Edward B Sargent died of wounds on this day in 1918
Edward Sargent was born 6 October 1890, the son of Florence Sargent.
According to his completed Jewish Servicemen Questionnaire Edward had been educated at public schools and high schools and was an 'efficiency engineer before the war'. He worked in the iron and steel business with F J Myers for 9 years before the war and lived at home- 75th W, 715th Street, NY 71st. He was also a pre-war member of the 71st New York Infantry and served with the regiment along the Mexican border.
He enlisted in Co. B 6 of the 71st in May 1917 and subsequently changed to 105 Infantry 27th Division.
After training at Camp Wadsworth, South Carolina with his regiment (now designated 105th Infantry Regiment), Edward shipped out for France aboard the U.S.S. President Grant on 17 May 1918.
Upon arriving in France, the 105th Infantry, along with the other regiments of the 27th Division, began intensive combat training under British supervision. On 30 June the 27th Division was ordered to move to the Ypres salient in Belgium.
On 5 July in the Dickebusch Lheake and Scherpenberg Sector, Marne, the 27th Division, which had been assigned to the British XIX Corps, began to relieve the French 71st Division.
On 9 July the division organised to defend a portion of the East Poperinghe Line in the Dickebusch Lake area.
Company L, 3rd Bn 105th Infantry entered front line service on 26 July 1918 along the East Poperingle Line in support of the British 16th Brigade.
Between 27 July and 1 August the 27th Division diary reported that the 105th Infantry was under steady enemy artillery fire and harassing aircraft.
During Company L’s first turn in the trenches Captain Charles H Scott noted Edward’s energy, efficiency, and bravery.
On the evening of 1 August Edward unflinchingly stood gas sentry outside the company headquarters dugout while exposed to terrific enemy artillery and machine-gun bombardment.
During the evening of 2 August the 3rd Bn 105th Infantry made preparations for relief by the 9th Norfolk Regiment. On 3 August the battalion moved to rest billets at Trappist Farm. Captain Scott recorded that while at Trappist Farm he and his soldiers were still subject to occasional enemy bombing raids and long range artillery fire.
Captain Scott recounts that:
"(o)ne night ….word was brought that Private Sargent had been wounded; Lieutenants Carlin and Scott hurried over to the Aid Station nearby but he had been removed to a hospital before they arrived; later he died from his wound".
Private Edward B Sargent had been hit in the abdomen by a bullet and was evacuated to the British Hospital at Esquelbecq. He died of his wounds on August 8, 1918 and was initially buried in Esquelbecq Military Cemetery, France. Post-war Edward’s remains were reinterred in the Somme American Cemetery.
Pvt Edward B Sargent, 3rd Bn, 105th Infantry Regiment