Page 3 - January 31, 2018

FEATURE

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WWI 100 years ago in Chesterfield County

BY GEORGE (BUDDY) CRANFORD
Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia

n April 1917, Congress declared war A number of WWI soldiers were more about the experiences of county the CHSV library held little information
on Germany. That put into motion a trained in Chesterfield County and residents during WWI, as well as on WWI, and it was scattered in a few
Selective Service Act and the inevitable at Camp Lee, the sprawling training details of a commemorative event that books on the library shelves. The CHSV
Idrafting of Chesterfield County’s young center of the famed 80th Mountain will culminate on Nov. 11, at the 1917 is grateful to the many volunteers who
men. History tells us that out of over Division who first saw action in France. Historic Courthouse. work tirelessly to make the library
1,600 men who enlisted, only 167 were Chesterfield County soldiers like Finley Thanks to a dedicated group of what it is today: a well utilized library
drafted. How many joined the military Albright served with the famed 80th CHSV genealogy volunteers, we now to which visitors have traveled from
is unknown. We know that in our county Division in France; others like Henry have a growing amount of WWI research places throughout the nation as well as
and the surrounding metropolitan area, N. Terrell, Burrell Fischer, William available, but the historical society seeks overseas just to research their Chesterfield
more. The Genealogy Committee
Chesterfield men who served in World War Austin, James E. Cole, and Joseph research is now on file in the CHSV ancestors. That speaks volumes for a
I are buried in well-kept cemeteries, an H. Cox, went to other army posts for reference library located at 10111 Iron small library and the volunteers who
staff it. The historical society library is a
abandoned cemetery and some not so well- training and then to France. Bridge Road in Chesterfield, ready for one stop source for Chesterfield County
maintained. Over 400 WWI veterans’ Corporal Nathan Pride, a farmer future researchers to discover something history. Volunteers are always needed and
graves have been located and documented who lived in Chester, fought with the about their ancestor who fought in the appreciated. Visit Chesterfieldhistory.
by the Chesterfield Historical Society of 318th Infantry Regiment, 80th Division Great War. Prior to its current research, com for more information.
Virginia. More may soon be found and and died of his wounds Aug. 2, 1918,
preserved for future research. in France. He is buried in the Somme
The centennial of World War I began American Cemetery, Bony, France.
in August 2014 and will end on Veterans The son of John Pride, Nathan was the Chester Muff er & Brake Shop
Day 2018. Why should we remember? first Chesterfield County man to die in
Why should we stop and think about WWI, just four months shy of his 22nd
those events that happened so long ago? birthday. Nathan Pride was a member
Because by the end of the First World War of the Second Baptist Church of
in 1918, there were very few people in Petersburg, where a memorial service
the countries that took part who remained was held for him on Sept. 13, 1918.
unaffected. The war reached out and The county would soon lose more
touched almost everyone’s life. Even here young men, and another year would
in Chesterfield County, the war reached pass before the world quit fighting
into many homes and snatched a young amongst its nations and the “boys”
man. In 1917 as the 1749 Courthouse, our would come home. Chesterfield
first courthouse, was being razed, over 100 County lost 37 men, and many more
Chesterfield men were encamped on the were wounded and marred for life.
courthouse green ready to be shipped by Those that did return home tried
trains to different training camps around their best to meld back into a life of
the United States. Some had already normalcy. Most were successful, but a
shipped out; they were members of the few that could not paid the price for the
National Guard who were sent to bolster rest of their lives.
National Army units. Others joined up The Chesterfield Historical Society A Completely Different Experience in Dining
after being drafted. Chesterfield County of VA has details on many more WWI
children grew up in the shadow of war, veterans, and their stories should be
their fathers absent or lost. Women told: from their draft to training camps, LUNCH HOURS
became directly involved, taking jobs in to where they fought in the war to how Sun-Fri 11:00 am - 2:15 pm
industry and agriculture as the men went those Chesterfield veterans returned DINNER HOURS
off to fight. By 1918, some of the younger home to start a new life. If we want to Sun - Thu 4 pm - 9 pm
Fri - Sat 4 pm - 10 pm
children aged enough to join the army to understand today, we need to know and
remember what happened yesterday.
serve their country. Throughout 2018, expect to hear 12730 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Chester – 804.751.9898

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