Thanks
Chris Carroll
BA History NCWC
nchistory@hotmail.com

Boston Evening Globe, Friday, April 26, 1918

Croix de Guerre for Frank J Hurley

Corp Frank J Hurley of Co H, 101st Infantry, whose home is at 22 Lawn St, Roxbury has received the Croix de Guerre from the French Government for gallantry in action. This word came in a letter from the front dated March 7 (1918) to Harry Lawrence of 60 Walson St, Roxbury, and intimate friend of Corp Hurley’s. The letter says in part:

“We have been in the trenches and are now out again, but in a few days we are going in for a longer stay and we hope with God’s care to come out as safe as we did the first time. We were very lucky in the first lines, and we went in and came out without losing a man. It was a good experience for the man, that being under fire the first night. We were all rather nervous, but after the first day or two everything was all right”.

The Colonel reviewed the regiment yesterday and some of the men were presented with the French War Crosses. Frank Hurley was among those who received the award. They were honored so because of the part they took in a raiding party which went over the German lines and captured a few prisoners. They returned safely with the exception of a few Frenchmen. Hurley said it was the most exciting moment of his life when they entered the enemy lines and met the Huns face to face.

“Yesterday, we also had an evening parade, just like those we used to have in Framingham., and when the band marched in front of the regiment once more, it made us think back to the happy days at Framingham, when we didn’t know we were well off. We are now just back on the 3rd line, held in reserve. Our daily work is putting up barbed wire entanglements. In fact, we have done that every time we hit the trenches, and it is no cinch. It is wicked on my hands.

Frank Hurley, to whom the writer refers, joined the old 9th regiment at the time of the trouble at the Mexican border. Before joining the regiment, he was employed at a wholesale leather house in Boston. He is 23 years old and was born in Ireland, coming to this country when he was about 10 years old. His parents are both dead and his nearest of kin is Mrs Nora Callahan (s/b Cahalane), his sister, 22 Lawn St, Roxbury.

Hurley, Frank J., Sergeant: died 24 July [1 Aug.'], 1918, of wounds received in action, in Trugny Wood.

Enl. 12 July, 1916, Co. H, 9th Inf., Mass. N. G. Reported for duty 25 March, 1917; mustered 3 April, Co. H, 9th Inf., Mass. N. G. (Co. H, 101st Inf., 26th Div.). Corporal 20 Aug., 1917. Sergeant 18 May, 1918. Overseas 7 Sept., 1917.

Born 1893, in Ireland, son of Daniel and Margaret Hurley (both deceased); brother of Mrs. Nora Cahalane of Roxbury. Clerk. Resident in Massachusetts eleven years.

I understand he may have won the French Croix de Guerre. I also believe that he was originally buried in France, but he body was then reinterred in the States, probably in Roxbury or Jamaica Plain.