Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1919-03-07
PATE OF LIEUT. HARRY WHITE
WILMER.
Lsonardtown, Nd,
February ~. 1915.

Il
WILMER.
Lsonardtown. Nd,
February "a, 1919.
To the Editors Of the Beacon and
the Enterprise;
i As many sympathetic inquiries have
been made as 10 the fate OF my son,
First Lieutenant Harry White Viii
mer, goth Aero Squadron, A. l.. f.,
who was reported by the War Depart
ment, as missing in action" on Octo-
Der 10th last. take the means Of
publication, through your newspapers,
Il you will publish this, TO answer
finally these inquiries, to thank my
friends for their sympathy and to as
sure them Of my deep appreciation.
After many rumors and contradic
tory reports. and futile appeals to the
War Department and the Red Cross,
I have Just received letter from Mr.
Clarkson Potter, written from Paris,
wherein he states that the bodies OF
my son and his son, Lieutenant Clark
son w. Potter, who was operator of
the plane in which my son was OBJ
erver and bomb-thrower, struck by al
German shell while the squadron was
making an offensive flight towards a
German objective on October 10th,
and seen to descend, apparently under
control, within the German lines north
Of Verdun, were found buried in the
wood at Steny, just where they fell,
and that the bodies were disinterred
and decently buried in the cemetery
at Steny on February 18th.
Mrs. Potter, the mother Of Lieu
tenant Potter, wrote me from Paris
last October that she had learned
from headquarters" that her son was
a prisoner, and that she supposed my
son shared the same fate. This gave
some hope, although my son had said
he never would be taken prisoner, be-
cause Of information as to German
cruelties while. he was in the British
Army in the FIRST and second years
Of the war, and from which he was
honorably discharged, with the King
George medal for bravery in the |
6eld," on account Of wounds received
at Ypres in June, 1916.
Now. that the worst is known and |
the suspense ended. l thank God that
these two young men, companions in
arms and not divided in death, lived |
to serve their country and, with others |
Of the brave sons OF patriotic parents
gave their lives, unafraid and glorious
ly, for the cause of humanity and lib
erty. Their sacrifices have been for US.
| have recently learned, through an
officer in the Air Service, returned
from France, that my sons cheerful
ness and GOODNESS in going into ac-
lion were stimulating to them all. AS
he went down to his death he waived
cheerful Goodbye" to brother
officer in another plane.
L. ALLISON WILMER.
The above article, which appeared
in the two papers published in St
Marys County last week sets at rest
the many anxieties Of the many friends
Of the young hero who has gone to
his last resting place, giving his sery-
ices and life to the cause OF human
ity.
Harry White" as he was known
here lived near this town with his
father. Gen. L. A. Wilmer, until the
latter moved to his adopted home in
St.. Marys County. when he took up
his residence in Baltimore. When the
war broke out between the powers
across the water, being OF military in.
clination and anxious to see some OF
the fighting across the water and get
in the midst Of the fray, he joined a
Canadian regiment. After training
he went to the front in behalf of the
allies. He was soon found on the
firing line, but after successfully dodg-
ing the Hun bullets he finally fell a
victim and was wounded by shrapnel
in the shoulder After undergoing
several operations he was honorably
discharged from the service and came
home. Hardly had he arrived on this
side and shaken hands with his rela-
tives and friends and received their
congratulations on being alive when
this country entered the war. lie I'M
mediateIy again sought active service
under his own flag and enlisted, this
time joining the aviation corps. Fol-
lowing the usual course of training,
he went overseas once more and again
saw active service and all went well
until the untimely end which is set
forth by his father in the above letter
which speaks for itself.
Harry White" was well and fav-
orably known here. where he had a
host of friends. He was always fond
of athletics and made strong and
healthy soldier. While in his death
there is a sadness that necessarily sur
rounds his loved one and friends, they
all have the consolation and happiness
in knowing that he died gallant death
fighting for his country in the great
.S,,sa ~ humanity and democracy