housekeeping while Joseph worked at Draper Brothers.

Katherine had been very worried because she had not heard from Joseph since early in July and her letters since then had not been answered. With the telegram her worst fears had come true. A bitter note to this story is the fact that notice of his death had been delayed until November 26, taking some four months in arriving, and after the armistice had been signed. It was also the day after what would have been they're fourth wedding anniversary.

Just because the war was over in France did not mean that life was back to normal at home. Coal and food were scarce, and the needs of the troops continued. Two weeks after the New year began, word arrived of yet another death. Sergeant Arthur Wendell Thomas, son of Thomas F. and Mary Augusta Thomas of Prospect St., had been another victim of the Spanish-Influenza. Arthur had been a member of Co. "H", 101st Inf., 26th Division but become a cook in a supply company. Born on March 2, 1896 in Canton, he attended Canton schools and was well known in the town. He had three brothers, one of whom was also with the 101st . Ironically, on the day his family learned of his death, his married sister, Mrs. Ruth Davis succumbed to the same disease in the Canton Hospital.

The final man to gain a place in the history of this town as the result of his sacrifice is George St. George, who had been drafted in the Selective Draft Act of August 1918. He boarded the train to Camp Devens, on August 27, at 11:09 A.M. but was disqualified because of his physical condition. He returned home and died in the Canton Hospital late in February 1919, one more victim of the Spanish-Influenza.

After the war was over, the returning veterans picked up on an idea that had started in Paris on March 15, 1919. They organized a local chapter of the "American Legion", an organization for those who served their country "Over There". The first meeting was held in the lower level of Memorial Hall on June 12, at which time over 100 men signed up. Karl Standish was appointed temporary chairman. By their 1st formal meeting on July 1st, they had been chartered Post #24. Later they would adopt the name of the first Canton man killed in action, Edward James Beatty.

The monument with the names of all these heroes was dedicated on July 4th, 1926, in the front of the old high school, and is today the Hemenway Senior Center.

According to the "Gold Star" records published by the Commonwealth, there is one name missing from the tablet, that of Rupert Knowles, and two not in "Gold Star" records, Josiah Fuller and George St. George.

Rupert Knowles, was born in Ashton-under-Lyne, England in August of 1880. He lived at 112 Bolivar St. at the time he enlisted on July 9, 1917, he served for a year with the 68th Coast Artillery, until shipping overseas on August 9, 1918. Serving seven months on the front line in France, he was shipped home to his two children, Dorothy, (13) and John (11). Landing at Camp Mills in Mineola, New York, he was struck down with the dreaded flu and died on February 24, 1919. His funeral was held at the home of his brother-in-law, Harry Whitehead, on Sherman Street, in Canton, Massachusetts and he found his final rest under the sod of Canton Corner Cemetery.

On January 18, 1919, in Versailles, the Paris Peace Conference started the League of Nations, the world's first attempt at a global peacekeeping body. The dismantling of the German war machine was the primary thrust of the conference. Old treaties were abandoned, and the borders of Germany were reduced on all fronts with the loss of its entire colonial empire. Sovereignty of Belgium, Poland, Czechoslovakia and Austria was reinstated. The great power was no longer.

The combination of the Great Depression that struck the world in 1929 and the heavy debt from the war destroyed the efforts of the new German government to rebuild the country. The time was right for the formation of the National Socialist Party and the rise of Adolph Hitler.

At the same time Hitler was coming to power, a new political party was coming to life in Italy. The Fasci di Combattimento, the Fascist movement, was headed by a former school teacher and Socialist party journalist, Benito Mussolini.

Mussolini had been expelled from the Socialist party when he called for Italy to side with the Allies in the "Great War". After the war he founded this new party by attacking the peasant leagues and socialist groups who had rejected him. Gaining the support of the landowners as well as the middle class, his group was growing in strength.

The Fascist movement grew until, as it was about to overthrow the King of Italy, a coalition was formed and soon the Fascist had complete control of the government. Popularity grew for Mussolini and his movement until he sided with Francisco Franco in the Spanish Civil War and linked Italy to Nazi Germany and Adolph Hitler.

The final major player in this impending world conflict was Hirohito, the Emperor of Japan, and his military machine. Tojo Hideki was Army Chief of Staff in 1937 and led the Japanese army in their war against China. The great victories he won in China helped him become Minister of War, in 1940, directing all the military operations of Japan until 1944, when he resigned.

These three individuals formed the "Axis Powers" and they would change the face of the world forever and place it on the path of instability for many, many years to come.

While all this was taking place, the United States was following a course of isolationism. After the end of World War I the social, political and economic upheaval of the twenties and thirties were enough for Americans to deal with. Canton was no different than the rest of the country. The stories of the war in Europe were in the paper every week along with photos of the damages, and stories of the brutality of the Germans and Italians. Most of these stories appeared on the back pages just after the fashion news. Some of the churches and civic organizations pitched in to help refugees and sent aid packages to the Red Cross.

In an effort to be prepared for an attack, coastal artillery and anti aircraft sites began to spring up along the coast. Early in April of 1940, the latest anti-aircraft guns were demonstrated by the 211^th Coast Artillery at the Canton Airport. On June 21, 1940, "Wing 2" of the Civilian Air Reserve was started at the Canton Airport. The airport was being advertised as the second busiest airport in the state, housing 65 planes. At one point, the airport was considered for sizable government contracts and expansion, but lost out to Bedford Airport, mainly because of the amount of usable land around the Bedford site. Canton Airport was still a government approved primary and secondary training field and repair station. Flights during the summer were so numerous that residents were complaining about the noise.

In August of 1940, it became clear that America would have its first peacetime draft, and that young men between the ages of 18 and 35 would be required to register. Congress also passed the Alien Registration Act on August 23, 1940, which stated that all adult aliens had to register as such with the government. The Canton Post Office was the registration center and 312 were expected to register by December 26, 1940.

On October 16, in Memorial Hall, Town Clerk, Daniel Flood, Chairman of the National Defense Committee, Charles Endicott and Town Engineer Walter Love saw to it that the registration of the men from Canton went smoothly. First in line was John J. Podgurski of 560A Washington Street. By the end of the day, a total of 737 young men had registered out of the expected 900. On November 1, 1940, Frederick Potter Harrison of 129 Chapman St. became the first draftee picked in Canton but was never called because the district quota had been met by enlistments. On November 18, 1940, Lawrence P. Clews of 66 Fuller St. became the first Canton man called in the draft, and was shipped out to Fort Devens for a year's training.

On November 21, an airplane spotting station was established by James Curran and Albert Bryant Jr. They were designated by the local Legion Post, per order of the War Department. This spotting station was one of 650 that stretched along the coast every four miles from east of the Hudson River to Cape Ann. It was located near the pumping station on Pine street, in the Springdale section of town.

