GERTRUDE BLACK

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Gertrude's life didn't slow down. In the spring of 1917 Gertrude was pregnant again. America had entered World War 1. Arthur, apparently an adventure seeker, joined the United States Army on 11 August and was on a troop ship headed for France on 7 September 1917.[1] Gertrude gave birth to their second daughter, Gertrude E. Mohan, two days before Christmas, 23 December 1917, in her home town of  Limington, York, Maine.[2] It's probable that baby Gertrude did not survive. More research is needed to find a death record, perhaps in York county, Maine.

It seems likely that Gertrude returned to live in Woburn while Arthur was overseas. Arthur's army papers give Gertrude as his next of kin living at 17 James Street, Woburn.

On 3 March 1918, an unidentified newspaper - perhaps a Woburn paper - printed a letter Arthur, nicknamed "Archie," sent to his brother Tom.[3]

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ARCHIE MOHAN TAKES PART IN RAID

In a letter to his brother, Arthur Mohan gives a detailed account of his experiences during the early days at the front, and he declares that though some were at first afraid, they now like the fighting. The letter follows:

Somewhere in France
March 3, 1918
Dear brother Tom

Just a few lines to let you know I am in good health and hope you and the rest of the family are the same. Excuse me for not writing as we were in the first line and did not have a chance to write. I hope you have received that handkerchief and picture of me by now. I also sent a handkerchief to George Driscoll. I couldn't find any of those cards he was asking for.

Well about our tour on the line. It was sure some excitement and believe me my knees were knocking together more than once and there wasn't a man over here that wasn't afraid at first. We pulled off a raid on the Germans and it was one of the most successful raids pulled off in this section in two years. We captured a few German prisoners. We can't tell how many. The Boche tried a few raids on us, but our company was on the job and we beat them back. Course there were a few casualties on both sides, but we sure did give Fritz hell. He generally starts his hell agoing early in the morning but he never caught us asleep. I suppose you will hear about us being on the line before you get this letter. One of the most exciting parts of our tour was stringing barbed wire out in No-Man's land and you sure do have to be quiet at night as noise certainly travels at night. We don't be a great many yards from the Hun's first line when we are stringing wire.

I got your box with the gloves and tobacco when I was in the second line and this sure did come in handy as the weather is quite cold around this part of France. One thing that cheered us up while we were on the line was our mail. We got our mail every day. I got a letter from Red also and I was glad to hear from him as I didn't think he would ever arrive in Woburn. He said they were having a grand time at the house, the night he was there.

Carl Peterson from Montvale Ave. is around this section also. I was talking to Charlie Mahoney and he said he was talking to him. He is with the Field Artillery. We expect to be back in the line again soon, but it won't be so hard on us, as we know what to expect, as we have been there once before. We were fed first rate while we were on the line. That is one of the hardest things in this war, getting the grub up to you. When the Boches see anything that looks like material going up to the line, they start the 4th of July celebrations agoing.

Well, Tom, I will close now and if you don't hear from me as often as you have, you will know I am in the line and it is impossible to write. Good-bye from Archie.

Give my best regards to Ma, Pa, John, Helen and the girls.

Priv. Arthur Mohan
G Co., 101st U. S. Inf.,
American Exp. Forces, France

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It is interesting that Arthur sends his best regards to his parent, brother, and niece who lived with his family from an early age. But he doesn't mention Gertrude by name. When he said "the girls," was he referring to Gertrude and their daughter, or other people?

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[1] "Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 1774-1985," U.S., Army Transport Service, Passenger Lists, 1910-1939, database with images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 30 August 2020); citing National Archives at College Park, Maryland; RG 92, Roll or Box 487; Cpl. Arthur M. Mohan, ship "H.R. Mallory."

[2] Maine State Archives, "Maine, Birth Records, 1715-1922," database with images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 6-10-2020,) Gertrude E. Mohan, 23 December 1917; citing "1908-1922 Vital Records," Roll number 38.

[3] "Archie Mohan Takes Part in Raid," unknown newspaper, undated; digital image of clipping received from Woburn Historical Society, Woburn, Massachusetts by email 9 November 2020.  [requested source information, awaiting reply]