Thomas Bagley
World War I Veteran
By Camille Arbogast
Thomas Bagley was born in County Mayo, Ireland, most likely in either Claremorris or Ballyhaunis, to Denis and Margaret (Moran) Bagley. His birthdate was alternately reported as April 24, 1889, April 10, 1891, December 5, 1891, or September 11 or 15, 1892. He had at least one sibling, Louise Julia, who immigrated to Boston around 1900 and worked as a waitress.
In March 1909, Louise and Thomas Bagley of Claremorris travelled from Queenstown, Ireland, to New York City on the Cunard Line’s RMS Campania. They were both headed for Boston, Thomas to the home of Rose Bagley at 55 Brookline Avenue, and Louise to Molly Bagley at 617 Freemount Street. Thomas was entering the United States for the first time, while Louise was returning, having entered previously.
In 1910, Thomas was living at 131 Park Row in New York City, working as a bartender. On October 7, he filed a Declaration of Intention to become a United States citizen. Two days later, he enlisted in the Army at Fort Slocum on Long Island in New Rochelle, New York, joining for three years. He was assigned to Company A of the 14th Infantry. He was discharged on October 8, 1913, at Fort George Wright in Spokane, Washington. His enlistment record noted he was “retained.”
When Thomas registered for the draft in 1917, he reported that he had previously served as a private in the United States infantry for three and three-quarters years before being dishonorably discharged. It is possible Thomas re-enlisted in 1913 and deserted shortly thereafter; a Thomas Bagley, private, of Company F of the 8th (or 18th) Infantry, was tried for desertion in 1914 and sentenced to 18 months in military prison in Leavenworth, Kansas.
In June 1917, Thomas was living and working in Ayer, Massachusetts, a resident of the Globe Hotel and a laborer for the Wilson and English Construction Company. He enlisted in the Army on July 27, 1917, at Fort Syracuse, located at the New York State Fairgrounds four miles outside of Syracuse, New York. When he enlisted, he reported Louise’s home at 49 Aspinwall Road in Dorchester as his residence, and named her as his next-of-kin. Thomas was assigned to Company F of the 49th Infantry, which had been organized in Syracuse in May 1917. On September 27, Thomas was made a corporal; on April 23, 1918, he was promoted to sergeant. He was transferred to Company H of the 49th Infantry on May 6. Four days later he was made a private. He was again promoted to corporal on June 18.
On July 26, 1918, Thomas sailed from Hoboken, New Jersey, on the S.S. Taormina, arriving in Brest, France, on August 7. Three days later, Thomas was again made a private. On September 12, he was transferred to Company D of the 110th Infantry, 55th Infantry Brigade, 28th Division, among the 416 replacements joining the 110th in mid-September. September 20 through 25, the 110st was in the Neuvilly sector. They participated in the Meuse-Argonne offensive September 26 through October 9. The following month, they served in the Thiaucourt sector, where they remained until the Armistice on November 11, 1918.
After the cessation of hostilities, the 110th moved to Briey, where, as part of the Army of Occupation, they created inventories of and guarded “abandoned supplies, ammunition dumps, pioneer parks, camps, etc. of the German army in its operation on the Verdun front.” In January 1919, the regiment moved to the Colombey-Les-Belle area, then in March to Le Mans, and finally in mid-April to Saint Nazaire. On April 29, 1919, Thomas sailed from Saint Nazaire on the USS Edgar F. Luckenbach. Arriving in Philadelphia on May 11, 1919, he was sent to Camp Dix near Trenton, New Jersey, for demobilization. He was discharged on May 23, 1919.
On July 21, 1919, Thomas re-enlisted in the Army. He remained in the military until March 15, 1935. At one time he was stationed in Marfa, Texas. He may be the Thomas Bagley who in 1930 was stationed at Fort Crook in Bellevue, Nebraska. In 1942, he was living in Los Angeles and reported on his World War II draft registration that he was unemployed. Not much is known about his life after his service during World War I.
Thomas died in Los Angeles on October 11, 1961. A Requiem Mass was celebrated for him at Saint Anthony’s Catholic Church in Long Beach, California. He was buried in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California.
Sources
Military, Compiled Service Records. World War I. Carded Records. Records of the Military Division of the Adjutant General’s Office, Massachusetts National Guard.
“United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940,” database, citing Military Service, NARA microfilm publication (St. Louis: National Archives and Records Administration, 1985), various roll numbers: FamilySearch.org
Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1897-1957. Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, National Archives, Washington, D.C; Ancestry.com
Massachusetts Vital Records, 1840–1911. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, MA; Ancestry.com
Naturalization Records. National Archives at New York City, New York, New York; “Index to Petitions for Naturalizations Filed in Federal, State, and Local Courts in New York City, 1792-1906,” Records of District Courts of the United States, 1685-2009, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, DC; Ancestry.com
Register of Enlistments in the U.S. Army, 1798-1914, Records of the Adjutant General’s Office, 1780s-1917, National Archives, Washington, D.C.; Ancestry.com
World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration; Ancestry.com
“Fort News,” Leavenworth Post (Leavenworth, KS), 11 Sept 1914: 5; Newspapers.com
Returns from U.S. Military Posts, 1800-1916; (National Archives Microfilm Publication), Records of the Adjutant General’s Office, 1780’s-1917, National Archives, Washington, D.C.; Ancestry.com
Goldenberg, Richard. “Central New York mobilized troops at NYS Fairgrounds in WWI,” National Guard. 22 May 2018; nationalguard.mil
Lists of Outgoing & Incoming Passengers, 1917-1938. Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 1774-1985, The National Archives at College Park, MD; Ancestry.com
History of the 110th Infantry, (10th PA) of the 28th Division, USA, 1917-1919. PA: Association of the 110th Infantry, 1920; Archive.org
1930 U.S. Federal Census; Ancestry.com
Selective Service Registration Cards, World War II: Fourth Registration. Records of the Selective Service System, National Archives and Records Administration; Ancestry.com
State of California. California Death Index, 1940-1997. Sacramento, CA, USA: State of California Department of Health Services, Center for Health Statistics; Ancestry.com
“Death Notices,” Independent (Long Beach, CA) 14 October 1961: 19; Newspapers.com
National Cemetery Administration. Nationwide Gravesite Locator; Ancestry.com