As 1940 came to a close the weather was very cold and snowy. The Canton/Stoughton Thanksgiving Day football game was postponed because of the amount of snow. It wouldn't be played till December 7, with Canton winning a tough game 6-0. Little did the townspeople know what awaited them exactly one year later. However, the year did end on exciting note. Two earthquakes, each of about 20 seconds duration hit the town. The first quake occurred on December 20, and the second four days later. No damage occurred, but buildings and dishes rattled. These natural phenomenons would pale in comparison to the shock that would be received at the close of 1941.

At the start of 1941, on January 24, a full copy of Congressional Bill H. R. 1776 appeared in the paper. This would become known as the lend lease bill, the foundation of Americas position as the arsenal of the free world. Convoy after convoy would transport every possible war supply to England with a promise of repayment when the war was over.

Around this time John J. Caddigan of Chapman St. presented to the 101st Infantry at Camp Edwards a new portable voice amplification system that had been designed and built under his supervision. At a ceremony at the camp he received the praises of the dignitaries for his determination and patriotic spirit.

On April 2, the Plymouth Rubber Co. on Revere St. was struck by a fire that destroyed one of the larger buildings on the site and put 1000 people out of work. The fire started in a top floor calender room but spread to the rest of the building quickly. It took fire departments from surrounding towns 5 hours to put the fire out and the Canton Fire Dept. was on the scene until Sunday. By the end of the week 500 of the 1000 people were back to work and an unemployment office had been setup in the Town Hall. Plymouth Rubber entered into negotiations with a former employee who owned the Rockland Rubber Co., and by April 11, they had purchased that site and restored most of the lost production space.

Small articles that were defense related appeared every week on the front page of the paper along with the activities of regular life, although more stories had a military flavor. Private John Hinchilife of Canton gave a solo accordion performance from Fort Devens that was broadcast on 19 stations around New England as part of their regular weekly performance. Defense bonds and stamps went on sale at the Post Office. C. Justin McCarthy was appointed Air Raid Warden, having completed an eight week course which would help him in his duties of selecting deputy wardens, locating reporting and control stations, and training personnel to staff them. His counterpart in the Woman's Division was Ms. Hilda Kelly. Hilda received her training in organization and administration, first aid, anti-gas and fire prevention.

On May 27, Plymouth Rubber Co. had a new problem to deal with that could have been worse than the fire in April. The pressmen went out on strike demanding higher wages; 600 people in all went out. The company published a statement that the pressman's current wages of $29 for a 40 hour week and $21 for the "girls" were higher than other companies were paying. State arbitrators met with all parties, and after 9 days an agreement was reached.

In the same edition of the Canton Journal that announced the settlement, there was an editorial that was a republished article from the New York Times that read "strikes were a menace and a threat to those who were not deferred from military service at high wages", showing less than unanimous support from the general public.

At the start of July, a mock air raid was staged. The local pilots provided the planes that ran " bombing runs" on town installations. The entire town turned out for a mass meeting at the town hall at 8 P.M. and heard guest speaker Thomas Buckley representative from the Department of Public Safety, give a speech on being prepared. This stands out in stark contrast to another front page story, the dedication of the playground on Messenger St. on June 30th, a clear sign that life was continuing in spite of the danger that lurked around the corner.

The tax rate was published at $37, coal was selling at $12.75 per ton, a new car was $828, refrigerator $126.95 and an electric stove was $89.95 at the Edison store downtown. Food prices were stable, with butter$.41/lb, bacon $.27/lb, Lettuce at 3 heads for $.17, a 4 to 5 pound chicken and center cut pork chops were $.33/lb. Mixed in among these stories were announcements that an Air Raid Warden school would be starting on Aug. 6th, that more young men were going off to training camp, and that an aluminum collection drive had been successful in collecting 1575 pounds for the defense effort, which was just short of the one ton goal.

During the summer, Jim Danahy won the State Junior Golf Championship at Belmont Country Club and Wesley Holmes, State Soapbox champion, lost out in the second heat of the National Finals in Akron Ohio. Norwood airport was in the planning stages and William Pierce, Chief Chemist with the Employers Liability Insurance Company, gave a well attended demonstration behind the Crane School, on the effects of Themite, Magnesium, and Phosphorus bombs.

The first notice of a combat death of a young man known to people in Canton came on September 12, 1941 when it was announced that 22 year old Tony Sherman, a former resident of High St. and current resident of Springfield, Ohio, had been lost in a bombing raid over northwest Germany on August 16th. Tony was a pilot in the British RAF and had lived in Canton while his father was employed at the Crankless Engine Company.

On September 13 and 14, an open house was held at the new Emma Rowell Hospital at 318 Sherman Street. This hospital would handle surgical cases and convalesents. On the same weekend, a major air show took place at the Canton Airport. Over 10,000 people attended the Sunday show. The highlights of the show were the "bombing run" by two of the flight instructors, Sherwood Holmes and Perry Hodgkins, who dropped "flour bombs" on a moving car that contained a likeness of Adolph Hitler, played by Ralph Beasley Jr. and a Gestapo agent played by Henry Caviacio.

A strong wind had caused the glider presentation to be canceled, but later in the day the parachute exhibition attempted a jump. The first jumper out of the plane, Art Daigle, signaled to the others waiting in the plane that it was too windy to jump. This became clear as they watched Art land in a tree far from the field, on the McDonough property at the end of Spring Lane.

The first test of the air raid warning system occurred on October 1st. and included most of the East coast. Canton received its warning from the station in Quincy and, depending on the message received, Air Raid Warden C. Justin McCarthy would light one of four colored lights on the signal board at the reporting station at the Town Hall.

The first level of alert was signaled by a yellow light. This was considered a confidential notice; planes were about two hundred miles away, but headed towards Canton. Report Center Organizations had to report to their centers. Level two was a blue light, also confidential, but it meant that manufacturers should shut down machinery and all industry, railroads and traffic must stop or shut off lights. Red warning lights were for the public warning and were accompanied by sirens and whistles. White signaled the "all clear" and that all Air Raid Wardens should report damages in their area. This system would go through several changes, until late in 1942, the state issued orders dictating the standards to be observed.

One of the highlights of the weekend of October 13 was a newsreel presentation put on by the Canton Community Club for the benefit of the Canton Nursing Association. It was entitled "Canton in 1941" and was produced by Dick Mellinger. It included clips from the Air show, the high school football game with Franklin, a Town Club football game with Norwood, the Soap Box Derby on Washington Street, and a profile of several of the local industries.

During the late part of August, President Roosevelt held a secret meeting with Winston Churchill off the coast of Newfoundland, during which they formed the "Atlantic Charter". This declared that all peoples should be free to choose their own form of government and not to have boundary changes forced upon them. The principle of the freedom of the High Seas was recognized. Less than a month later Roosevelt would declare that because of repeated attacks on the convoys to England, German and Italian shipping would be subject to attack when met in United States waters. Since July, U.S. Marines had been stationed in Iceland, and U.S. ships were helping protect the shipping conveys around Iceland. On October 17, the U.S. Destroyer Kearny was hit by 3 torpedoes and had to be helped into port. On the bridge of the Kearny was Canton resident Henry J. Lyman, the first Cantonite to receive a commendation for his actions under fire.

