Biography of Anders Laycock

Written By

Donald Laycock, Grand Nephew

The Dash

Oct. 10, 1895—July 15, 1918

I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend. He referred to the dates on the tombstone from the beginning… to the end.

He noted that first came the date of birth and spoke of the following date with tears, but he said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time they spent alive on earth and now only those who loved them know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own, the cars… the house… the cash. What matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard; are there things you’d like to change? For you never know how much time is left that still can be rearranged.

To be less quick to anger and show appreciation more and love the people in our lives like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile… remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.

So when your eulogy is being read, with your life’s actions to rehash, would you be proud of the things they say about how you lived your dash?

The poem by Linda Ellis

Foreword

I’m writing this so as to document the dash on his headstone, which represents his short life of 22 years and 9 months.

I want to explain his life before joining the Alabama Militia and then explain the events leading up to and after his death in France.

Who was Uncle Anders? For me his life started when I asked my father Charles Anders Laycock why he was named Anders? Dad only said he was named for his uncle who was killed in the war. No other explanation was given. It was many years later that my Uncle Bill sent me a newspaper clipping from the Tuscaloosa News and said that I might be interested in reading. The story explained that a Boy Scout had taken on a project to earn a badge of merit. He was going to try and relocate all the trees and plaques that had been planted along University Blvd. 1920-1921 in memory of Tuscaloosa natives who died in WW 1. It listed all of the 45 men / boys. After reading the article and talking to Uncle Bill on the phone I decided I wanted to do something that would honor my Uncle Anders and to tell his story since he never had any children who could have done it.

After my retirement in January 2005 we visited Tuscaloosa on several occasions and spent time talking and reviewing information and pictures saved by family members, William “Bill” Laycock, Doris Laycock Turner and Sarah Chism Miller.

Uncle Bill and Aunt Doris had a few recollections of stories told about Uncle Anders. However on one of our visits Cousin Sarah was dividing up some of Second Great Grandfather John Laycock and Great Grandfather Arthur Laycock belongings. Grand Dad Arthur had been given a lot of papers from Grandfather John. I told Sarah and Uncle Bill that I really wanted as many of the papers on Laycock history. I was successful because the others relatives present picked the chairs and tables etc. They would have been nice to have but I felt the information in the letters and documents would be more valuable.

From reading those papers and newspaper articles and from using the reference book “Americans All, The Rainbow at War, 42nd US Infantry Division” I have been able to write this story.

The story really begins back in the 1600’s in Yorkshire, England where the Laycock Family originated. That’s another story we want to write and tell sometime.

Our Second Great Grandfather John Laycock and wife Martha and 11 other family members left Yorkshire, England in 1892 and came to Lawrence, Massachusetts, in 1893.

My cousin Donna Peters has researched and has written a very interesting story about this journey.

John Laycock’s sixth son Arthur Laycock moved to Northport, Alabama, and married an Alabama girl named Sara Francis Goins from Cottondale, Alabama, on Jan 18, 1888.

In 1889 they had their first son John Westley. On October 8, 1895 Anders their forth son was born in Northport, Alabama.

Anders received his education in Northport schools and at the Alabama Prep School. Although I haven’t found any information on the Prep School itself I have learned that there was a breakdown in the education system to prepare the students for college. University of Alabama was up and running by then.

Some of his teachers listed in Army Biographical Memoranda, November. 17, 1921 that Aunt Lois filled out were Alice Walker, L. Prickett, Kate Burks and John Wheeler. He was most likely in lower school from 1900-1905. Pep school from 1905-1910.

His occupation is listed as a carpenter which would be consistent with the occupation of his older brother Lennie who was my grandfather and was a carpenter. Also Great Granddad Arthur owned a construction company and was actively involved in building commercial buildings in the area at this time.

Anders was a man of faith and was a member of the Northport Methodist Episcopal Church of Northport, Alabama.

Anders never married but he had fallen in love with Annie McGuire. Anders had made an agreement with his brother Luther Maxwell if he didn’t come back from the war for him to marry her. This was a common agreement at the time. Max as he was called returned from the war and married Annie as promised. We know from letters written to Aunt Ruth, Anders sister that she was deeply in love with Anders. She died 2 years after her marriage to Max. She most likely died of a broken heart.

This story and many more are told in The Laycock Legacy book which is being written by our cousin Donna Peters.

