Yanks in British Commonwealth Forces in the Great War

[macwilkin]

Outstanding! I never knew that (but then I'm only now delving into that conflict).

Check out "The Lion's Pride: Theodore Roosevelt and His Family in Peace and War" by Edward J. Renehan, Jr. It discusses Kermit's time with the British in Iraq.

I know it's not British Commonwealth, but Alan Seeger, uncle of the folk singer Pete Seeger, was killed with the French Foreign Legion during WWI.

T.

[Sir William]

Check out "The Lion's Pride: Theodore Roosevelt and His Family in Peace and War" by Edward J. Renehan, Jr. It discusses Kermit's time with the British in Iraq.

I know it's not British Commonwealth, but Alan Seeger, uncle of the folk singer Pete Seeger, was killed with the French Foreign Legion during WWI.

T.

Thanks. I'll look for the book.

From what little I've heard there were more Americans in French uniform than British uniform during WWI, and far less than in WWII, but I'm just interested in those who served for Britain in the Great War.

[macwilkin]

Thanks. I'll look for the book.

From what little I've heard there were more Americans in French uniform than British uniform during WWI, and far less than in WWII, but I'm just interested in those who served for Britain in the Great War.

There was a unit in the CEF called the "Toronto Americans" or "American Legion" (97th Battalion CEF), but I don't believe they saw much action. CMH did an article about them years ago. Glengarryhats.com sells a repop of their badge.

And, I would remiss if I didn't mention the Maclean Kilties of America (236th Battalion CEF):

http://www.clanmacleanatlantic.org/his-kilties.html

More men were still needed. Now what? Because of the large number of Maritimers who were working in Maine, and in the "Boston" states, - and the fact that the U.S. had now declared war, the battalion wisely saw the potential of cross border recruiting. The Kilties continued to be tremendously successful and innovative recruiters. The name was promptly changed to the Maclean Kilties of America, and off they went. Pipes and kilts were again to the fore! Clever appeals to local politicians (of Scots or celtic descent), to Scottish Associations, and adroit use of newspapers led to a tremendous response. Within 11 days over 1600 recruits were signed up. Those of American birth were passed over to U.S Recruiters, some were funnelled to other Canadian and British units, and the Kilties themselves ended up with over 500 men. Over 1300 applications were received for enlistment from Boston alone. It was noted that Col. Guthrie did a recruitment speech before a ball game between the Red Sox and the Detroit Tigers, at which time he presented a swagger stick to (amongst others) the famous Ty Cobb. -- from link above

T.

[Morris at Heathfield]

Before the United States entered the war, Americans who took part in the war (on the Allied side) tended to join the French Foreign Legion, the Escadrille Lafayette, or other French squadrons. However, some did fight in the British forces during the war. One of the Escadrille Lafayette pilots, James Norman Hall (later author of Mutiny on the Bounty), pretended to be a Canadian and served as a machine gunner in the Royal Fusiliers before his real nationality was discovered and he returned to the U.S. until the formation of the Escadrille Lafayette. He wrote a book about his experience in the Royal Fusiliers, titled Kitchener's Mob.

Oliver Colin LeBoutillier, who was born in New Jersey to an English father and a Canadian mother, served in No. 9 Squadron of the Royal Naval Air Service, later 209 Squadron of the RAF. He was involved in the air battle in which Manfred von Richthofen (the Red Baron) lost his life, and was one of the few who witnessed the fight and subsequent crash from the air. LeBoutillier was credited with ten aerial victories. After the war he became a barnstormer, skywriter, and stunt pilot, and worked on such movies as Wings and Hell's Angels.

Then there's Frederick Libby, a cowboy from Colorado, living in Canada at the time war broke out, who joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force and was assigned to motor transport duty supporting the Canadian 2nd Division. He later volunteered to join the Royal Flying Corps, and served as an observer in a two-seater aircraft. In this capacity he became the first American ace (less than two months before the French-American Escadrille Lafayette fighter pilot, Raoul Lufbery, became an ace), and ended the war with 14 aerial victories, all as a two-seater observer or pilot. He was the first American to earn the Military Cross, which was awarded by George V. Libby wrote a memoir titled Horses Don't Fly.