As the end of the year approached a special town meeting voted to allow a raise in the pay to town laborers, they received a 25% increase from $.561/4 per hour to $.70 per hour, with time and a half after eight hours. A fire bug was running around the Ponkapoag and York area, having set fire to four barns, and opening fire hydrants. The most excitement came on Nov. 27, when 3 prisoners being transported to the Concord Reformatory overpowered their guards by strangling them with their handcuffs and causing the car to go off the road at Cobb Corner on the Sharon line. Over 250 officers and bloodhounds searched the woods between Cobb Corner and Knollswood Cemetery. A plane helped in the search and a blockade was set up around the perimeter, but to no avail. Later it was learned that in spite of all the efforts, the three convicts escaped the blockade and stole a car from the intersection of the "super" highway and East Cross Street in Norwood. Two were later captured in Wareham and the third in New Bedford.

During the first weekend of December, Christmas was on the mind's of all. The fire department began its toy drive, and stores were offering gift-giving ideas for the whole family. The baseball field being built by the WPA workers on the French estate was declared ready for the spring planting of grass, and Defense Bonds and stamps went on sale at the banks and post office. Canton's Strand theater was showing "Charley's Aunt", a comedy with Jack Benny, Kay Francis and Lloyd Nolan. The Norwood Theater had "Honky Tonk", starring Lana Turner and Clark Gable, billed as another "Boom Town", but better.

On Sunday December 7th, before the start of the 2 P.M. show, the President received word of the attack on Pearl Harbor, and several days later learned of the attacks on other installations.

Quickly thereafter, the United States declared war against Japan, and by December 11th, we were also at war with Germany and Italy. Two days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, while the country mourned the loss, Canton had its first surprise air raid which extended from Long Island to Maine. One can only imagine the fear everyone one must have felt, especially after the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor and the Philippines.

News was received that four Canton men had been stationed in two of the areas that had been attacked; James Edward Smith at Schofield Barracks, and Cecil Grant at Pearl Harbor both in the Hawaiian Islands, and Lester B. Stone and John Francis Griffin both in the Philippine Islands.

At home, America was wholeheartedly behind the war. The task was clear and the people stood ready to make any sacrifices that would be required. Enlistments were now for the duration, plus six months. Married men between 18 and 35 were no longer exempt. Birth certificates were required, and boys under 21 must have written consent of their parents. Physical requirement became less strict, and those that had been rejected before were encouraged to try again.

The year ended with a request that people limit their long distance phone calls on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. They were asked not to make calls south of New York, west of Chicago or north into the Maritime Provinces. Calls made within those areas should be kept short. This was the first and the least of the privations that would be necessary by the time the war was over.

As January 1942 started, automobile production for the general public stopped and tire rationing began, A Tire Rationing Board was established and met on Monday and Wednesday evenings, Walter Love was administrator.

No tire could be purchased without a certificate from the Board and these certificates would only be issued to certain classes of vehicles. These were limited to physicians, surgeons, visiting nurses and veterinarians, for their professional vehicles only, ambulances, police, fire, public health, sanitation and mail trucks. Public transportation for ten or more people, school buses, employee transport (if no public transport was available), repair vehicles for public roads and utilities, production facilities, defense housing, military transport, building trades, common carriers, waste, scrap and raw materials haulers, farm and mining vehicles were also included. Of all these classes of transportation, the allotment to the town was only six tires and five tubes for Passenger vehicles and motorcycles, and eleven tires and ten tubes for the trucks.

By February 16th, President Roosevelt approved the registration of all 20 to 44 year old men.

A home guard unit was formed much like the one that served so well during the previous war. Captain Robert Dallahan, veteran of World War I, provided the instruction and John Hennessey was the chairman. The core of the guard were "men who have guns and know how to use them," guns of any size will do as long as it has its own ammunition. Gun manufactures around the country were no longer producing guns for civilian use and the government had stopped sales for civilian use. Hopes were high that they would use the old gun range from World War I, on what is now the Massachusetts Hospital School grounds. Chairman Hennessey forecast that the Volunteer Rifle Unit would have a total of one hundred men and at the first full meeting thirty-one men signed up mostly Veterans from the last war. Drilling and recruitment continued until they were notified by the State Adjutant General's Office that military type drilling was against the law. The unit was disbanded and many of the volunteers were appointed auxiliary police officers.

Black out rules now became the law, and all persons were notified on what was to be expected. The responsibility rested with the occupants of any and all buildings, to see that the building was secure. No light whatsoever should be visible from the exterior of the occupied premises, and any windows not required for ventilation should be kept covered at all times with a good sturdy covering. Air raid wardens were appointed throughout the town to see that the blackout rules were enforced.

The rationed items list began to grow; retread and recapped tires were added to the rubber list. Sugar was to be issued to each individual by ration card only. From May 4 to May 7, registration took place at the town schools with the help of the school teachers. To obtain a ration card, each person had to know how much sugar of all kinds they had on hand at home. Each individual was entitled two pounds of sugar for which no stamps were removed from the ration book; four more pounds per person were allowed at a cost of one ticket per pound. Anyone with seven pounds or more would not be given ration book number 1, and would not receive a book for sixty days. Six thousand, seven hundred people signed up during the four day registration.

Gas rationing followed on May 12, 13, and 14^th. Registration was at the High School between 3pm and 9pm with an hour off for supper. Five types of cards were issued. Four of the cards provided varying numbers of unit stubs. The card issued to you depended on how many miles you drove daily to and from work. How quickly you used the gas was up to you, since the card had to last you from May 15 to June 30.

Since the attack on Pearl Harbor, the whereabouts of one of the four men in the Pacific had been learned. Lester Stone had sent word home early in February that he was all right. On May 22, 1942, John F. Griffin, son of Michael Griffin of 22 Leonard street, became the first Canton boy to be reported missing in action, and possibly a prisoner of the Japanese.

John had graduated from Canton High School, and enlisted in the Army in November of 1940. Two months after enlisting, he was sent to Nichols Field, Rizal, Philippine Islands. He was assigned to the Signal Corps and was part of MacArthur's gallant stand.

All during the spring and summer of 1942, air raid drills, blackouts and other defense activities continued and became more frequent. Men between the age of 44 and 65 were asked to register at the Town Hall so that a labor pool could be established.

The Labor Day celebration was to be a "Red Letter" day for the town. The Air Raid Precaution Services had one of the largest celebrations in the state. Mr. Lee W. Court was chairman of the committee that planned the events. The highlights of the day were the bombing of a small wood frame house with incendiary bombs dropped from planes, demonstration of the mounted defense unit headed by James Draper, a huge "Preparedness Parade" to start at Neponset Street, two baseball games played between the winning teams from the Air Raid Wardens, the Observation Post and the Report Center workers. The teams played a series of games during the two weeks before Labor Day to determine the best four teams. The finalist were competing for a cup donated by John Chase, Chairman of Public Safety.

