The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1921-07-28

ANN AhAiNN AAabN t2NA WV " 90 OAooNN
In France in October, 1918, Dying
Five Days Later--Comrades in
Arms Act AS Pail Bearers-Many
Friends Pay Last Tribute.
The body of Paul Lyle Rice, who
was killed in action in the Somme Of
fensiye near the close of the late
war, arrived in Covington Saturday
for burial Interment at Munford
cemetery followed Immediately
thereafter.
Paul Lytle Rice was indicted in
the national army September II,
1917, being among the first in this
county called into service. His pre-
liminary training was received at
Camp Gordon, Ga. Some time dur
ing the month Of October, 1917, he
was transferred to Camp Sewer,
Greenville, S. c. where he was as
signed to Company A, Hath Ma
chine Gun Battalion, part of the
Thirtieth Division. After long
training period by the division, or
ders came early in 1918 to break
camp and sail for active duty over
seas.
Young Rice went with his outfit
via England, where he arrived dur
ing the early days of June. Another
month of intensive training by the
division under English supervision
followed northeast of st. 0mer,
France, back Of the British lines.
The Thirtieth Division was now fit
to fight and during the period ex-
tending from July to July IL all
of its elements moved over the Bel
gian frontier and occupied sector
in the Ypres salient. The division
took part in the defense Of Ypres,
and on August 10, 1918, played
conspicuous part in the Ypres-Lys
offensive, beginning on that date and
continuing until the end of the war.
On the 9th and 9Th of September,
the Thirtieth Division was switched
from Belgium on the Somme in the
Somme valley, where it took part in
the Somme offensive, fighting with
the forces of the British Empire,
composed of English, Scotch and
Australian troops. Our doughboys
became engaged in this offensive on
the goth of September, when, as
sisted by the troops just mentioned,
broke the Hindenburg line at Belli-
court, between Cambria and st.
Quentin, and there continued in this
offensive until the latter DAYS of !
October, when they were relieved.
Paul Lyle Rice was in every bat
tie fought by his division. In the
heavy fighting in the vicinity of
Mazenheim, France, October IS, 1918,
he was gassed and was sent to
British base HOSPITAL, where he died
October %, 1918. He was buried
October 25, 1918, at Mt. Huon, located
on the Dieppe road between lie Ire
port and Flocques, Seine
The large number of relatives and
friends who gathered Saturday morn
ing in Munford cemetery at the grave
Of the deceased hero returned for
burial bore testimony of a peoples
gratitude for those who made the
sacrifice on the battlefields
of France in the name Of their coun-
try and the common cause Of the
allied nations. After the coffin,
draped in the stars and stripes, had
been lowered in the grave, Rev. w.
r. Pickett, nastor of the Liberty
Baptist church, read from the Scrip
lures, and then delivered a few re-
marks on the immortality of the soul,
in which he paid a tribute to the
beautiful Christian life of the de-
ceased.
Numbered among the friends gath
cred about the grave were many vet
Grams of the late war, who came to
pay their last respects and bid fare
well to their departed friend and
comrade in arms.
The pail bearers were Messrs.
Blanton Hall, John Mcbride, Drew
Moore, Will Vaughan, Robert Smith
and VIM. A. Shoaf, Jr.
The deceased was son Of Mr.. and
Mrs. ]. W. Rice, Of this vicinity. He
was born on the 10th day of December, ,
1894, near Covington, where he was
reared. His early education was re-
reived at the Holmes High School. '
He was a loyal member Of the Lib |
erty Baptist church. [
Members Of his family surviving N
him are his parents, Mr.. and Mrs. {
]. w. Rice. of this city, two sisters, /
Mesdames B. s. Jameson and Annie !
Lee D1zier, and two brothers, Messrs.
Vernon Rice, of this city, and w. L.
Rice, of Memphis. {