Back to the front - Death Valley

Solomon Wraight, my Great Uncle, was serving as a private with the Machine Gun Company of the 315th Infantry Regiment of the United States Army. After taking part in the Meuse-Argonne offensive he had been deployed in the defensive Troyon sector.

Solomon Wraight 315th Infantry USA

Solomon had emigrated to America in August 1915 and made a new home in Philadelphia, working as a carpenter and after joining the army in 1917 he had been in France since August 1918.

On the 28th October 1918 Solomon’s regiment received orders to move back up to the front in the Grand Montagne sector.

The Official History of the 315th Infantry United States Army describes the conditions for the troops.

The evening of the 28th we again started out and hiked to the Forges Woods. About 5pm October 29th we set out on a heart-breaking march, which lasted until after day break on the 30th, at which time we arrived in the Grande Montagne Sector, recently captured from the Boche.

In that sector, we relieved the 29th Division on the site known as Death Valley, and we were to see the name justified very shortly. The carts were unloaded and sent back to Brabant. The first Platoon was on the right of our sector, the Second Platoon in the center, and the Third on the left. 

We remained there until the 8th, simply holding on, while the enemy let us have everything he had in the way of shells and bullets. The great difficulty was in getting up rations, as everything had to be brought across Death Valley, and the Germans bombarded this place continuously and mercilessly. All this time it rained incessantly, and the mud was terrible.

Taking the Oath of Allegiance

Solomon Charles Wraight, my Great Uncle, had travelled to America in August 1915, landing at New York on 15th August after a ten day crossing from Liverpool on board the White Star Liner SS New York. After being processed through Immigration at Ellis Island he moved onto Philadelphia where he found work with Wilkins & Co. as a carpenter and joiner. 

Solomon Charles Wraight (Circa 1910)

On the 6^th May 1917, almost two years after emigrating from England, Solomon became a naturalised citizen of America.

He was living at 150 K 12^th Street Philadelphia and his petition for naturalisation to become an American citizen was heard at the US District Court for the district of Maryland, his two witnesses were Anthony B. Dougherty and Gabriel J. Wilson. His petition was successful and he took the oath of allegiance at the same time.

The Oath of allegiance as it currently stands

"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God."

Solomon's younger brother Bill had just joined the Royal Navy Air Service and both like their father (also called Solomon) were carpenters and joiners by trade. At that time Bill was stationed at Eastbourne.

America Bound

On August 7th 1915, my Great Uncle, Solomon Charles Wraight, boarded the White Star Liner S.S. New York in Liverpool bound for New York, USA.

Solomon Charles Wraight Circa 1910

Solomon Charles Wraight was born on the 22^nd May 1895 in Lambeth, Surrey. He was the eldest son of Solomon (Solly) and Alice Wraight (Nee Uden) and had three sisters Alice (born 1897), Elsie (born 1903) and Ivy (born 10 Oct 1904) and three brothers William (AKA Bill born 1899), Arthur (Born 1907) and Frederick (Fred Born 1911).

Solomon and William were at school together in 1908 at the Gideon Road School, Wandsworth and by 1911 the family were living at 14 Eland Road, Lavender Hill, Battersea. Solomon Charles aged 15 was now an apprentice Joiner. His father Solly being a Builders Joiner (Shop Foreman). Alice, William, Elsie and Ivy were all attending school. His younger sister Alice died in 1911 aged 14. 

The Wraight Family

The passenger list for The S.S.New York lists Solomon Charles as 20 years of age and a carpenter. Solomon travelled 3^rd Class paying the fare himself and arrived at Ellis Island on the 15^th August 1915. 

SS New York

His final destination being Philadelphia, where he was due to join the Carpenters Union in Philadelphia. Solomon was 5Ft 7 inches, fair complexion with brown hair and brown eyes and no distinguishing marks. His health was good and he was able to read and work.

His uncle, Albert Uden, who had emigrated to Canada in 1907, had joined the 4^th Field Company, Canadian Engineers, whose regiment had recently made the opposite journey to Solomon across the Atlantic arriving in England on 29^th April 1915. (the records are not currently available to confirm if Albert was among their number). For Solomon though a new life awaited in America.