The celebration was filmed by all the major newsreel companies including Paramount News and Life Magazine. This was to be the first celebration of its kind and magnitude in the country. The entire event was announced by Jack Stanley, the well known news analyst from WNAC radio station. The action had sound effects taken from actual recordings in London during the Great Blitz.

Before the big celebration, Canton's first official fatality of the war was announced. Andrew R. Wood Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Wood of Indian Lane, was killed in a mid air collision of two planes over the Lubbock Flying School in Lubbock Texas. The accident occurred on August 26, 1942. Andrew had enlisted in the Army Air Corps in February and trained at Coleman, Texas and Randolph Field, also in Texas. At the completion of his training, he would have been a Second Lieutenant in the Army Air Force.

Andrew Wood Jr. was born in Scotland on December 7, 1917, while his father was in charge of three mine sweepers in the British Royal Navy. After the First World War, the family moved to Canton and lived in the York section. After graduation from Canton High School, Andrew attended Burdett College, Boston University and Lowell Institute. At the time of his enlistment, he was employed as a wood-working machine operator.

On September 10, 1942 with full military honors, the funeral services were held at the Universalist Church in Stoughton, with the burial in Canton Corner Cemetery. Two days before the funeral his parents received his commission as Lieutenant.

One of the largest fires to hit downtown Canton occurred in the early morning hours of September 18, 1942. The Brooks Block on the corner of Bolivar and Washington Streets caught fire. The fire was discovered by Robert Smith, who rushed to the fire station that was around the corner. By the time the alarm was sounded, the fire was up through the roof. The quick actions of the fire department and the heavy rain that was falling saved the other buildings in the center. A week later, there was another fire at the Neponset Woolen Mills. In spite of the finds of the State Fire Marshall's office, an individual was arrested but later acquitted.

In October, fuel oil and kerosene were added to the rationed list. Homeowners had to register during October 27, 28 and 29. At that time they were required to know how many rooms they had to heat, how much oil they had on hand, and how much oil they used during the 12 months ending May 31, 1942. The teachers at High School processed the registration forms on the days appointed between the hours of 6pm and 9pm.

As the year 1942 was coming to a close, stories from the front were becoming more numerous Soldiers were coming home for the holidays and to recover from the wounds they received. One of these men was Allen J. Tracy Jr. of Indian Lane, home on a twenty day furlough with a wound in his right arm. Allen had been wounded during the fighting on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands, in the South Pacific. The United States had landed in the islands on August 10, and fought many bitter battles and suffered heavy casualties. Allen had been wounded on August 22 during a counter-offensive by the Japanese that was defeated by the Marines. At the time Allen was wounded, he was with his brother Harris, who was two feet away and Leo J. Galligan of High Street, who was twenty feet away.

Before Allen's wounds had healed and before the start of the new year, word was received that his brother Harris had been killed in action on Guadalcanal, the second boy from Canton reported dead.

Harris was Allen's older brother and had enlisted two weeks before him. They met up at New River, North Carolina and remained together until Allen was wounded. Harris had been an all star athlete and former hockey star. He had played with the Canton Corner Club and won many medals in different sports. In the same edition of the paper that announced his death was a poem written by his mother.

 

MY SON

My son, my big brave beautiful Son,
You sleep across the sea,
But your heart lives with mine dear one,
Until eternity.
You fought for right and freedom
As we all know your creed.
With never a fear of anything
To keep our nation free.
You are a chosen one of God
With Him you will abide
To reap the harvest of His love
Forever by His side.

Mrs. Allen W. Tracy

This undoubtedly spoke for many mothers. How brave she was in this time of great sorrow to pen these lines about her lost son.

Within three weeks, news of the third death was reported. Donald J. Galligan, son of Mrs. Owen Galligan of 814 Washington Street, had been killed in the Western European area on January 21, 1943. He had been inducted into the service on April 21, 1942, serving for nine months. Before joining the Army he had been employed by Bethlehem Steel Company at the Fore River Shipyard in Quincy and was widely known and well-liked in the town. He played baseball for Canton High School and was on the Canton A.A. team.

Everyday, the war continued to impact the people of Canton. The factories worked around the clock, rationing became a way of life and the sad news from the front was felt by all. Meat, butter, fat and cheese were added to the ration list, and even used kitchen fats were collected for the war effort. Before long, even stoves for heating and cooking were added to the rationed list.

The fourth death of a man from Canton was that of Robert G. Dallahan, son of Captain and Mrs. Robert V. Dallahan of Endicott Street. On May 7, the Navy Department notified them that their son had died on April 28, 1943. He had been serving somewhere in the Pacific with Naval Intelligence.

Robert was a graduate of St. John Elementary School and the class of 1939 from Canton High School. He went on to Harvard University as part of the class of 1942. He had been a member of the Phi Beta Kappa and graduated with honors. At the time of his death, he was twenty one years old and had been in the service less than five months. His father was a veteran of the first world war and was a leader in the defense movement in the town.

In October of 1942, the Canton Rotary Club erected an "Honor Roll" on the front lawn of the Town Hall, very similar to the one that had been erected during the first World War. Every soldier had his name on the list; some six hundred names would be on the list by the end of the year. By April of 1943, it was clear that new boards with more room would be needed. Early in 1943, two new boards with space for 368 names each had to be erected on either side of the doorway to Memorial Hall. The dedication of the boards occurred on Memorial Day 1943, with Canton's first two Gold Star mothers presiding over the unveiling

After nearly a year, the whereabouts of John F. Griffin were learned. On April 14, a telegram from the War Department told his father Michael that John was being held as a prisoner of the Japanese. He was in a prisoner of war camp somewhere in the Philippines. On May 26, the War Department notified the Griffins that John had died in the internment camp. John had been a graduate of Canton High School and had enlisted in the Army on November 1, 1940. Stationed at Nichols Field, Rizal, in the Philippines with the Army Air Force, he was attached to the Signal Corps when the islands were overrun by the Japanese in 1941. He was believed to have been captured with the other forces of General MacArthur when Bataan fell. He was Canton's fifth son to die in the war.

During the summer of 1943, Mr. and Mrs. John Lynch of Mechanic Street opened "Camp Lynch" for the use of the U.S.O., for the entertainment of servicemen. Located on the shores of the Bolivar Pond, it had been the headquarters of the Bolivar Boat Club. In the past, the clubhouse had been used for similar purposes. Mr. John Lynch Sr., a twice wounded veteran of the Twentieth Regiment during the Civil War, had allowed his fellow G.A.R. members to have their gatherings there. The Sons of Veterans, American Legion and the Legion Band also enjoyed the use of the grounds, boats and building. Nearly every weekend, 50 or more men from all over the world and from the camps and hospitals around Boston would come out to Canton.

