Friends of Fort Caswell Rifle Range

Source: Soldiers of the Great War, Vol. II
John W Carlisle
Mill Branch, Brunswick County, NC
US Army
Private, First Class
Served:
September 19, 1917 – February 13, 1919
Overseas:
May 12, 1918 – February 13, 1919
Died of Disease: February 13, 1919

John Carlisle was born in Mill Branch, NC, in 1887. He married Annie Elizabeth Walker (sometimes listed as Lizzie Fowler/Walker in records) in 1911. His draft registration shows he was married with two children, working as a farmer in Mill Branch. Records show his children were born in 1913 and 1916.

John was ordered to report to duty on September 19, 1917 [Source: ancestry.com]. He was 31 years old.

A third son was born during his training, January 7, 1918, confirmed by the 1920 Census.

Pvt John Carlisle was initially assigned to the 322th Infantry, 81st Division. Many from the 81st Division were moved to supplement the 30th Division and this included Pvt Carlisle. On February 20, 1918, he was transferred to the 119th Infantry, 30th “Old Hickory” Division, and eventually Company K. He served in that division throughout the war, according to his NC WWI Service Card.

Previous posts described the operations of the 119th Infantry until the war ended on November 11, 1918. At that point, the 30th Division moved by rail to Beaumont-sur-Sarthe, Southwest of Paris. They remained there until February 11, 1919, when orders were received to march approximately 30 km to Le Mans, to prepare for embarkation to the United States.

Source: Ancestry.com. U.S., Army Transport Service, Passenger Lists, 1910-1939 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016.

Pfc John Carlisle did not participate in that march. His name was scratched from the passenger list for USS Huron for return to the United States on March 21, 1919, with the notation, “SOLDIER DIED IN HOSPITAL FEBRUARY 13, 1919.”

Pfc John Carlisle died of pneumonia on February 13, 1919. There has been no record found for the return of his remains to the United States.

Some members of the The Friends of Fort Caswell Rifle Range visited Griffin Cemetery in Ash, NC, recently to pay tribute to Pfc Carlisle and take photos and rubbings of his headstone.

While not an official military headstone, it does include his service on the back of the headstone, as shown.

Notice the American flag displayed.

Rubbings show the words:

JOHN W. CARLISLE PVT. 1316552
CO. K 119TH INF. DIED FEB. 13, 1919

NO. 63
F

The meaning of “No. 63 F” is unclear. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Friends of Fort Caswell Rifle Range.

John’s second son died of hepatitis in May 1919 and was buried in the same cemetery as his father. He was three years old. His oldest son died in 1993 and is buried in Brunswick County. His youngest son fought in many battles in the Italian Campaign in WWII and received a Purple Heart. He died in 1994 and was buried in Salisbury National Cemetery, in Rowan County, NC, with military honors.

This is the last profile for the 119th Infantry. Next week, posts begin for the 120th Infantry of the 30th Division.

If you would like to help us honor John W. Carlisle or another Brunswick County WWI veteran, please use the following links:

Click here for the announcement: Announcement: Honor a Brunswick County World War I Veteran
Click here for directions to donate and honor a veteran: How to Honor a Brunswick County World War I Veteran

Click the category: Veteran Profile here or at the bottom of any veteran profile post to see all of the veteran profiles published. Follow or subscribe to the blog to stay updated on all new profiles.

To view this or an earlier profile at any time, click on the veteran’s name on the WWI Brunswick County Veteran list, which is also accessible by the blue button on the top right of the webpage.

Source: findagrave

Samuel Goodman Fulford
Supply, Brunswick County, NC
US Army
Private
Served:
September 19, 1917 – April 8, 1919
Overseas:
May 11, 1918 – April 2, 1919
Wounded: October 17, 1918

Samuel Goodman Fulford was born and raised in Brunswick County, NC. A family tree can be viewed in FamilySearch. His WWI Draft Registration shows he was single, farming, and living in Supply, NC.

