"FARRAGUT MOURNS and BURIES SOLDIER HERO".

--The body of Harry Roberts arrived in Farragut Friday evening from France where it has been disinterred from the cemetery at Souilly. He was killed during the fighting in the Argonne Forest on November 2, 1918, just a few days before the armistice was signed.

Harry was born at Farragut on June 15, 1893, the son of Mr. and Mrs. E.F. Roberts, and was reared in that community, graduating from the Farragut schools in the class of 1911. He was a general, all-around athlete and was well known and universally liked. He was also a member of the Masonic fraternity.

In company with a number of others from Fremont county, Harry answered the call to the colors at Camp Dodge on April 25, 1918, where he was a member of the 88th division. Remaining in this camp about one month, he was transferred to Camp Travis, Texas, where he was a member of Company "I", 360th Infantry of the 90th Division.

On June 6, 1918, his organization left Camp Travis for Camp Mills., New York, and sailed from Hoboken June 13th on the liner Olympic, landing in Southamption, England, June 22. A short trip across the English channel landed his organization in France on June 23, l918.

His division immediately took up intensive training in the more modern modes of warfare and on August 22, his regiment entered the lines in the St. Mihiel (sic) sector, which was quiet until the morning of September 12, when the world rejoiced over the first all-American victory, in straightening out this threatening sector. During this action Harry was a runner, carrying messages at all times of the day and night, one of the most dangerous duties a soldier is called upon to perform. After St. Mihel (sic), the regiment moved back to Toul for a short rest after which they moved westward to the north and west of historic Verdun.

The night of October 31 found his regiment in the front lines in the Argonne and Harry's battalion, under the command of Major J.W.F. Allen, was in the jump off position ready to go over at five o'clock the following morning, at which time they stepped over the top.

The battalion met with immediate resistance from four machine gun nests in the vicinity of Grand Carre farm but these were soon silenced and the battalion continued pushing its way against obstinate resistance until about 2:30 in the afternoon, when the battalion was so worn out and decimated that it was called to a halt while the second battalion of the same regiment, which was immediagely behind the third, leapfrogged them and continued the drive.

The second battalion continued the advance until about 10:30 that evening when they came to a halt in heavy timber about two kilometers north of Andevanne and about the same distance south of Villers-devant-Dun.

On the morning of November 2nd, the second battalion was given the command to continue the advance and Harry's battalion was ordered forward to take up the position just vacated by the second.

Just as Major Allen had succeeded in getting his companies placed in the positions allotted to them, the enemy raked their territory with a violent artillery fire, supported by a vicious machine gun barrage and it was this machine gun fire under which Harry gave his life for his country and humanity. He was wounded in the abdomen about noon of November 2nd and was immediately rushed to the first aid station where he was given treatment and from there he was sent by ambulance to Evacuation Hospital Number 6 at Souilly, where he passed away shortly after his wounds were dressed.

His body was brought to Farragut Friday evening from Fort Des Moines in charge of Corporal John L. Jenkins, a member of Troop C of the 14th U.S. Cavalry.

His father, E.F. Roberts, and three sisters, Mrs. Ward Corbit, Mrs. W.S. Coy, Jr., and Hazel survive him and mourn his loss, his mother having passed to her reward on June 20, 1920.

Short funeral services were held at the Farragut cemetery Sunday afternoon at three o'clock, conducted by Rev. H.D. Herr. A quartet composed of C.C. Campbell, George Carter, Fred Long and Seth Cox gave two beautiful numbers.

Pall bearers were Arthur and Harry Coy, Archie Perkins, and Paul Jones, friends of the deceased, and T.W. Iiams and Samulel Spittler of Sidney, members of Harry's division overseas.

A large crowd gathered a the cemetery to pay their last respects to the memory of a young man who was liked and admired by all who were privileged to know him.

Interment was made by the side of his mother in Farragut cemetery.
 

~ source: The Fremont County Herald, August 4, 1921.