A Brother in Arms: Joseph A. Maus

Corp. Joseph Maus, 105th Inf. 27th Division, 1918

Joseph Maus was born in Long Island City, New York on May 19^th, 1898.  He was the third child of Nicholas and Elizabeth (Kunz) Maus.  He graduated from Public School No. 6 in Astoria, Queens and was a member of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Jamaica, NY where he played on the parish baseball team “composed of young men from the parish”.  He and his father lived with his older sister Madaline and her husband John J. O’Farrell at 231 Jeffrey Avenue.

Mexican Border Service

When he was 18 years old, Joe first enlisted in the 71^st Infantry Regiment of the New York National Guard on May 8^th, 1916.  From June to September of 1916, Joe served during the Mexican Border Campaign by defending the Rio Grande River near McAllen, Texas as part of the New York Division.

Joe at Coops Falls Encampment, June 1917

The 27th “Orion” Division

Following America’s formal entrance into the Great War in April of 1917, the New York National Guard was called back into Federal Service on July 12, 1917.  Joseph was mobilized into the American Expeditionary Forces on August 5, 1917 as a Corporal in A Company, 105^th Infantry Regiment, 53^rd Infantry Brigade, 27^th “Orion” Infantry Division under the command of Major General John Francis O’Ryan. The 27^th Division was one of only three AEF Divisions composed entirely of National Guard troops from a single state (New York), and was commonly called “New York’s Own.”

The distinctive insignia of the 27^th Division combines a stylized “NYD” monogram for “New York Division” along with the 7-star constellation of Orion which plays on General O’Ryan’s name.

Training at Camp Wadsworth

The 27^th Division participated in a large send-off parade in New York City on August 30, 1917 before traveling by rail to the Camp Wadsworth training cantonment at Spartanburg, South Carolina. The Division remained in training at Camp Wadsworth for nine months before traveling to Newport News, Virginia where it embarked on the “Bridge of Ships” for France on May 17, 1918. It was at Newport News that Madaline and John visited Joe just prior to his departure and “made a new man on him”.

105th Infantry at Camp Wadsworth, 1918

Defensive Sector

After arriving in France, in early June the 27^th Division continued to receive intensive training under the British Army in the areas of Picardy and Flanders.

On July 25, 1918 the division then relieved the British 6^thDivision along the East Poperinghe Line in the Dickebusch Lake/Scherpenberg Sector in Belgium. Here it recieved its baptism by fire while holding the “Defensive Sector.”

105th HQ at Dickebusch Lake

Ypres-Lys Offensive

In August-September 1918, the 27^th Division engaged German troops during the Ypres-Lys Offensive which was an Allied effort to reduce the Amiens salient created during past German offensives of March-April 1918. The responsibility for the opening assault on August 31, 1918 fell to the 53^rd Brigade including the 105^th and 106^th Infantry Regiments.

105th HQ near Ypres

Somme Offensive

"The Glorious 27th" by Matania, 1919

On September 4, 1918 the entire 27^th Division was relieved, transferred to the British 3^rd Army command and was stationed in reserve near Doullens.

The Somme Offensive was then launched on September 24, 1918 with the objective of breaking the Hindenburg Line. As part of this operation on September 27, the 105^th Infantry moved forward in attack and made initial gains near Quennemont Ferme, Guillemont Ferme, and fortified heights called “The Knoll”, before being driven back by German counter-attack. On September 29^th, the 105^th Infantry attacked “The Knoll” again but was checked with heavy casualties. It was during this attack that Corporal Joseph Maus was killed in action, one of 1,609 casualties in the ranks of the 105^th Infantry during the war.

View of the Hindenburg Line Battlefield, 1918

105th HQ at the Somme

Today, Corporal Joseph Maus is buried in the Somme American Cemetery at Bony, in Picardy, France (Plot B, Row 15, Grave 10).

Somme American Cemetery, France

ORIGINAL FILM OF 27TH DIVISION ON THE MARCH TO THE SOMME.

ORIGINAL FILM OF 27TH DIVISION IN REAR AREA AT THE SOMME.

ORIGINAL FILM OF 27TH DIVISION TROOPS BURYING THE DEAD AT THE SOMME.

L to R: Nicholas, Anna, Joe, Madaline, Little Bob and John

The correspondence contained in the Joseph Maus Collection includes letters, postcards and “war postals” exchanged between Joe and his family living on Long Island, New York; sister Madaline, brother-in-law John O’Farrell (Madaline’s husband), and his father Nicholas. Other references in his writings include his sister Anna and nephew Bob (pictured above), along with his girlfriend Priscilla.

27th Division Helmet

 

27th Division Memorial, Central Park, New York City

(Information and photos courtesy of Lanny Brown)