Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1919-04-19
SEE NORWICH BOYS COME
HOME ON STEAMER PATRICIA

DR.. E. J. Brophy, DR.. r. ]. Collins
and James P. Hayes returned from
Boston late Friday. having gone there
Tor the particular purpose of seeing
DR.. Brophy's brother. Fred, and Ray
Gordon, another Norwich boy, land on
Thursday with the 102nd and 103d
machine gun battalions on their re-
turn from France. where these two
battalions had served all through the
desperate fighting with the famous
Yankee division. the 18th. under Gen
eral Edwards.
1t was a wonderful experience, all
three men agreed, to see the reception
that Boston gave these units of the
New England division which returned
on the steamer Patricia, which was
formerly a Hamburg American liner
and has been turned over TO the
United States by the German govern
ment.
The Norwich men had passes for a
boat that was to carry relatives of re-
turning soldiers down Boston harbor
to meet the Patricia, but because no
time was announced for the boat to
leave, they missed it just as a great
many others did for the same reason
However, they were informed that
passes to go on Commonwealth pier
could be secured, but found upon ap-
| plication that these were only issued
! to wives or mothers of soldiers. Dr.
Brophy was fortunate enouhg to be
helped out of this dilemma. when the
major issuing the passes stretched a
! point and gave him one when he
learned that the doctor had come 100
miles to meet his brother. The other
Norwich men couldn't claim any rel
atives among the soldiers and couldn t
even get pass to the pier
Il Whom the CT cI, Dot -,
into sight off the pier. the din was
something terrific, boat whistles. fac
tory whistles, sirens and horns and
the shouts of the thousands on the
pier greeting the khaki clad men VINO
crowded every inch of space on the
boat, yelling their lungs out and
waving their hats and arms. while
they searched the crowd with eyes
hungry for the sight of some face that
they knew. Gen. Edwards who had
been in cutter, circling around the
Patricia as she came IN the harbor
landed on the pier and stood at salute
as the big vessel drew up alongside.
In the crowd on the pier were many
men of the 102nd. who had come home
invalided or convalescent ahead of the
machine gun battalion.
For, time Dr. trophy ran his eye
eagerly all along the crowded deck.
brother. Then he spoke to a strap.
ping big soldier, hobbling around thu
pier, and the soldier shouted up t.
his comrades on the boat, where!
Broph?' %
"On detail" was the answer shouted
back.
Get him. here's his brother" tn
big soldier shouted again through hi
hands as a megaDhone. and they die
get him in a short time. Then tn
two brothers made each other out an,
the doctor emptied his pockets of
r quantity of cigars and cigarettes
, throwing them UP to the eager men OF
, the Patricia.
II That was all they could see of eacl
other then, for the troops were sent a
once to Camp Devens and thither tn
friends and relatives of a great mum
Der followed them and were able t
see them Friday.
At Camp Devens, too the thre
Norwich men found Ray Gordon. Bot
the soldiers are in good health and ar
expecting their discharge from servic
. soon.