Milford chronicle., 1917-09-21
VOTES FOR WOMEN!
Gunner Clancy!


How busy we Suffragists are these
days. Canning, food conservation,
knitting making scrap books for the
boys at the front, providing ice cream
and cake for the soldiers, and cruel
test, bidding our boys God Speed"
Have you read of gallant Gunner
Clancy? He had no mother to bid
him God Speed"
How Gunner William Clancy of the
Royal Field Artillery, the American
who charged at Vimy Ridge with the
Canadians, won the honor of being
the first man to place the STARS and
Stripes" on an European battlefield,
was told in the Houston Post by Gun
ner Clancy himself He is a Boston
man. This is his letter of the account
OF his part in the battle:
21OS Cecil St,
Bury, Lanchashire, Aug. Z, II.
| am pleased to hear from a friend
of mine who has written to me from
Texas. l am glad that the people of
the United States know that 1, VIII
liam H. Clancy, a homeless person,
put the good "Old Glory" on the bat
tlefeld at Vimy Ridge on April 9, II.
l have worked in Texas on the rail-
road as a rounder l have made my
home anywhere, but speaking truth
fully l was born in Boston. Mass.
shall tell you truthfully of my act,
so that the United States people may
know what a former "hObo" did.
1t was Sunday morning, April 8,
that l heard through battery orders
that the United States had declared
war on Germany. How glad l was.
l went to my kit bag and took out
"Old Glory" which l always carried
with me- l thought the day would
come when l could place it on the bat
tlefield to show the enemy.
We were to advance at $50 o'clock
Monday morning. l went into the
trenches Sunday night. At $50 Mon
day morning the word of command
was given, "Over the top and best of
luck, for victory we want. "
The Canadians charged and l with
them. 1 tied "Old Glory" to my bay
onet and made the charge. 1t was
the happiest day of my life, I assure
you. / went before the enemy and
they were struck dumb. They did
not know what it all meant, but they
soon found out. / was cOol-headed. J..
There were some awful sights. One
young fellow got hit with a piece of
shell. He asked me to remember him
to all his people in Newark, N. j.
The last words he said were: Bill
Clancy, / am glad to give my life for
the freedom of the world" He died
in my arms.
So 1 let him lie, but just before he
died he kissed my flag. "Old Glory"
he said, and 1 told him, Yes, Old
Glory, and New Glory, too" Poor
chapl l did not see him any more,
for when l went forward again under
heavy fire, l met my accident. "Old
Fritz" sent a she'll over and it struck
near me, blowing up some of the am
munition. OF course, l can only re-
member now, that 1 was being dug
out from a trench, where l was bur-
led alive
Now l am in England, and have al
most recovered from the effects.
am waiting to be transferred to the
American Army, although l belong to
the best regiment, Royal Field Artil-
lery," but 1 much prefer being with
my fellow countrymen. hope that
l may see many fellows from Texas.
Let them help keep the name that I
have won.
AS you wish and l wish to have this
published throughout the United
States, trust you will send me a
copy, anything that you would like to
know about the affair, please write
me.
l beg to remain,
Gunner William Clancy,
The First American who put the
Stars and Stripes on the battle
field.
Clancy was in Paris when the war
started in 1914. At Nueve Cappelle
ne was wounded in the head by shrap-
lel. He was in the hospital six
weeks but was back in action in time
% have a part in the taking of the
amOus HohenzOllern redoubt. He al
10 fought through the battle of the
Somme, and at GournecOurt was
lgain wounded, this time in the head,
lands and shoulders.
The September following he was
lBdln with his CoupdHy5 anu lOI the
bird time fell a victim to German
craftsmanship. This time a bullet
vent through the top of his head. In
he battle of Arras Clancy was again
n the fighting, and participated in
he taking of Vimy Ridge. Some |
months ago Ambassador Page sought |
tut Clancy and told him how proud |
lie was to shake the hand of an Amer
can like you"
How eagerly we shall watch for the |
Bill Clancys." God grant we may |
ave many of them.
Laura C. Pollard.
MTTLVTTLE