The sixth man to die was Albert M. Callahan, son of Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius Callahan of 547 Pleasant Street. First notice of his death came on October 22, in a letter from another soldier who was with him on a British hospital ship somewhere in the Mediterranean Sea. Official notice arrived from the War Department on November 1, 1943. Albert had been wounded during the invasion of Sicily and died on September 6^th. He was buried at sea. Albert was a native of Canton having been born here 25 years before, but left a wife and young son in North Vasselboro, Maine.

An unusual honor was received by a Canton resident when Miss Dorothy P. Winslow of 352 Washington Street, had the honor of sponsoring one of the new Liberty Ships, the "Harold L. Winslow ", this ship was launched on October 16, at the Bethlehem Shipyard in Baltimore, Maryland. The ship was named in honor of her uncle, Captain Harold L. Winslow, a former Canton resident and son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Winslow. Captain Winslow had rescued the Captain and ten crewmen from the sinking ship the "Gander Deal" in December of 1929.

As 1943 came to a close, Canton Schools had to be closed early for the Christmas holiday because of the outbreak of Scarlet Fever and the Grippe. This undoubtedly reminded some of the older citizens of the many deaths that occurred because of the Spanish Flu during the last war.

Canton would not suffer another loss until May of 1944 when bad news hit twice in one week. William J. Casey, of 99 Leonard Street, had been killed in action somewhere in Italy on April 29th. His wife Christine was notified on May 21st, and a service was held at Saint John Church on May 29th. William had been in the Army for 8 months, having enlisted on September 14, 1943. The son of Jeremiah and Catherine Casey, he was born in Boston on June 15,1915, but his family moved to Canton sometime later and he graduated from the Saint John School. His was the seventh death in the service.

The other bad news was the report that Dana F. Igo had been reported missing in action when the B-24 Liberator he was in was shot down over Austria. He was the son of Mrs. Abbie Igo of 52 Penfield Street in Roslindale. He had been born in Dedham in October of 1915, and had graduated from Canton High School and Northeastern University. At the time he entered the service, he was employed at the Walker Wool Company in Boston.

Dana Igo was the second soldier reported as missing in action. The first was Gerald Scully of 25 Rockland Street, who had been reported missing in the South Pacific, February 7, 1943. His last known location was New Caledonia. Gerald was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Scully, attended the Saint John School and graduated from the Saint John High School in 1935. He was well known in town, having worked at Sawyer's Hardware and was employed at the Neponset Woolen Mill at the time he enlisted on March 5, 1941. All the other men that were reported missing during the war returned to their families with the exception of these two.

Most of the summer of 1944 passed without at loss until the middle of August when the paper announced a double loss.

Chaplain Dietrick F. E. Rasetzki had been killed in action in France on July 25. Born in Germany in 1915, he came to the United States in 1924, and graduated from Canton High School in 1932. He was a graduate of Hobart College, The Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge, and Andover Newton Theological School where he completed his graduate studies in 1941. After completing his studies, he was the pastor in Chester, New Hampshire until he enlisted in the Army as Chaplain of the 119th Regiment in July of 1943. Chaplain Rasetzki was survived by his wife, Frances Griffin formerly of Abington, and his mother Mrs. Alfred Rasetzki, and a brother Nicholas both of Canton.

On August 14, Mr. and Mrs. Harold J. Rolfe received a telegram from the Secretary of War expressing his deep regret that her son Harold P. Rolfe had been missing in action since July 25th. Harold was one of three sons in the service. He had joined the Army in November of 1942, shipping overseas in May of 1944. At the time of his enlistment, he was 26 years old and employed at the Readville Car Shops. Official notification of his death did not arrive until April 2, 1945.

As the summer of 1944 was drawing to a close, Mrs. Margaret Lawrie received the sad news from the War Department that her son John Anderson Lawrie had been killed in action in the Pacific. John had joined the Marines in March of 1943. He had trained at Parris Island, and was stationed at the Marine base at San Diego before leaving the country as a member of the Third Marines in September of 1943. He had seen action in Bouganville Island and had been stationed at Guadalcanal. No actual date of death had been given, but the Boston Globe reported that the Third Marines were in action in Guam. John was a graduate of Canton High School and the Norfolk County Agricultural School. He left a widowed mother and a younger brother, Robert. A Memorial Mass was said in his honor at the St. John Church on September 9^th.

A first was reported at E.W. Wiggins Airways Inc. on September 8, when it became the first flight operator in the Northeast to assemble, service and repair a helicopter. Canton-Norwood Airport was the first in the state to test fly a helicopter. This was all part of a study with a view towards selecting the best type of service the helicopter could be used for after the war. In the post war expansion of the airport a regular helicopter service would be established in 1950. As part of the first flight, Edward H.R. Revere simulated the transfer from an American Airlines ship to the "feeder-airline" helicopter which could land him in any open field or on any flat roofed building.

On September 15, sad news struck the town again when it was learned that Michael John Julian, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Julian of Mansfield, had died of wounds he had received in France on July 30th. For several years he had worked with his father at Moro's Market in Canton. At the time he enlisted in the service he was living on Pleasant St., and working with his father at the market. He was born on May 27, 1912 and had graduated from Mansfield High School and Cushing Academy in Ashburnham. He entered the service on September 1, 1943 and trained in South Carolina. After completing training, he shipped overseas on June 16, 1944. He spent one week in England and two weeks in action in France where he was wounded on July 30, and died on August 2. He left his parents, three brothers, his wife Helen, and an 18 month old son.

On September 14, 1944 a hurricane came up the coast and caused damage around the town. Winds ranged from 50 to 70 miles per hour. Power was out for about nine hours, and the factories were forced to close the night shifts. At first it was thought that the damage was not too bad, but as time went by, it was determined that many houses had been damaged. One of the best apple crops in many years was destroyed. Gustav Larson, of Stoughton, died when he fell down the elevator shaft at Tobe Deutschmann Corporation. A large elm tree at P. A. Draper's house blew over onto the house, but was righted again as it had been in the 1938 hurricane.

Carlyle W. Packard was reported killed in action in France on September 8. His wife Josephine was notified by the War Department on September 21. Carlyle had been a native of Stoughton and was employed at the Avon Sole Company in Avon, but lived at 621 Washington St. at the time he enlisted in November of 1943. At the time of his death, his parents still lived at 869 Park St. in Stoughton.

For many years, the United States used a silky, seed-pod fiber called kapok as a filler in life jackets. The primary source for this material was trees grown on plantations in Java. When the Japanese invaded the East Indies they cut off the supply. As a substitute, Americans collected milkweed seed pods to use for the filler. The floss in the pods was the best natural material to replace the kapok. Special directions were provided on how to properly collect the pods. They were placed in an open mesh onion bag that would hold a bushel. The bags were provided free to those who wanted to collect them. A bag should have about 800 pods, and the government would pay 20 cents per bag when they were properly dried. The pods could be collected when they were ripe, starting in early September when the seeds were brown and before the floss blew away.

