Charles Wesley Darrow

Submitted by: Tracy Tomaselli {historian}

Charles Wesley Darrow born around 1898. Charles Darrow served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1917.

Story of Service

Charles Wesley Darrow was born on 6 July 1898 in the Yalesville section of Wallingford, CT. He was the son of Nelson Edward Darrow and Florence Estella Calhoun. Charles was raised by his grandmother (Alice Rebina Spencer) and step-grandfather (Franklin Pierce Calhoun) who resided on Whitfield Street, Guilford, CT.

Charles Darrow joined Company D, 2nd Infantry Regiment, National Guard, on 19 June 1916 in New Haven, CT, at the age of 17, and served patrolling the Mexican border against raids. (service #64386)

The Connecticut 1st and 2nd Infantry Regiments, having been federalized on 28 March 1917 to serve in the First World War, were combined into one Regiment to form the 102nd Inf. Regt. (CTANG). Training with this regiment for Charles began at Camp Yale on 6 July 1917. The camp was located in the vicinity of the Yale Bowl.

During this time, Charles, who was a plumber at the Acme Wire Mills in New Haven, CT, married Katherine O'Connor (29 July 1917) in New Haven, CT. Katherine (O'Connor) Darrow had an affair which led Charles to tell his uncle, Albert F. Calhoun, that he was "not coming back from France and didn't want to live."

Training at Camp Yale lasted until 7 September 1917 and on 9 September 1917. Charles, a private in Company D, 102nd Regiment, 26th “Yankee” Division, boarded the Adriatic and departed from Hoboken, NJ, which arrived at Liverpool, England, on 23 September 1917. From Liverpool, the regiment proceeded to Havre, France where further training took place at Landreville, France. Charles first saw action in late January 1918, served with the regiment at Chemin des Dames, and was killed at the Battle of Seicheprey on 20 April 1918, at the age of 19.

He was awarded the Croix de Guerre for having distinguished himself through an act of heroism involving combat with the enemy.

Charles W. Darrow, the first man from Guilford, Connecticut, to be killed in WWI, was buried in St. Mihiel American Cemetery, Thiaucourt, France (Plot C, Row 5, Grave 25). A cemetery stone for Charles Darrow is also located in Alder Brook Cemetery, Guilford, CT. He is honored on the WWI monument, Guilford, CT.

The American Legion Post #48, Guilford, CT, chartered on 9 October 1919, was named in his honor.