Veterans Day was originally called Armistice Day which marked the end of World War One on November 11, 1918. Millions died in that conflict and America escaped relatively unscathed. But 116,000 of our countrymen lost their lives in battle during that war and 205,000 were wounded. Several hundred of them came from Lowell. Each day this November, thanks to Eileen Loucraft, a native of Chelmsford, who while researching her family history, became interested in remembering those from greater Lowell who fought and died in the First World War, we will present a contemporary news story of one such soldier. Today, we learn about Gerald Silk:
Corporal Gerald Silk Killed in Action
Not only was Co. M of the 101st Infantry in the thick of the recent big offensive in France, but now news comes that one of the Lowell boys of Battery F, Corp. Gerald R. T. Silk, was killed in action on July 18. Thus, at least two Lowell units have taken part in the big struggle of the past few days.
Corp. Silk was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick C. Silk of 67 Nineteenth street. He was 24 years old and enlisted in Battery F a little more than a year ago. He went to camp at Boxford with the rest of the unit, and sailed for France in September.
Before entering the service, he was employed as an electrician by the L. A. Derby Co. and was well known throughout the city. Besides his parents he leaves two sisters, Mrs. Hosmer Sweetser of Chelmsford Centre, and Miss Clarice Silk of New Bedford; five brothers, Nelson M. Percy, R. S. John, Lincoln and Bruno. Bruno left for Camp Devens as a member of the national army only last Wednesday.
Corp. Silk was last heard from three weeks ago, when he wrote home that he had just recovered fron an illness and had gone back to the front. A telegram announcing the sad news was received by his parents this morning.
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