Trinity and World War I, Part 8: Under Other Flags

Donald M. Bishop ’67

Alum Contributor

During the First World War, some Trinity alumni were among the Americans who served in other Allied militaries.

The National World War I Museum and Memorial summed up their mixed motives: “They volunteered for adventure. They volunteered to see the world, even one torn by war. They volunteered for the better good. They volunteered because their friends did. They volunteered because they wanted to make a difference.”

Citizens of other nations could serve in the French Foreign Legion, as did Bartlett Brooke Bonnell ’12. As related in part one of this series, he left Wall Street for the Legion soon after the outbreak of war. Fighting in the Champagne region in early 1915, he suffered a severe leg wound. Using two abandoned rifles as crutches, he reached a dressing post where his leg was amputated.  France recognized his valor by awarding him the Médaille Militaire and the Croix de Guerre.

There’s no firm overall count of Americans who served in the British forces, but they included Charles Hurd Howell ’12, James Patrick Murray ’14, Rufus Colfax Phillips ’18 and Sidney Herman Whipple ’20—all in the Royal Flying Corps (a subsequent article in this series will highlight these aviators).

As related in part one, Robert Glenney ’04 left Trinity before graduation for railroad work in South Africa. When the war began, he enlisted in the 5th Regiment of the South African Infantry Brigade. Sergeant Glenney died of wounds in the Battle of the Menin Road, part of the Third Battle of Ypres, on Sept. 23, 1917. Nearly half the South Africans in the battle were killed, wounded or missing. He is buried at the Nine Elms British Cemetery in Belgium.

And Trinity alumni were among the 35,000 Americans who wore Canadian uniforms. Canada had begun its mobilization and deployment of soldiers in 1914, while the U.S. only began in 1917.  This meant that an eager American could reach the fighting more quickly in a Canadian unit.

Charles Edward Gostenhofer ’05 was a British citizen who went to Canada to enlist in May of 1917.  He was sent to France as a member of the 4th Field Artillery Brigade of the Canadian 4th Division.  In August of 1918, Gunner Gostenhofer was wounded in action during the Battle of Amiens—a successful combined arms attack involving Canadian artillery, infantry, tanks, cavalry, armored cars and tactical airpower—near Damery, France.  He returned to Canada and the U.S. in 1919.

Hobart James “Hobe” Roberts ’14 was a sales manager in Brooklyn when he travelled to Canada to enlist in October of 1917.  Initially assigned to a training cadre as an instructor, he was promoted to Sergeant, but he agreed to serve as a private so he could join the 102nd Canadian Battalion in France.  He was initially reported dead, but he was only wounded on Sept. 18, 1918, near Neuville-Vitasse, France.

Richard Lush Maxon ’16 was living in Pittsburgh, but traveled to Ontario to join the Canadian Army at the beginning of 1918.  He served in France with the 18th Battalion (Western Ontario), Canadian Infantry. In September of 1918 he was wounded in the campaign to break the Hindenburg Line, and he felt its effects for many years while working with his brother in Michigan real estate.

Haller’s Army

Many members of Polish communities in the U.S., Canada and Europe hoped to form “Polonia” units that would join the war in France—and afterwards support an independent Poland.  The Allies at first resisted a separate Polish force, but by 1917 Polish soldiers were training in Canada, funded by France. Jan Rucinski ’17 was one.

These diaspora Polish soldiers (the “Blue Army” or “Haller’s Army,” named for its commander) fought in northeast France—the Champagne sector and the Vosges mountains— during the war. Rucinski was an artillery lieutenant who served in France.

“The Great War” was a world war, pitting the Central Powers against the Allies. Some Trinity men served on the Western Front under the flags of other nations, but all threw their weight on the scales with the Allies.

This article is the eighth part of an ongoing series, with new installments releasing on Sundays. For part seven, click here. For part nine, click here.