Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-05-04
BELIEVES THE END
OF THE WAR WILL
COME IN 20 MONTHS
Sergt. Deblois, Winner
of Medals for Bray
cry Says the Ger
mans Are Weaken
ing Every D ay-
Tells Of How He Won
His Medals

A most interesting, brave, young
man is Sergeant Arthur Deblois OF
the Front Twenty second Battalion.
Canadian Forces, who stepped off
train No. 25 at 7.31 Friday evening
at the Augusta station on his way
from Albany, \. Y, to Pressure Isle,
where he is to do some recruiting
for the Flying Squad of the British
and Canadian recruiting mission. aft
er passing most of his three months
leave from the battlefields of France
at Montreal as drill instructor in
army environments there. Although
Sergt. Deblois was in this city but
minute or so while the train was
stopped at the station, he told to a
small audience gathered about him a
good many things about trench life
on the battlefields of France.
Sergt. Deblois has won three med
ais, the d. c. NJ. distinguished Con-
duct medal. NJ. NJ. military medal,
honor bestowed by the French gov
eminent upon any of its own SOL
| diers or the men of their Allies. He
! has fought in numerous minor en-
gagcments and the big battles of
Zilebet, on the Ypres sector, April
"a, 1915. Somme, September, 1916,
Nimy Ridge, April 8, 1917, when the
1 Of four miles square and six miles
wide, Lens, August, 1917. and Passen-
day. In all of these big battles the
sergeant was in the thick of the fight
ing and suffered three wounds, the
most severe being bullet hole
/ through his left shoulder.
Sergeant Deblois is Maine boy,
his parents, Mr. and Mrs Lambert
Deblois. living at I Sherwin street
Naterville. AS q boy he was one OF
the best athletes of that city and was
prominent at the Catholic Institute
during his academic courses there
When the call of war came to Can
ada Deblois told his parents he was
going to enlist. Although 80 years
of age and having a good position
he put action to words and within
the next few days was on his way
and in the latter part of August, 1914
he was enlisted at Montreal as a
member of Co. c, 22nd Battalion. He
was in his FIST battle Sept. Is. 1915
I He was given n three months fur
Tough and came to America, but be
cause he was ordered to drill the re-
cruitS in the Canadian environments
! he was unable TO see his parents in
Naterville. His mother had believe /
that he was killed, and has been
very sick. Upon arriving in Canada
the sergeant wired his mother, but
1T later developed she did not receive
his message. Friday, for the first
time IN nearly four years, his mother
knew he was living because he tcle-
/ phoned her after some difficulty in
securing her location.
! / guess she'll be glad to see me. all
/ right Yes, three years is quite q
! time to be living in uncomfortable
! homes in Fritz neighborhood." was
the only comment the sergeant made
after he heard the voice of his mother
Won Medals for Bravery
Il won the Distinguished Conduc,
/ Medal because | held Crater No. l ir
I NO Mans Land, Ypres sector Ny
, entire company in the command of .
7 lieutenant was stationed in the crater
and given orders to hold ON no mat
ter what happened. Well. believe me
! it was some fight
Il Won the military medal for gooc