The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1919-08-26
BASIL SMITH KILLED BY
BATTLE NEAR ST. SOUPLE7
CONTINUED from Page one)
tract from Corporal Baths letter:

tract from Corporal Baths letter:
"'Basil was in my squad and we
always bunked together and became
great friends; in fact. | considered
him the best frined | had in the army
also one of the best soldiers
knew
He was killed on the morning of
the 18th of October We had had
two very hard days and had but two
men (Basil and Earl Parks left.
During the night of October 18th we
were beyond ST. Souplet, covering a
space of nearly half mile between
the 105th and the 10Sth with our
gun. Early in the morning we re.
ceived word that tarrage was to
be fired and that we were ahead of
the barrage line and we're to fall back
Immediately FIVE minutes would
mean life or death.
I'VE fell back and had Just reach
ed a road when a shell struck about
ten feet ahead OF us. We We're right
together, Basil on my left and Parks
to my right. was knocked uncon-
scious and when | came to my senses
heard Basil calling. My nose was
bleeding and my hip, arm and face
were cut quite a bit. but | was not
hurt much. However. | was suffer
ing from the gas from the day be-
fore. | crawled in the direction OF
his call and passed Parks. who was
stone dead | reached Basil and he
said: They have GOT me in the leg. +"
He was hit between the knee and the
hig and his leg was nearly off. put
a twist on as best could but could
not stop the blood Shells were com
ing fast and we were in a dangerous
place. was too weak to carry him
and he suggested that | drag him,
and did He asked me TO find Parks
and | told him there was no use:
Parks was done for. Basil was very
weak and practically helpless so
dragged him until we came to a brick
cellar and then gave him little wa
ter and did all | could for him, and
then crawled out after stretcher-bear-
ers Basil said; Don't forget to
come back" and | assured him that
would be back whether ! could find
any help or not. Luckily, | found
stretcher-bearers very quickly and
they took us both back to st. Soup
let When we reached there Basil
was unconscious. They rushed him
into the first ambulance and sent him
to Escafort, the second aid station.
had to wait my turn so did not see
him again. | understand he died in
the ambulance before they reached
Escafort, which was only about two
miles from St Soup,et You see.
was with him until couple of min
utes before he died Later, saw a
report from headquarters giving the
location of his grave. etc He was
buried at st. Souplet very close to
Parks
Basil did not suffer. H. said
from the beginning that his leg was
paralyzed and did not hurt Even
when | was dragging him, he said
it did not hurt He died 'om loss
of blood, and died very q, .etly; just
dropped into Inconsistencies. He
was the gamest and coolest fellow u
ever saw.
You cannot overestimate his
qualities as soldier, for he was one
o. tn, bes;.
If at any time Mrs. Garrison is
in New York and cares to call here
and talk over anything in connection
with Basil death, will he glad to
explain all that can
81 might further add that you can
claim a Victory Medal for Basil.
these medals have not yet been made
but you will notice in the papers when
they are ready for distribution. You
should then write the Adiutant Gen
eral War Dept, Washington, ID. c.
stating his name and number, If you
know it also the organization. He
would be entitled, to two battle