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Co. L , 111th Infantry, Pa.

Co. L , 111th Infantry, Pa.

Posted: 14 Apr 2005 9:16PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 10 Aug 2006 2:56AM GMT
I am looking to find out info. on Co. L, 111th infantry, Pa.
My gr-uncle, Thomas L. Dine, served in WWI & was killed. All I have is a copy of his certificate "Columbia gives to her son the accolade of the new chilvalry of humanity". & a letter in regards to him being burried back here, in the U.S., at Alrington National Cemetery.
Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Lori

Re: Co. L , 111th Infantry, Pa.

Eileen Campos (View posts)
Posted: 22 Apr 2005 9:48PM GMT
Classification: Query
Hi Lori
I have lots of info for you!
~The 111th Inf. was part of the 28th Division in WWI. My husband is a WWI reenactor and they do the 109th Infantry Co. L which was also part of the 28th Division. We have the History of the 28th Division and in it they have small individual pictures of the soldiers, as well as a group picture of each company of each regiment in the division. I checked, & there is a picture of Thomas Dine. There is also a small write-up on each soldier. His says:
Dine, Thomas L. (serial Number) 1245738, Pvt. 1st Class, Wounded Aug. 11, 1918.

~In the History of the 111th, re: their actions in August 1918...
"At 1:00pm on the 11th Major Donnelly[commanding the Third Battalion] was ordered to arrange a surprise raiding party of two companies and send them forward at 5:00pm to capture prisoners, machine guns and material located in the ravines and sunken roads leading south from Mont de Perte and La Fosse Auloup. Companies L and M were selected for this and had to fight their way to the position designated as the jumping-off place, which was occupied by the enemy. Beyond this they were unable to advance, owing to the strong opposition, and consequently suffered heavy casualties. They withdrew to Fismette, where Major Donnelly organized the defense of the town and sent the first authentic information as to the conditions existing therein. Fismette was held by Major Donnelly's troops until their relief by the One Hundred and Ninth Infantry on the night of August 13-14, and during the entire time they were subjected to heavy machine gun and artillery fire. Much hand to hand fighting took place in the streets of the village, there also being an attack with liquid fire. During the entire time the troops occupied Fismette it was almost impossible to evacuate the wounded, and, on the night of the relief, arrangements were made for carrying details, who brought all the wounded across the Vesle prior to the troops leaving Fismette."

~ At the back of Vol. V - There is a list of "Our Honored Dead"
Dine, Thomas L. - Died Aug. 21, 1918

~ If you go to this site:
http://gravelocator.cem.va.gov/j2ee/servlet/NGL_v1
You can do a search & find exactly where he is buried in Arlington National Cemetery

~ We will contact you by e-mail directly, and if you want, we can scan the photo's in the book & e-mail them.
If there is any other info you want me to look for, let me know. Do you know where he is from in PA?
We look forward to hearing from you. Take Care, Eileen

Re: Co. L , 111th Infantry, Pa.

Posted: 22 Apr 2005 10:19PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 10 Aug 2006 2:56AM GMT
Hi Eileen,
I sent you an email. You made my day :)
Thank you,
Lori

Re: Co. L , 111th Infantry, Pa.

Posted: 6 May 2005 1:39AM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 27 Oct 2005 9:02PM GMT
Surnames: THOMPSON
Do you by chance have records on Company M of the 111th Infantry, PA? I am looking for anything on Orville Thompson who was killed in action in Fismette, France on Aug 11, 1918. He was from Pittsburgh, PA

Re: Co. L , 111th Infantry, Pa.

Eileen Campos (View posts)
Posted: 6 May 2005 5:08AM GMT
Classification: Query
Hi Beryl,
Yes we have the 5-Vol. History of the 28th Division, which has all the Regiments. The 111th is in Vol. II.
I looked up Orville. I was surprised to see he was an officer. There are larger pictures of the officers. There are 2 pictures of him, which we can scan if you like.
He was Company Commander from April 12, 1917 to August 11, 1918
The short write-up says:

Thompson, Orville R., Captain. Killed August 11th 1918. Received 28th Division Citation.

~ Here is the Citation listed in Vol. V...