Military Service

Anders enlisted in the 1st Alabama Calvary Company C organized by Captain Will Hayes. His enlistment date was September 4, 1916. It was noted that he was a member of the Warrior Guards. The 1st Alabama Calvary was sent to San Antonio, Texas and then to Nogales, Arizona in Dec. 1916.

Alabama National Guard units, which had served in a military effort in Mexico against Francisco "Pancho" Villa's rebellion from October 1916 to April 1917, returned just in time to be mobilized for the European war. It shows he was in San Antonio and Arizona from Dec. 1916 to March 1917. See Aunt Lois notes.

Per the reference book pg. 39 the 4th Alabama N.G. Infantry became the 167th US Infantry. It was brought up to strength by transfers from the 1st Alabama Calvary and the 1st and 2nd Alabama NG Infantry.

Then on August 15, 1917 it was designated the 167th Infantry, part of the 84th Brigade, 42nd Division. Better known as the Rainbow Division. Colonel William P. Screws was the commander.

The 1st Alabama Calvary were called back from New Mexico around March 1917 and sent to Montgomery, Alabama / Shelby County. There he served as an interior guard at an L&N Railroad (Louisville & Nashville Railroad) bridge.

The L&N had a main line that ran from Nashville to Pensacola, Florida. It crossed the Coosa River north of town. Most likely that is where this picture was taken.

Anders was listed on page 39 of the roster papers as a private in Company L when they left Alabama for Camp Mills on Long Island NY. In his May 18, 1918 letter home he was in Company S. 167th WS Inf. He was listed as a corporal on his death papers. I have no information about Company S.

As a point of interest Leon T. Chism was in the 167th also. Leon was in the Medical Corps and listed as a private. Leon had married my Great Aunt Ruth Laycock and is the father of Sarah Chism Miller. He returned from the war.

The 42nd (Rainbow) Division was activated in August 1917 and was assembled at Camp Mills in Long Island New York. Its four infantry regiments were respectively 165th (formerly New York’s 69th); 166th (formerly Ohio’s 4th); 167th (formerly Alabama’s 4th); and 168th (formerly Iowa’s 3rd). War strength of 27,000 was present when the Division paraded for Secretary of War Baker on September 26, 1917. The Division arrived in France in November and December of 1917 and trained in Eastern France until mid-February 1918.

At Camp Mills Anders worked at barrack duties from July 1917 to November 1, 1917 when he left New York for France possibility aboard the troop ship “Agamemnon” which was had been converted from a captured German ship to a troop transport. Per Aunt Lois notes he arrived in France November 25, 1917. The reference books show it took 3 weeks to cross the Atlantic. It appears there were 4 convoys leaving at different times. This was due to lack of ships and possible U Boat attacks. Uncle Anders appears to have been on the third convoy that left New York November 3, 1917 and arrived in France November 25, 1917 after having stopped in Liverpool and Southampton England. There were no submarine attacks on his convoy.

From this point on the story has been deduced from studying this ledger, and a roster and as well as from reading the “Americans All, The Rainbow at War, 42nd US Infantry Division” and other materials.

Once in France, the men began another round of training. Several men noted hardships in letters and diaries, including snowy weather, sleeping in hay lofts, and eating cold meals. Intensive training continued until late February 1918, when the first elements of the 167th entered the front-line trenches, beginning nine months of active participation in the war that included eight battles in the 1918 campaigns in Champagne-Marne, Aisne-Marne, Meuse-Argonne, St. Mihiel, Lorraine, and Champagne. Notably, the regiment helped turn back Germany's last-ditch Spring Offensive during the Second Battle of the Marne July 15, 1918.

Battle of the Champagne

The 1918 Ludendorff Offensive or “Peace Assault” was a series of German attacks along the Western Front, beginning in March 1918. This offensive marked the deepest advances by either side since 1914. The Germans had realized that their only remaining chance of victory was to defeat the Allies before the overwhelming resources of the United States could be fully deployed. They also had the temporary advantage in numbers as a result of nearly 50 divisions freed up by the Russian surrender. By the summer of 1918 they had driven a large salient into the French lines between Reims and Belleau Wood and had reached Chateau Thierry on the Marne, only 40 miles from Paris

In late June 1918 the Rainbow Division traveled by train to the Champagne-Marne region and became a part of the French Fourth Army, led by General Henri Gouraud.

The French front in this area extended from the border of Reims eastward to the Argonne Forest, a distance of about 40 miles.