At the end of September, the death of Louis Mendes was reported. Mrs. Pauline Mendes of 14 Capen place was notified that her son had been killed in France. Louis was an engineer in the Air Force with the rank of Sergeant. He had entered the service in October of 1942, wounded in England in July of 1943, where he spent 3 months in the hospital before returning to active duty in France. At the time of his death, he was 22 years old and had moved from Duxbury to Canton about five years before the war. During that time he was employed at the Plymouth Rubber Co.

As autumn slipped into winter, Canton learned that more of her sons would not be returning. On October 20, Mrs. Irene Smith learned that her husband Arthur Smith was missing in action in France, and had been since August 12th. Irene was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Hinchliffe of 4 Meyer Terrace. She had married Arthur on September 19, 1942, ten weeks before he entered the Army. Arthur was the son of Mrs. William Dumaine of 5 Meyer Terrace. Arthur had been born in Chelsea in 1922, coming to Canton as a child. He attended Canton Schools and was employed at Westinghouse Electric Company of Boston at the time he entered the service. Confirmation of his death would not arrive until the end of December; he had been killed in action in Belgium on August 12. His was the first gold star placed on the service flag of the Evangelical Congregational Church in a service that was held on December 30th.

William F. Roach of 155 Mechanic St. was reported missing on December 8,. Mr. Roach had enlisted in the Navy in September of 1942 at the age of 42. He was an electrician with the rating of Petty Officer Second Class. Assigned to the U.S.S. Mt. Hood, a 3733 ton ammunition ship, in August of 1944, he was on board when the ship blew up on December 6, 1944 at an advanced base in the Central Pacific. William was a well known figure in town having worked at the Canton Diner and for James Calhoun, a well known electrical contractor. Formal notification of his death arrived in February of 1945.

Along with the confirmation that Arthur Smith had died came the announcement that another of Canton's finest was lost. Walter Guido Berteletti had been killed in action in Germany on December 6,. The telegram came to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Oddone Berteletti of 57 Jackson St., the day after Christmas. Walter had graduated from Canton High School with the class of 1935. He had been a star football and baseball player, and was later a catcher on the Canton A. A. team. Entering the service on February 11, 1941, he had spent two years in Iceland before returning to the United States for more training, finally shipping overseas to Scotland in August of 1944. The last letter from him was dated November 28, eight days before his death.

During 1944, the local factories were always in need of help. The war had drained off all the available work force either into the military or into the war plants around the country. Every week advertisements for help filled the pages of every paper. At the end of December of 1944 the Springdale Finishing Company, in conjunction with the United States Employment Agency, began to use 80 German prisoners of war to supplement the work force on the two night shifts, 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. The Union voted 3 to 1 in favor of using the prisoners. As part of the agreement, the United States Government was paid the regular wage of the regular employees. The prisoners received eighty cents per day plus their regular army salary according to their rank in the German Army. The Finishing Company paid to have the prisoners bussed in from Camp Devens.

The Government needed two million yards of the material called "Fire Chief". This was a canvas cloth that was specially treated to make it fireproof. The prisoners were used in the department that finished this fireproof tent material. Two types of sulfur treatment were used, and finding help for this department was difficult at best because of the smell and the danger involved. The Springdale Finishing Company employed approximately 150 people before the war and lost 120 of its workers to the service. Many women were hired to fill the jobs but still they could not locate sufficient help to meet the great demand.

Several other men were reported as missing in the brutal fighting in Belgium during the end of 1944 and the beginning of 1945. On February 5th, Mrs. Agnes Gately of 14 Endicott Place received a telegram saying that her son John had been missing in action since January 20. On March 12, she received confirmation of his death. John had joined the Army in 1942 and had been shipped overseas during December of 1944. At the time of his death he was 26 years old, a graduate from Canton High School where he was a football star.

The week after John Gately was report missing, Michael J. Callanan was confirmed killed in action after being reported missing in September of 1944. Michael had been awarded the Air Medal at his bomber base in Italy shortly before his death. The notice of this award appeared early in September, just before he was reported missing. The medal had been "for meritorious achievement in aerial flight while participating in sustained operational activities against the enemy".

Michael was 20 years old when he died. He had been a nose gunner in a B-24 Liberator bomber since July. He had graduated from the St. John High School and had been employed at the Fore River Shipyard in Quincy at the time he joined the Army Air Force in March of 1943. Receiving training as an air-craft mechanic and then as a gunner, he received his wings in February of 1944.

It was at this time that the town was shocked to hear that President Franklin D. Roosevelt had died at Warm Springs, Georgia, of a cerebral hemorrhage. Vice President Harry Truman became President and followed the path that led to victory laid down by Roosevelt.

On April 16, Mr. and Mrs. Frederick J. Powers were notified that their son Frederick had been seriously wounded in action on April 6th. Frederick had been in the service just about two years, having been drafted in June of 1943. After training, he was stationed at several locations around the country and had just gone overseas on February 19. Landing in France on March 9th, he moved on into Germany on March 24th.

News that he had died from his wounds arrived four days after the first telegram on April 20. Frederick was married and had a three year old son, both living in Dorchester. A Mass on April 30 at St. John Church was well attended by friends and family. Nearly a year and one half after his death, he would be awarded "The Silver Star". In the citation it points out that his squad was pinned down by a German machine gun that threatened to cut them off from the rest of their platoon. Frederick crawled forward, exposing himself, and fired, killing the gunner. He then rushed the emplacement, killing the remaining two gunners and capturing the gun. In the exchange, he was wounded but refused evacuation. He remained at his post until the enemy retreated. He later died of these wounds.

The next to be reported dead was Donald J. Graham, who at one time had lived on Hubbard St.. He was killed in action in Italy on April 19, 1945. His wife Ila had been notified by the War Department. Donald had been inducted into the Army in June of 1943, and had been with the Infantry in Italy about a year. During his service, he received the Presidential Citation, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, and Good Conduct Medals.

Shortly after this bitter news came the glad tidings that the war in Europe at last was over. On May 8, 1945 the forces of Germany formally and unconditionally surrendered bringing the War in Europe to a close. Like the rest of the country, Canton observed V-E Day by closing the schools and stores. Little in the way of public demonstration was shown however, because everyone understood that another war was yet to be won.

Not every family cheered the news. Mrs. Martha Thomas received a telegram three days before from the War Department telling her that her son Arthur had died in Germany on April 15. Arthur had graduated from the Crane Grammar School and had attended Canton High School for one year before going to the Norfolk County Agricultural School. He graduated from there in 1941. At the time Arthur entered the Army, he was employed by the Eastern States Farmer's Exchange in Brockton. When he joined the Army on December 26, 1942 he was assigned to the Medical Corps. Training in North Carolina and Texas, he joined Patton's Third Army overseas in April of 1944.

