American Soldier in France
LOCAL HEROES REMEMBERED FOR THEIR DEDICATION IN WW I
(Story by Ernest Silcott and written by Jim Henry, Pike’s Past Author)
(The First World War ended at 11 am on November 11, 1918 and afterward this day was designated Armistice Day. In 1955, the day was changed to Veterans Day to honor all veterans.
Ernest (Silcott) writes "I recently received a letter from Patrick Lernout Draftstrat, 15 8790 Waereghen, Belgium inquiring if I was any relation to Clyde Silcott killed in WW I and buried in Flanders Field.
Clyde Silcott was the son of Otto S. Silcott and Lavina (Alexander) Silcott of Sunfish Road near Piketon; a brother to my father, E. O. Silcott, late of Waverly Route (Buchanan Road). I was first apprised of this inquiry by Marie (Boble) Silcott, who works in the Pike County Library. This had come about by a previous inquiry by the Belgian to the Pike County Library about Clyde Silcott. The Library had sent him a photo of Clyde. I replied by return mail that I was a nephew and that I was very interested in his inquiry and gave him my e-mail address. He sent to me and to the library pictures (photos) of Flanders Field and the tombstone cross bearing the name of Clyde Silcott, Pvt., 363 Inf., 91 Div. Ohio. Oct 31, 1918 and inserted the photo of Clyde. The cemetery contains 368 burials of Americans killed near there in WW I, 50 are from Ohio, one from Pike County and one from Ross County.
Before advancing into Belgium, the U. S. 91st and US 37th and have been engaged in heavy fighting in Meuse argonne region, France. Both divisions received orders in October 1918 to join the French Army in Belgium and assist in the operations launched there by the group of armies of Flanders, under the command of Albert I. King of Belgium. The two divisions were engaged on October 30th and ended with the Armistice on Nov. 11, 1918. Clyde was killed on the second day of fighting.
Patrick Lernout is writing a book about these brave men and seeking all the information that can be gleaned after all these years as a tribute to these 368 men who gave their lives to liberate Belgium in World War I. After the war the poem, In Flanders Fields" was written by John McCrae that so aptly described the aftermath. For years, students in high school were required to memorize this poem and sometimes recite it. Here it is for you to read:
In Flanders fields the poppies blow,
Between the crosses, row on row, that mark our place; and in the sky.
The larks still bravely singing, fly,
Scarce heard amid the guns below,
We are the dead. Short days ago,
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe!
To you, from failing hands we throw,
The torch - be yours to hold it high!
If ye break faith with us who die,
We shall not sleep, tho poppies grow.
In Flanders fields.
- John McCrae, Author
This is dedicated to all who had ancestors who fought in the World War I. Information on Clyde Silcott as follows: Born July 5, 1891, Piketon, Ohio. He was the son of Mr. & Mrs. Otto Silcott, Piketon, Ohio. Enlisted July 24, 1918 at Waverly Ohio. Killed in battle of Waereghen, Belgium October 31, 1918. Hit by shell while on first aid duty. Buried in American Cemetery, Waereghem, West Flanders, Belgium.
The Pike County News Watchman
James Henry, Author Pike's Past
November 2003
Copyright © 2006
Pike Co. Genealogy Society a Chapter of O.G.S.
P. O. Box 224,
Waverly, Ohio 45690