At 4:20 am wave upon wave of German troops broke through to their first objective, the French-American front lines of the day before, but the trenches by then were deserted! While the Germans hesitated, the Allied light artillery poured a deadly fire into the famous Prussian Guard. Seven times they attacked the front of the Rainbow infantry and the French divisions, but the wall remained impregnable.

The German losses were enormous and their advance soon came to a standstill. The decisive Battle of Champagne ended with heavy casualties but with victory for the Allies. This is the battle that Uncle Anders died in, along with five other Rainbow soldiers. From reading other accounts of the battle, it appears the shelling prior to the attack was so heavy that squads got lost in the smoke. The only way they could navigate was by compass. I would deduce that his squad took a direct hit by a large German canon. In the book there were several firsthand accounts told by survivors of this artillery barrage. In the notes by Aunt Lois she states that Anders and the other 5 men were killed instantly.

To this day the Foundation holds a memorial service called the Champagne Hour to commemorate this famous battle and the sacrifices that have been made in all Rainbow actions.

As we all know there was not much support for this war or as a matter of fact for any war. Americans for the most part want to be left alone, but if you “poke the lion” it will fight. And fight back is what we did one million strong and with the might of our nation behind us. We did not go “over there” to fill ranks we went as an army to end the war that had gone on since 1914. Blackjack Pershing was the right man for the job but the English and French had their doubts. He and his staff used the time from December 1917 till the spring of 1918 to study and learn from the mistakes made by the other nations. The major difference was his belief was that to win it had to be an open field war not a trench war. By November 11, 1918 he had proven he was correct.

The 42nd was considered by US high command to be a “shock division”. It was the only division that assisted in the disastrous defeat of the Germans offensive of July 15-16, 1918.

It was on the first day of this battle, near Souain, France that Uncle Anders died. The German high command stated that the 42nd “is in splendid fighting condition and is counted among the best American divisions”

Captain Joseph Esslinger was Commander of L Company from mobilization up to the Champagne when he was given Command of 3rd Battalion. He returned to L Company for the battle at Croix Rouge Farm, where he was wounded on July 26, 1918. Command of L Company then passed to First Lieutenant Maurice W. Howe. He was most likely Anders commander. I can’t find any info on Company S.

In Anders last letter home, he mentions Leon Chism. Leon was in the 167th Medical Corps and listed as a private. Leon had married my Great Aunt Ruth Laycock and is the father of Sarah Chism Miller. He returned from the war.

In World War I, the American public fought plans to bury fallen soldiers abroad, giving rise to a tradition that is now sacred. Letters and telegrams arrived in Washington asking when the soldiers’ remains would be shipped home. Grand funerals were planned. No matter that the men had died an ocean away or that the war was still going on. Bring them home. This was a refrain Pershing and the military establishment would hear for the rest of the war, indeed, for years afterward. History had given the American people definite ideas about what to do with the war dead. And they weren’t to be denied. The fallen deserved the highest glory because they had been citizen-soldiers fighting to preserve a great nation.

In late 1920, the French finally yielded to American pressure and lifted their ban on the return of bodies. The United States spent the next two years and more than $30 million—$400 million in today’s dollars—recovering its dead. The remains of 46,000 soldiers were returned to the States at their families’ request.

On Sept. 20 1921 Uncle Anders body left Antwerp, Belgium bound for Hoboken, New Jersey aboard the USAT Weaton. On the manifest he was listed as Cpl. Laycock #98144, Co. L 167th Inf. The manifest is below.

Jack Pershing at a ceremony on the Hoboken docks spoke of men who deserved great glory because they had fought for freedom and “They gave all,”

Refer to attached newspaper article for information of when he was actually buried at Williamson Cemetery in Northport, Alabama.

In Anders’ last letter home, he mentions Leon Chism, fiancé of his sister, Ruth Laycock. Leon T. Chism was in the 167th Medical Corps as a private. After returning home from the war, Leon had married my Great Aunt Ruth Laycock.

As planned, his brother Max would marry Miss Annie Sue McGuire in his stead should he not return home from the war. As a family, the Laycock’s suffered the loss of a son, brother, brother-in-law and husband for a young lady that had already become a part of their family. Today, Annie rests in a cemetery near her home in Pelham, Alabama while Anders rests next to the graves of his mother and father in Williamson Cemetery in Northport.

Rainbow Division Patch.jpg

Laycock, Anders