Obituaries (April 5)

Robert Dunn
Chenango Telegraph, July 19, 1918

Sergeant Robert Dunn, son of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Dunn of No. 3 Hubbard avenue, was killed in an airplane accident over the front lines in France on Saturday, July 6.  Sergeant Dunn, one of the four sons of Mr. and Mrs. Dunn in the service, is the first boy from this city [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY] to make the supreme sacrifice for his country while fighting in the air.

The official communication from the war department received Tuesday afternoon by Mrs. Dunn, reads "Deeply regret to inform you that Sergeant Robert Dunn was killed in airplane accident, July 6--War Department."

The startling news came to the mother of the young man while her youngest son, William, corporal in the regular army at Plattsburg, was visiting her.  Her oldest boy, Thomas, left Tuesday for Rochester, having been voluntarily inducted into the service as a machinist.  The other son, John, is now in France, presumably fighting in the front lines against the new German offensive.  Sergeant Robert Dunn, affectionately known in his hundreds of friends in this city as "Bobbie," was eager to enter the war against Germany even before the United States went into the fray.  In June, 1917, he returned from England where he made repeated attempts to get into the Royal Flying corps of the British army but was unsuccessful.  He had had considerable training along aviation lines and expected to be accepted for service in the Franco-American flying corps, but was unable to get to France.  He has had many thrilling experiences in his attempts to get into the air fighting overseas before he was taken into the American division after the United States declared war on Germany.

"Bobbie" was so anxious to get across that he shipped as a waiter on a Cunard line steamer last year for England.  The boat carried nurses and doctors to France and he successfully worked his passage over the Atlantic.  Writing at that time of his trip across, he said, "Everything went all right the first two days out, but the third was awful rough and you should have seen me carrying an armful of dishes into that saloon.  Every day we would have lifeboat drill at certain times and we would have to put on our life belts and run to our certain boat."

He told in that letter to his parents of his first and only submarine scare.  "One night about five days out, some one left the door open leading from the deck and the sea was running mountain high.  A large wave covered the ship and the water came rushing in, filling the state room about quarter full.  This was about 12:30 at night and some one yelled "We are hit!"  I was half asleep and I jumped out of my birth into the water on the floor and put one life belt on quicker than I ever did anything before in my life.  I ran to the door and found a good many ahead of me.  By that time the cause of the trouble was learned and we went back inside." The ship was convoyed by the British fleet when they reached the English waters, and when he returned home, "Bobbie" told of Zeppelin raids and scores of other interesting incidents he witnessed while in London.

The body of Sergeant Robert Dunn will not be sent home.  His parents, while prostrate with grief, are consoled by the knowledge that their son gave his life in the cause of humanity--the cause, which is to stop the ruthless slaughter of thousands of defenseless women and children, as the Belgian women and innocent children were cut down by the German military machine when the advance was made through that little country.

Robert Dunn enlisted in August, 1917, at Binghamton and after receiving his preliminary training was sent to Kelley Field, Texas, where he remained for two months before going across.  He was 26 years of age last January and is survived by his parents, a sister Mary, and three other brothers, all fighting for Uncle Sam.

1st Corps Observation Training Centre, Headquarters 95 Aero Squadron
My Dear Mrs. Dunn:
You will have heard by this time of the loss of your son, Robert J. Dunn, of this squadron.  I have been with this squadron since September of last year and it has been my privilege to see the work of your son, and I wish to write and tell you of the great sorrow which is felt over his death by every member of this command, officers and men.  He came in as a private and by his untiring efforts and zeal and ability was advanced to the position of first class sergeant early in the year, which is one of the highest positions a mechanic can obtain; and since his appointment he has faithfully and skillfully performed the very necessary duties attached to his office, being one of the men who by his clean living and example had made it possible for his squadron to reach the high efficiency in the field that it has attained.

He was on duty at the time of his death, flying with lieut. Robert Clapp, one of our best pilots, a man who has been over the German lines many times. They were testing the machine and it was necessary for your son to be with him to accurately test the motor.  The machine was caught in a puff of wind and before control could be obtained, crashed to the ground, both of the men being instantly killed.

Your son was buried with military honors at the A.E.F. cemetery no 1, Grave No. 3, Gondrecourt, France. Everything that could be done was done to make the ceremony as you would have wished.  High requiem mass was celebrated by a priest at the Y.M.C.A. hut at this place and the entire squadron, officers and men attended the funeral, both in the building and on the grounds, which was a true military funeral.  Kindly accept my sincere sympathy in your bereavement and believe me.
Sincerely yours, George C. Thomas, Jr., Capt. A.S. Sig. R.C. Adjutant.