I know there were quite a few more Americans who served with the British air service(s), and I'm sure there were even more who served in the regular British Army and Royal Navy, but these are just the names I recall off the top of my head.

EDIT: Just found this link. Note that some pilots who joined the U.S. air service after the U.S. entered the war trained with RAF squadrons, but were ultimately assigned to the 17th or 148th Aero Squadrons which, although under the direction of the RAF, were technically American squadrons. However, some of those pilots served briefly in front-line RAF units before their assignment to the American squadrons.

[Sir William]

Before the United States entered the war, Americans who took part in the war (on the Allied side) tended to join the French Foreign Legion, the Escadrille Lafayette, or other French squadrons. However, some did fight in the British forces during the war. One of the Escadrille Lafayette pilots, James Norman Hall (later author of Mutiny on the Bounty), pretended to be a Canadian and served as a machine gunner in the Royal Fusiliers before his real nationality was discovered and he returned to the U.S. until the formation of the Escadrille Lafayette. He wrote a book about his experience in the Royal Fusiliers, titled Kitchener's Mob.

Oliver Colin LeBoutillier, who was born in New Jersey to an English father and a Canadian mother, served in No. 9 Squadron of the Royal Naval Air Service, later 209 Squadron of the RAF. He was involved in the air battle in which Manfred von Richthofen (the Red Baron) lost his life, and was one of the few who witnessed the fight and subsequent crash from the air. LeBoutillier was credited with ten aerial victories. After the war he became a barnstormer, skywriter, and stunt pilot, and worked on such movies as Wings and Hell's Angels.

Then there's Frederick Libby, a cowboy from Colorado, living in Canada at the time war broke out, who joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force and was assigned to motor transport duty supporting the Canadian 2nd Division. He later volunteered to join the Royal Flying Corps, and served as an observer in a two-seater aircraft. In this capacity he became the first American ace (less than two months before the French-American Escadrille Lafayette fighter pilot, Raoul Lufbery, became an ace), and ended the war with 14 aerial victories, all as a two-seater observer or pilot. Libby wrote a memoir titled Horses Don't Fly.

I know there were quite a few more Americans who served with the British air service(s), and I'm sure there were even more who served in the regular British Army and Royal Navy, but these are just the names I recall off the top of my head.

Excellent. Greatly appreciate your suggestions. I'll look into these individuals a bit more.

[Really a McQueen]

Another gentleman and author who comes to mind is Herbert W. McBride. He had already enjoyed a career in the Indiana National Guard (rising to the rank of Captain), when he enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Forces in 1915, at the age of 32, and served for two years. In 1917, after the United States entered the war, he re-entered the Indiana Guard and spent the next year of the war teaching marksmanship and sniping. His two notable works were The Emma Gees and A Rifleman Went to War.

[Sir William]

These are all really great! Thanks to all.

[bigdad1]

If it hasn't already been noted it should be siad that James Norman Hall was one half of the Nordoff and Hall who wrote The Mutiny on The Bounty. If it has been noted I apologize.

[MuffinMan]

Both my Grandfather and his brotherinlaw enlisted from Boston into the Canadian Blackwatch for WW1. The only story I remember is that they were in the same patrol and when my Uncle Charlie was wounded and evacuated behind the lines, my granfather lost half his gear and food, since everything was split between the two packs. He ended up okay by having all the cigarettes and traded for what he lost. My uncle Charlie had to go cold turkey and didn't have good time of it.

MM

[Riverkilt]

Sorry, your original post mentioned the second world war - threw me off as to which war you were focused on.

My great grandfather broke rounded up Montana wild horses, broke them, and sold them to the British Army - but for the Boar War in S. Africa. Never served, just supplied the horses.