ARTHUR MICHAEL MOHAN

Page 2 of 5

By June, both had been revealed to be minors and were discharged from the British Army. They were given money by the US Embassy in London for return passage to the United States. 

How did they manage to join given they were minors? Archie told some fibs on the British army enlistment records that are included in the pension records file. He said he was a British subject who had been born in Canada, that he was 20 years, his middle name was James instead of Michael, and his occupation was seaman. This last was only a sort of lie...he may have been considered a seaman on the trip over with the horses, but before that he was a currier like his father.

This trip back home provides a description of Archie and a photo. Archie and Harold needed passports and so reported to the American Embassy in London. On this document he gives his correct date of birth, 15 September 1896, and birthplace of Stoneham, Massachusetts. He signed his name as Arthur James Mohan. His physical description: 18 years, 5 feet 9 inches, low forehead, blue eyes, irregular nose, medium mouth, round chin, dark hair, dark complexion and round face.[1]

Harold and Arthur are listed on the passenger list on the SS St. Louis sailing from Liverpool to New York. The ship left 26 June 1915 and arrived in New York 5 July 1915.[2]

The story of their adventure was apparently of interest to the citizens of Woburn because four days after their arrival back from England, the Boston Globe printed an article entitled "Were Not Urged to Enlist, They Say."[3]

WERE NOT URGED TO ENLIST, THEY SAY

Mohan and Hennelly Home,
After 91 Days’ Service.
Woburn Minors Joined British Army
In Spirit of Adventure

WOBURN, July 8---Archie Mohan and Harold Hennelly, two Woburn minors who after making a voyage to Europe with a cargo of horses enlisted in the British Army and were released through the intervention of the State Department after serving 91 days, arrived home yesterday.

They say that they were not urged is enlist. The steamship company, according to their statement, declined to give them free passage home after the horses were landed, and they were left “broke.”

Having had some experience in the Massachusetts Militia as members of Co. G, 5th Regiment, they enlisted in a spirit of adventure. They were sent to the recruiting camp at Dover, where they remained until the order of release was posted. It came as a surprise to them, they said. They were assigned to Co. 2, Royal Fusileers, they say, and were well treated. The food they described as being about what the Massachusetts militiamen get when in camp or on maneuvers.

Enthusiasm wore off in a short time and the chance to return to home and friends was hailed with joy by both.

The youths report that Samuel Armstrong, also of Woburn, who was a sergeant in Co G. 5th Regiment, is serving as a corporal in the Royal Fusileers at the recruiting camp at Dover. They say he is eager to get to the front.

#####

How was it discovered they were minors? The article says they "were released through the intervention of the State Department after serving 91 days." Perhaps Archie or Harold's father report them missing, knowing they had talked about going on this adventure.

Arthur returned to Woburn about the 5th of July, 1915. Whether they were acquainted  before or soon after his adventure in the British army, Arthur met Gertrude Frances Black, a young girl from Maine. She became pregnant about a month after his return. Arthur was 19 and Gertrude was 17. They married on 6 February 1916 in the Catholic church in Woburn.[4] Their first child, Mary Elizabeth, was born on 24 May 1916 in Woburn.[5] By August, Mary was very ill and Gertrude took her to the Floating Hospital for Children to see a doctor. Mary died onboard the ship on 26 August of acute intestinal indigestion.[6] The doctor was P. W. Emerson, one of the leading physicians on the Floating Hospital. Mary was buried on 28 August 1916 at Calvary cemetery in Woburn.[7] (See more information about the Floating Hospital for Children at the end of this article.)

In March or April of 1917, Gertrude became pregnant again. On 23 December 1917, she gave birth to their second daughter, Gertrude E. Mohan.[8] She went back to her hometown of Limington, Maine, to give birth. This may have been because Arthur enlisted in the Army on 11 August. He departed for France on the ship H R Mallory on 7 September 1917.[9] Gertrude was listed as next of kin with their address of 17 James Street in Woburn. It is likely she returned to Woburn to live after baby Gertrude was born. It is probable that the baby didn't live past infancy. More research needs to be done to determine whether this is true or not.

Go to page 1   Go to Page 3   Go to Page 4   Go to Page 5  

[1] Department of State, Emergency Passport Applications: Great Britain, vol 148,  #5928,  25 June 1915, Arthur James Mohan, images; Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : 29 Aug 2020), Emergency Passport Application, 1906-1925; citing NARA RG 59. [The name on this document is Arthur James Mohan, not Arthur Michael Mohan. Arthur's birth record and other records give his middle name as Michael. Additional records place him in England at this time. His age and place of birth are the same as Arthur Michael Mohan.]

[2] U.S. Department of Labor, Immigration Service, Passenger List, "List of U. S. Citizens", 5 July 1915, database with images; Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 30 August 2020) Arthur M. Mohan; citing NARA Microfilm Serial T715, 1897-1957.

[3] "Were Not Urged To Enlist, They Say," The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts), 9 July 1915, p 6, col 8, Archie Mohan; Newspapers (Newspapers.com : accessed 3 Aug 2020). [Article is about Archie Mohan and Harold Hennelly and their adventure to join the British army in 1915.

[4] Massachusetts State Archives, "Massachusetts State Vital Records, 1841-1920," database with images, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 7 June 2020), entry for Arthur Mohan and Gertrude Francis Black, 6 February 1896, certificate #11, page 1; citing Massachusetts State Archives, Boston.

[5] Massachusetts State Archives, "Massachusetts State Vital Records, 1841-1920," database with images; American Ancestors (www.americanancestor.org : accessed 14 Aug 2020), birth entry for Mary Elizabeth Mohan, 24 May 1916, vol 635, p 969, no. 142.

[6] Massachusetts State Archives, "Massachusetts State Vital Records, 1841-1920," database with images; FamilySearch (www.familiysearch.org : accessed 14 Aug 2020), death record entry for Mary E. Mohan, 28 Aug 1916, vol 2, p 191, no. 8484.

[7] Massachusetts State Archives, "Massachusetts State Vital Records, 1841-1920," database with images; FamilySearch (www.familiysearch.org : accessed 14 Aug 2020), death record entry for Mary E. Mohan, 28 Aug 1916, vol 2, p 191, no. 8484.

[8] 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.

[9] "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."