"Lost" WWI Veteran Found For GLVFA Member

Though not technically lost, our fellow member Susan Starrett had long known about her veteran great uncle (her father's uncle) having served, died and being buried somewhere in France during World War I.  But given that his passing was in 1918, the 105+ years since then had blurred the knowledge of where he was actually interned and other specifics.  Susan had a few mementos including an old, faded 2x3 black and white photo of his gravestone, a bracelet, and a note written by her mother that mentioned "Bony, France", Susan safely kept the few mementos in a small box, which for the most part, was all she knew of her great uncle who had served in World War I, aside from the fact he had died and was buried somewhere in France.   No date, no location, just a small, faded picture of a cross-shaped headstone.  This is often the case for many of us who have heard of a relative who served in long ago wars. 

 With a hand-written note on the back of the picture that read "Bony", online research helped to rediscover Susan's great uncle "Harry" and amazingly, more details regarding his date of death, his military rank and unit assignment, specific cemetery in France along with the exact plot location was discovered for her.  Captain Harry C. Starrett, who originally entered military service from Brooklyn, New York, is located in Somme American Cemetery, Plot B Row 6 Grave 6, approx. 36 miles northeast of Paris, France.  More amazingly, a certificate of honor for his service in France was found via the Somme online site.  Below is an image of Captain Harry C. Starrett and his certificate:

And an even more incredible discovery was the fact that Captain Starrett served, and survived, the hardships of the war in France but succumbed to the Spanish Flu only 2 days after the official end of the war.  He was awarded the Victory Medal for his service, as shown here: ​

The World War I Somme American Cemetery and Memorial in France is sited on a gentle slope typical of the open, rolling Picardie countryside. The 14.3-acre cemetery contains the graves of 1,844 of our military dead. Most lost their lives while serving in American units attached to British armies, or in operations near Cantigny. The headstones, set in regular rows, are separated into four plots by paths that intersect at the flagpole near the top of the slope. The longer axis leads to the chapel at the eastern end of the cemetery. ​

Below is a You Tube video that highlights Somme American Cemetery where Captain Starrett is resting in peace alongside his fellow "Doughboys" that served in "The Great War" (​28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918)