Louis Earl Willcox
Chenango Telegraph, May 7, 1918

From France comes the news of the death in Pershing's army of a Chenango county boy, Louie Earl Willcox of Roger street, Preston [Chenango Co., NY]. Death followed a sickness with mumps and measles.  Saturday evening Myron K. Willcox received a telegram from the war department announcing the death of his son, Private Louie E. Willcox in France, death coming from disease. The name of the young man appeared in the casualty lists of Sunday, when 119 men were listed.

Private Louie Earl Willcox was inducted into the national army at Norwich November 23 when he left with a large contingent for Camp Dix.  Thence he was transferred to Camp Hancock, Ga.,  He had been in France about two months and the last letter received form him was on April 30 when he wrote home that he was well.

Private Willcox was 29 years of age on January 2.  He is the son of Myron K. and Capitola Willcox, long time residents of Roger street, Preston, where they live on the George Rogers homestead farm.  Besides  his parents he is survived by two brothers, Carroll and Harry and a sister, Lila T., all of whom live at home.  Young Willcox was a farmer and was best known in Oxford and Preston, where he went to school and worked from boyhood days.  He is the first Chenango boy in Pershing's army to lay down his life.  Two others have been wounded in France according to the news which has reached the home folks--Lieut. Arthur Bunell who spent his summers in Guilford in the lake colony, but whose home was in Brooklyn and Lewis E. Shaver of Bainbridge.

Norwich Sun, August 3, 1918

Myron K. Willcox of McDonough [Chenango Co., NY] has received official papers telling him the circumstances surrounding the death of his son, Louis E. Willcox, who gave his life for world democracy on the battlefields of France.  Private Willcox was reported dead at the same time that Robert Dunn's name appeared in the casualty lists and it is likely that Mrs. Dunn will soon have intelligence as to accident in which her son's life was sacrificed in his country's service. The letters received by Mr. Willcox are as follows.

Company 16, 4th Battalion, 1st MM Regt. As AEF Sectour Postal 147, France

Mr. Myron K. Willcox, McDonough, N.Y.

Dear Sir:  I would say that about 4 o'clock p.m. April 29th, 1918, Private 1st Class Louie E. Willcox of this company died of pulmonary edema, secondary to endocarditis.  The body was buried with military honors in the cemetery at this station on May 1st, 1918.  Private Willcox was an excellent soldier, universally liked by his officers and his fellow soldiers, and his death is a source of sorrow to all of us.   

Louis J. Hamilton, Captain Inf. R.C., Commanding Company 16

American Expeditionary forces head quarter service of supply graves registration service

Mr. Myron K. Willcox

Were it not for the comfort that sorrowing people derive from such letters, I should shrink from writing to you at this time, because I know how heavy your heart must be, and how terrible it is to get official letters that confirm the tidings of death.  It is with much sympathy and sorrow that I am writing you and yet you will want to know that somebody is here in France whose business it is to care for the graves of our brave men who have given their lives in defense of the world's liberty.

Your son, Louis E. Willcox, is buried in the cemetery at Epinal, France.  It is the province of this service to guard his grave and to see that, so far as the conditions of war may permit, it may never be lost.  I had two years of similar service in the Philippines, and have come to France prepared to give my life, if need be, for the guarding of the graves of our dead and carrying out the sacred desires of the sad heart at home.  May God bless and comfort you in your grief.

Charles c. Pierce, Major, A.Q.M. U.S.A.

Devillo Davis

Norwich Sun, August 3, 1918

Devillo Davis, who died at his residence in the city of Norwich, N.Y. [Chenango Co.] July 30, 1918, was born in the town of Plymouth, N.Y. [Chenango Co.,], November 25, 1841, and spent his boyhood and young manhood in that town.  He answered his country's call in the Civil war and went as a volunteer, serving in Co. F, 7th New York Artillery, until the close of the war.  March 3, 1866, he was united in marriage to Eliza L. Kenyon of Pitcher. They located on a farm in the town of Pharsalia, where they spent nearly their whole life time until the death of Mrs. Davis in 1906.  June 29, 1911, he was united in marriage to Mrs. Hattie E. Beach of Norwich, and has resided in that city since that date.  Interment in Wayside Rest cemetery at Pharsalia.  He is survived by his wife, Hattie E. Davis of Norwich, N.Y., and two sons, Myrtule W. Davis of South Otselic and Eli N. Davis of Pharsalia, and four brothers, Hudson Davis of German and Charles B. and Richmond Davis of Pharsalia and Asa W. Davis of Norwich, and one sister, Mrs. M.B. Ames of Norwich.