Samuel was ordered to report to duty on September 19, 1917, and was accepted for service on October 4, 1917 [source: ancestry.com]. On October 16, 1917, he joined 30th “Old Hickory” Division, 119th Infantry, Company C. Previous posts describe training, transport to France, and battles, including the breaking of the Hindenburg Line, until the beginning weeks of October 1918.

The 119th Infantry’s final contact with the enemy occurred during October 17-19, 1918. It was during that time that Pvt Fulford was wounded, and Pvt Luther Benton and Cpl Calmer Clemmons were wounded a second time. Pvt Fulford and Pvt Benton recovered by the end of November and early December, returning to duty at that time. Cpl Clemmons’ injuries were severe and required additional hospitalization after returning to the United States. Recall that he was initially reported missing.

The operation that resulted in the three men being wounded began before daybreak on October 17, 1918. The 119th Infantry had just rested for 6 days following their earlier push immediately after the Hindenburg Line assault. Before daybreak on October 17, they lined up at the eastern outskirts of La Haie Mennerese and bore on Vaux Andigny, advancing under an artillery barrage. You can follow their progress on the map below, starting on the middle right and advancing toward the east (right side of map shown below). Companies A (which included Pvt Luther Benton), B, E, and H led the assault with the others in support. At one point, they experienced a very heavy counter barrage from the enemy. At around 11am, the infantry advanced to a railroad cut 2,000 yards west of the village of Ribeauville. The men dug in for the night. This position was very heavily shelled and there were many casualties. Pvt Benton and Pvt Samuel Fulford were wounded at some time during the day’s maneuver.

Source: NC Digital Archives

(To zoom in further, use the map from the Source.)

The 120th Infantry (also in the 30th Division) and a British Regiment on their flanks had fallen behind so little movement was made during the day of the 18th. At 8pm, they began to advance over rough country with only a compass and moonlight. After reaching the eastern edge of Ribeauville, the shelling became heavier and mustard gas shells were falling. They captured Ribeauville, liberating one French civilian, then advanced further, halting at 1:30am on October 19. Cpl Clemmons’ severe injuries were received during this maneuver.

There were no more injuries among the remaining Brunswick County men in the 119th Infantry at this time. Refer to Pvt Luther Benton’s WWI Profile or the World War I Army/Marine Division Rosters for the infantry roster. The infantry continued pushing forward on October 19, but made little progress due to open country and deadly machine gun fire by the Germans. During these three days, the infantry had pushed forward for a total of 5 miles. They then halted, were relieved, and saw no more battles for the remainder of the war.

Between October 16-20, the casualties reported by the 119th Infantry were the following:
KIA: 31
Died of Wounds: 5
Severely Wounded: 47
Slightly Wounded: 145
Gassed: 45
Wounds undetermined: 7

Pvt Samuel Fulford returned to duty on November 26, 1918. The 119th Infantry was transported back to the United States in April 1919 and were mustered out at Camp Jackson, SC. Samuel resumed farming.

Samuel Goodman Fulford passed away on May 8, 1966, at age 71. He had never married. He was laid to rest in Sabbath Home Baptist Church Cemetery in Holden Beach, NC. A military flat marble marker is displayed.

Most of the information gathered was from History 119th Infantry, 60th Brigade, 30th Division. U. S. A. Operations in Belgium and France, 1917-1919

If you would like to help us honor Samuel Goodman Fulford or another Brunswick County WWI veteran, please use the following links:

Click here for the announcement: Announcement: Honor a Brunswick County World War I Veteran
Click here for directions to donate and honor a veteran: How to Honor a Brunswick County World War I Veteran

Click the category: Veteran Profile here or at the bottom of any veteran profile post to see all of the veteran profiles published. Follow or subscribe to the blog to stay updated on all new profiles.

To view this or an earlier profile at any time, click on the veteran’s name on the WWI Brunswick County Veteran list, which is also accessible by the blue button on the top right of the webpage.