The realization that the war in the Pacific was still raging came quickly when, on June 1, Mr. and Mrs. Parker Dodge of 2366 Washington St. received a telegram announcing that their son Parker Bryce Dodge was missing in action. Parker had been a graduate of the Canton High School class of 1942. Joining the Navy shortly after getting out of school, he was assigned to the destroyer S.S. Luce as a Machinist Mate. The Navy announced that his ship had been sunk in action around Okinawa on May 4th. Official notice of his death was received by his family on July 15, 1945.

The beginning of July brought the announcement from General MacArthur that all of the Philippines had been liberated and that the campaign on the islands would be over soon. The first direct Naval bombardment of the Japanese mainland occurred on July 14th and American bombers dropped leaflets on 20 Japanese cities advising that they were marked for destruction. Little did the inhabitants of Hiroshima and Nagasaki know what these warnings meant to them; little did the rest of the world know what the impact would be. The Atomic age was born.

At 7 P.M., Tuesday, August 14, news of the unconditional surrender of Japan was received here in Canton. The people of town flocked to the center, while the factories blew their whistles and the churches rang their bells. Some townsfolk paraded through the center with about hundred youths, who burned an effigy of Hirohito. Others gathered at the half-mast flag in front of the High School, near the monument to those that died in the last war to end all wars.

There were a total of 36 false fire alarms that night; 24 of them occurring between the hours of 7pm and 10pm. One fire box was pulled five times. The factories were closed for a five-day holiday, reopening on Monday, August 20th. One precaution taken by the Selectmen that undoubtedly had people up in arms was that all liquor establishments were closed.

Rationing of some items ended on Wednesday, August 15. Gasoline was top on this list, and several stations promptly ran out. Canned fruit, vegetables, fuel oil and oil stoves where also on the list. Some items were still to be rationed including meats, fats and oils, butter, sugar, shoes, tires and other items. These would continue until military cutbacks and increased production balanced out.

The Canton War Price and Rationing Board closed on September 28, with thanks from Walter Love to all those who had volunteered hundreds of hours to help do a difficult job. Rationing continued through the Norwood Board.

The war may have been officially over, but the sorrow to the families of Canton would still go on. In fact, one more son of Canton was to die. On the last day of November Mr. and Mrs. Charles Gelpke of 432 Pleasant St. received word that their son Robert Edgar Gelpke had been killed in a plane crash in Europe on November 22, Thanksgiving Day. Robert was a graduate of Canton High School in the class of 1942. He entered the service May 25, 1943, was appointed a Flight Officer in August of 1944 and was a pilot of a fighter plane. He left for the European theater April 1, 1945 and was with the 8th Air Force Group near Cambridge, England. Robert was listed as the twenty-third death of a Canton soldier. However as it would turn out he was the twenty-fifth. Dana Igo and Gerald Scully were still considered missing.

During the war, the roots of a new international organization of nations were started at the "Atlantic Charter" meeting. Later, the Soviet Union and China agreed that all the nations should work together towards peace. During all the subsequent meetings during the war, they worked out the details of how the mistakes of the last attempt could be avoided. By June 26, 1945, the details of the charter had been worked out and all the countries in attendance signed, with it to be effective on October 24, 1945.

In the beginning of December that year the U.S. Congress invited the United Nations to establish its headquarters in the United States. A temporary sight was located at Lake Success, New York and the search for a permanent home started.

During the search, the site committee visited the Boston area. One of the most attractive site offered by the State was the "Reservation" in the Canton / Milton area. As it turned out, the site at the foot of Blue Hill was a runner-up to a site in New York. The plan was proposed that the area bounded by Route 128, Ponkapoag Pond, Randolph St. and back to the old horse track at the foot of Big Blue would be used, encompassing all of the area that is today the Ponkapoag Golf Course.

On November 22, Chairman of the Selectmen, Carlton Taber and two other members, Maurice Ronayne, Jr. and John Howard, along with other area representatives attended a meeting at Mary Hartigan's, a popular restaurant in Dedham. There the representatives heard for the first time the startling disclosure of the plans entertained by the State. Generally the Canton townspeople seemed to approve the idea as long as it was on the M.D.C. land and did not disturb the town. Many, in fact, had not even been following the proposal. Mr. Taber at one time pointed out that the town was about to celebrate its 150th anniversary of our incorporation and the proposal could leave them little to celebrate with. With the difficulty of getting from one side of the town to the other at 5 P.M. on any given day, life in Canton would be very different had this project been sited here.

World War II may have ended in the papers but for some of the people in town it would never end. In 1947 many of the bodies of lost love ones were returned home.

A former Canton boy was found to be the victim of one of the worst Japanese Prisoner Camps in the Philippines, when the body of Eugene Davis, of Mechanic St. was identified as one of approximately 1600 American prisoners buried in unmarked graves at Camp O'Donnell, Luzon. He had been born in Canton and was 22 years old at the time of his death. At the time he enlisted he was living with a cousin in Lowell.

The first of the fallen heroes brought back to Canton was Donald Galligan, identified just over 4 years and 10 months from the date of his death, arriving November 24, 1947, on the 3:30 train at Canton Junction. On May 20, 1948, Dietrick Rasetzki was laid to rest in the National Cemetery at Farmingdale, Long Island. Frederick Powers, August 17th; Michael J. Callanan, August 26; Walter Berteletti, August 31; Harold Rolfe, September 7th; Louis Mendes, March 1949; and Dana Igo was buried at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, January 13,1950, over five years after he was reported missing.

In the same paper that told of the funeral of Frederick Powers was the announcement that President Truman was ordering the peacetime draft of men between 18 and 25 years old. This made it clear to many that the world wasn't at peace and the possibility of more young men making the ultimate sacrifice was close at hand.

After the war in the Pacific was over, the United States and the Soviet Union dictated what would happen to the holdings of the Japanese empire. One of these items was the Korean Peninsula, which was divided at the 38th parallel. Each power supported the independently formed governments; Russia in the north and the United States/United Nations in the south. Tensions were high along the border until North Korea attacked the South on June 25,1950. The United Nations had no military force of its own and forming one would take too long to organize. The United States already had the military machine formed and in the area. General Douglas MacArthur led the United States forces and 16 U. N. member nations in defending South Korea, pushing the force from the North back across the 38th parallel. For a little over two years the fighting continued and men from Canton fought and died for their country.

Like the last war the first notice of the toll in human life came with the notice that Ferdinando Berteletti had been mysteriously killed while on guard duty at a prisoner of war camp in Japan. It was thought that he had been killed by an escaping North Korean or a Japanese Communist. At the time Ferdinando enlisted, he was living in Mansfield with his wife. He had lived in Canton with his parents at 47 Norfolk St. and had been employed at the Porter Patent Leather Company. His mother and father had moved back to Italy several years before and he had only one living relative in Canton, Mrs. Adeline Caramellino. Burial was at Gattinara, Italy, the town in which he was born.