"Headquarters 28th Division
American Expeditionary Forces
France, March 29, 1918
General Orders
No. 8
1) It gives me pleasure to record in General Orders, a tribute to the valorous conduct of the following named officers and soldiers of this division who have distinguished themselves by extraordinary gallantry in connection with militray operations against an armed enemy of the United States under the following circumstances:
On August 11, 1918, at Fismette France, Captain Orville R. Thompson, 111th Infantry, being ordered to take the Northern half of Fismette from a selected vantage point which was to be occupied at a given hour, found the point inenemy posession. He immediately organized the attack from his then position and advanced his line by short rushes, being always in the lead himself. At the moment of making the finalrush against the embankment behind which the enemy fought, this gallant officer was struck by a hand grenade and instantly killed."...
W.H. Hay
Major General, U.S.A.
Official:
Richard W. Watson
Lieut.-Colonel-Adjutant

~ There is one section in the history of the 111th, entitled "Some Personalities", where they seem to discuss a little about each of the officers. The paragraph relating to Capt. Thompson says...

" Captains Groff of Company K, and Thompson, of Company M were the long and short of the Regiment; one was so big that to dispute him was foolish, and the other so 'cocky' that he made himself master of those around. The loss of these two officers was keenly felt in the Battalion."

~ The previous response I wrote has info on the actions on Companies L & M on Aug. 11, 1918. In discussing the loss of officers in the actions of those few days, there is a comment...

" ...Captain Orville Thompson lost his life leading a charge on the afternoon of the 11th."

~ I am so sorry to tell you that unfortunately, it appears that it wasn't until Sept. 4, that they were able to recover and bury Capt. Thompson.
Regarding the advance made on Sept. 4, 1918...

"...The two other companies of the Third Battalion (stationed at Fismes) advanced strong patrols toward the Vesle, and as the advance progressed, accomplished a crossing and occupied Fismette, which they held during the night of September 4-5, while the balance of the Regiment moved to the ravine one and a half kilometers south of Fismes, near the St. Gilles-Fismes Road. The members of the third Battalion after reaching Fismette were able to bury many of those who had lain in 'No-Man's-Land' since August 10, among them being the body of Captain Thompson."

~ This link to PA State Archives
http://www.digitalarchives.state.pa.us/archive.asp
Has the PA Nat. Guard Vet. Card File & the MexicanBorder Campaign vet. Files. Go to the "T"'s. Orville Thompson is listed as having first enlisted in 1912. The Regiments of the PA National Guard were all incorporated into the Regiments of the 28th Division just before the War

~ This link is to PA Soldiers in the Great War
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/pa/1pa/military/ww1/haulse... & Capt. Thompson is also listed here

~ This site has some general info on the 28th Division's actions:
http://www.skyenet.net/~jhartwell/camps_division_histories.h...

~ Here is an article on WWI Burial Case Files:
http://www.geocities.com/lks_friday/COLUMN-040.htm

~ This is a link to the Doughboy Center which has some good info on WWI research
http://www.worldwar1.com/dbc/gen_faq.htm

~ Let me now if you want us to send the scan & if you need further information.

Take Care, Eileen

Re: Co. L , 111th Infantry, Pa.

Posted: 27 Jun 2014 1:36PM GMT
Classification: Query
Eileen,

I was wondering if you would not mind looking up Pvt. Charles Bonner? He was in Co. L, 111th Infantry, and he was wounded on 8/11/1918.

Thanks,
Sean

Re: Co. M , 111th Infantry, Pa.

Posted: 21 Jul 2015 4:54PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Duffy
Hello I know I am only a decade later looking for this information but here I am and I hope someone can help. I had two great uncles that served durring WWI in the 111th Infantry 25th Division Co M. The one was a John a or I Duffy killed in July 1918 supposedly Marne,France I am not sure. Edward Duffy was gassed both were serving apparently in the Company etc. We do have some information about Edward but cannot locate anything than newspaper clippings on various websites that John had died from injuries. John was born about 1896 in Philadelphia attended Girard College and was killed in 1918. His remains from what I discovered were not buried back home until 1921. We know he was killed in some type of skirmish where he went to the top of the hedgerow to see if the Germans were there and he was shot. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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