WWI helmet with 30th Division insignia.
Source: Photo from Pvt Roy E. Jones at purpleheartsnorthcarolina.com

Edgar Levett Ballard
Bolivia, Brunswick County, NC
NC National Guard
Corporal
Served:
May 7, 1917 – April 8, 1919
Overseas:
May 11, 1918 – April 2, 1919
Gassed: October 13, 1918

Edgar Levett Ballard was reportedly born in Little River, SC, and raised in Bolivia, NC. Only one reference to Little River was found, on his NC WWI Service Card. All other sources list his birth location as Brunswick County.

A family tree is located in FamilySearch. Two of Lawson’s brothers, John Thomas Ballard and Lawson Devaun Ballard are also WWI veterans. Lawson Devaun Ballard’s WWI Profile can be found here.

On May 7, 1917, at the age of 19, Edgar enlisted in the NC National Guard by way of the Boys’ Brigade, as described in a previous post.

In October, the 30th Division was created from NC National Guard units. Pvt Edgar Ballard was assigned to Company B, 119th Infantry, 30th “Old Hickory” Division.

The photograph above shows the 30th Division’s insignia in a horizontal position. If you remember from previous posts, the insignia contains an “O” for “Old” and “H” for “Hickory” as well as “XXX” the Roman numerals for 30, the division number. The insignia was designed to be worn vertically as shown here. According to division history, during WWI it was worn incorrectly and not discovered and corrected until the 1920s.

Refer to the previous posts outlining the history of the division and their famous Hindenburg Line assault. Details of the operations following the Hindenburg Line assault are included in 1st Sgt Van Mintz’s profile. This took place during October 8-10, 1918. The next contact with the enemy was October 17-19.

Pvt Ballard’s NC WWI Service Card indicates he was slightly gassed on October 13. History 119th Infantry, 60th Brigade, 30th Division. U. S. A. Operations in Belgium and France, 1917-1919 lists October 29, 1918, and shows he was “Sick.” However, sometimes that designation corresponds to poisonous gas exposure. Military casualty lists published in newspapers listed him as wounded slightly, so it seems to indicate gas exposure. Neither date fits with the operations of the 119th Infantry, but the effects of gas exposure often takes time to appear. However, without more information it is difficult to determine the exact date and location where the gas attack took place.

The 119th Infantry documentation shows he returned for duty on November 27, 1918. At that point, the war had ended. He was quickly promoted to Private First Class and then Corporal. He returned to the United States on March 17, 1919, with his company on USS Madawaska.

Edgar Ballard passed away in 1975. His obituary was published in Statesville Record and Landmark (Statesville, NC), 1975 Dec. 26, p.18].

Ballard, 77, Dies

Edgar Levitte Ballard, 77, route 10, Statesville, was dead on arrival at Iredell Memorial Hospital Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. Death was attributed to a heart attack.

At native of Brunswick County, he was a retired auto mechanic and lived on the Buffalo Shoals Road. He was an Army veteran of World War 1.

His parents were the late B.T. and Myrum Ballard, and he was born on Dec. 12, 1898.

Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Mary Woodsides Ballard; two sons, Thomas Ballard and W.L. Ballard, both of Statesville; one daughter, Mrs. Flake (Marium) Stewart of Taylorsville; two brothers, Johnny Ballard of Bolivia and Lawson Ballard of Wilmington; three sisters, Mrs. Casper Norton of Bolivia, Mrs. Pearl Stanley and Mrs. Henry King, both of Wilmington; 10 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

The funeral was scheduled at 2:30 p.m. today in Westmoreland Chapel of Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home. Burial was to follow in Iredell Memorial Park.

Edgar Levett Ballard was laid to rest in Statesville, NC. No military honors are shown.

If you would like to help us honor Edgar Levett Ballard or another Brunswick County WWI veteran, please use the following links:

Click here for the announcement: Announcement: Honor a Brunswick County World War I Veteran
Click here for directions to donate and honor a veteran: How to Honor a Brunswick County World War I Veteran

Click the category: Veteran Profile here or at the bottom of any veteran profile post to see all of the veteran profiles published. Follow or subscribe to the blog to stay updated on all new profiles.