The first week in October, 1951, the town learned that Ernest Carrara of 9 Cotter St. was missing in action after the plane in which he was the radio operator disappeared on September 27. Confirmation to his mother and father quickly followed that he had been killed in the crash of a C-119 transport that was enroute from Ashiya Air Base to Tachikawa Air Base when it disappeared.

Ernest had been a Canton High School graduate in the class of 1942 and had served in the Army for four years during the last World War. He had been recalled in January of 1951 and was stationed in Japan.

Sad news quickly followed when it was learned that Paul Joseph Hannon of 22 Everett St. had been killed in action on December 16, 1951 while serving with Co. A of the 1st Battalion, 11th Regiment of the 3rd Marine Division. At the time of his death, he was 20 years old. A graduate of Canton High School in the class of 1950, he was remembered as an outstanding athlete and an above average student scholastically. During the summer of 1950 he was employed with the Department of Public Works for the town, and had started at the University of New Hampshire during the fall of 1950. Joining the Marines in February of 1951, he completed his training and in August he join the 1st Marine Division in Korea. He left his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Hannon, one brother and one sister.

Fortunately, these were the only deaths Canton would suffer during this three year conflict. However, unknown to the children of Canton, the groundwork for their call to duty was being laid even as their older brothers or fathers were fighting in Korea. Small articles told of how the French were losing ground daily and how they were in danger of having their Army routed in a place called Indochina.

France had been involved in a war with the Nationalist rebels since shortly after the end of World War II and was doing badly. In 1956, the country was divided in half at the 17th parallel much like Korea. The United States was backing the South Vietnamese Government and had been sending military advisors since 1950. The United States gradually became more deeply involved after the Gulf of Tonkin resolutions were passed in 1964. Before the year was out we had two hundred combat troops on the ground and our bombers in the air.

At home in America there was a great deal of political unrest and heavy opposition to our involvement in Vietnam. As more and more troops were sent in, more came home injured or dead.

Canton would feel the tear of the political fabric in the society and the pain that the loss of loved ones would bring. Those who went to do their duty and paid the ultimate price never really got the recognition they deserved.

Canton's first loss in this war came on December 3, 1967, when Mrs. Edward C. Callery of 39 Van Buren St. was notified that her son, Army 1st Lt. Peter Hansen had been killed in action on November 29th. Peter was a tank commander but had been riding in another vehicle that hit an enemy antitank mine. He had graduated from Canton High School with the class of 1963, joined the Army in 1965 and graduated from Officer Candidate School at Fort Knox, Kentucky. At the time he died he was 22 years old and had been in Vietnam since August. He was laid to rest in St. Mary's Cemetery on December 11, 1967.

The second man to die in this conflict was Antonio Falco, son of Mr. and Mrs. Salvatore Falco of 7 Park Drive. The announcement came early in May of 1969 that Antonio had been killed when the bulldozer he had been operating struck a mine, and he was hit by some of the fragments. The accident happened on April 28, and he died shortly thereafter. He had been born in Italy 18 years before and attended Canton High School for a short time before transferring to the Boston school system. Joining the Marine Corps in February of 1968, he had served in Vietnam for 8 months. A funeral Mass was said at the St. John Church on May 12, and he was laid to rest at the St. Michael Cemetery in Forest Hills.

Within two weeks the town was struck by sad news again when it was reported that Bruce J. Matta of 6 Chestnut Road had died on May 13, as the result of wounds he received in combat. The 21 year old was the son of Mrs. Ecequiel Otero of Canton and Mr. Joseph Matta of Boston. He had attended Canton High School, graduating with the class of 1967, after which he worked for Kessler Machine Shop until he enlisted in the Army April 3, 1968. A military funeral mass was celebrated at The Cathedral of the Holy Cross and he was buried in Mt. Benedict Cemetery, West Roxbury. Bruce had received his training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. As a member of the 25th Infantry Division, based in Chu Chi, he had been involved in some heavy fighting and had been wounded about a month before he was killed. During a ceremony at ROTC headquarters at Northeastern University, three months after his funeral, nine combat medals that had been awarded to him were presented to his family, including two Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts.

The year 1969 ended on a sorrowful note when it was learned that Canton suffered its fourth loss in the fighting in Vietnam. Rudolph E. Araujo had been killed on December 21, 1969, when the vehicle in which he was riding struck a mine in Bihn Doung, South Vietnam.

"Rudy" was the son of Polie Araujo of Canton and Ida Skinner of Ohio. Born in Bourne MA in 1940, he attended schools in Bourne, Canton and Norwood. After graduation, he went to work at Tom Connolly Pontiac. He had completed training at the General Motors Training Center in Dedham. Joining the Army in 1966, he trained at Fort Jackson, South Carolina and was stationed for a time in Germany. He had completed one tour of duty in Vietnam. He was home on leave just before his death, and had married Marie Gunderway of Norwell on December 1, 1969, He then left to complete his second tour in Vietnam a week later. On January 2, 1970, a military funeral was held at St. John's Church and he was buried in St. Mary's Cemetery.

Vietnam veterans received national recognition for their sacrifice when the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was erected on the Mall in Washington D. C.. The monument has been praised for its beauty and simplicity and is truly a moving experience. The practice of erecting this type of monument is not new however. The bulk of the names in the foregoing story can all be found on monuments in our town.

The names of Canton's Civil War veterans who died in defense of the Republic can be found on two marble plaques inside the foyer of the Town Hall which was dedicated October 30, 1879. Those who perished in World War I can be found on the bronze plaque mounted to a stone monolith in front of what is today the Hemenway Senior Center, across from the Post Office and was erected by the American Legion, Post 24 in 1926. The World War II monument made of light gray granite, was dedicated on November 11, 1950 by the town and is located in front of the old high school on Washington Street across from the Morse Estate. On the right hand side of the front entry to the Library is a small bronze plaque which was dedicated on November 11, 1956 to honor those who fell during the Korean War and across the street at the Town Hall, Sherman Street side, is the marker for those who paid the ultimate price in Vietnam, dedicated April 27,1985. No marker was ever erected for those who served and died during the Spanish American War and the Philippine insurrection. At the Town Meeting in 1958, Mr. Perley Smith of 447 Bolivar St. had Article 16 placed on the warrant requesting funds to erect a monument for the veterans of the Spanish-American War on the grounds of the new high school. The Article was defeated and no monument was ever erected.

Canton has been spared the need for any additional markers since no other individuals have given their lives in defense of the country or during any other hostile action in our hostile world. We can only hope that when the tercentennial of the towns incorporation comes around that no one will have to add a chapter to this story.

*It is not our intent to omit those that died during the Spanish American War and the Philippine Insurrection, however due to the theme of this story we will cover that in a separate appendix.