William John Clegg

Submitted by: Robert Clegg 

William John Clegg served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known 1917-1919.

 

CORPORAL WILLIAM JOHN CLEGG
BATTERY D, 53RD ARTILLERY (RAILROAD)
COAST ATILLERY CORPS, US ARMY
BALEYCOURT WOODS, NIXEVILLE,
MEUSE, FRANCE 1918-1919

William John Clegg was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1888. In 1893, his father inherited Tanmacnally Farm, in County Monaghan, Ireland; so the family moved back to Ireland. At age 23 (1911), William return to the United States. 

In 1917 he was inducted into the US Army, and assigned to Battery D, 53rd Artillery (Railroad). He was promoted to corporal in May, 1918, and deployed to France in August, 1918.

He served in the Meuse Argonne Offensive in the area of Baleycourt Woods, Nixeville, Meuse (5 kilometers southwest of Verdun).

 

Battery D, commanded by Major G.F. Humbert, consisted of one French 340mm gun mounted on a railroad flat car. Battery D targets included two German Army Corps Headquarters some 30 kilometers away. Other targets were German railway and troop movement centers. Such at least is the report of an airplane observer working liaison with the gunners. The observer reported four clean hits on the distant target. The battery thus contributed to the battles of the Meuse Argonne.

 While serving in France, Corporal Clegg underwent a gas attack, and sustaining an injury was awarded a wound chevron. He returned to the United States in March, 1919, and was discharged.