45th Artillery, CAC

The 49th Artillery Regiment was organized in July of 1918 at Camp Eustis, Virginia, and was under the command of Colonel Le Vert Coleman. In September the regiment was moved to Camp Stuart Virginia, prior to sailing. When sailing orders came the moved to Port of Embarkation, Newport News, Virginia in October of 1918. The regiment sailed to France on October 5, 1918 aboard the French transport SS Lutetia. The 38th Artillery Brigade, CAC, and the 49th Artillery CAC sailed together aboard the SS Lutetia.

Once in France the 49th Artillery went to O&T Center No. 4 (Operations and Training), Angers France. The 49th along with the 48th and 50th Regiments made up the 38th Artillery Brigade. The training of the regiment had not yet commenced when the war ended. If the regiment would have been trained they were to be assigned to the 8" American Howitzer. These were of a British blueprint but assembled by the Midvale Steel Company. The regiment returned to the States in March of 1919. At Pauillac, France on March 2, the 49th Artillery, CAC Along with the 72nd Artillery, CAC boarded the USS Panaman, and headed back across the Atlantic. On March 13, the Panaman reached New York and the 49th Artillery went ashore going to Camp Merritt, New Jersey. The 49th Regiment was demobilized at Camp Grant, Illinois in March 1919.

The Field and Staff of the 49th Artillery, CAC upon the return aboard the USS Panaman on March 2, 1919 from Pauillac, France were:
Lt. Colonel Monte J. Hickok, in command
Major Albert S. Bullens
Major Frank E. Cummings
1st Lt. Robert H. Dickson
1st Lt. Charles H. Cuppert
2nd Lt. Frank T. Springmeyer, Jr.

I compiled this info on the 49th Regiment after a request for information from Blake Spillers who was researching his grandfather PFC C. E. Spillers who was a member of the 49th Regiment.

Other menbers of the 49th Artillery:

Captain Samuel H. Bradbury, Jr.

Entered service from New Jersey. Died October 17, 1918. Buried Plot C, Row 18, Grave 12 Oise-Asine American Cemetery, Fere-en-Tardenois, France.

SAMUEL HINKSTON BRADBURY, JR.

Good Afternoon, my name is Samuel Hinkston Bradbury, Jr. I was born the 17th of November 1894, right here in Waukegan. I was the second child of Samuel & Minnie (Davis) Bradbury. My older brother is Leonard, the father of Ray Bradbury, the famous science fiction author that you may have heard of. I also have a younger brother Bion and a younger sister Neva. My father was the editor of “The Lake County Patriot”, which he took over from his father. My father also had a cleaning business located on the west side of Sheridan just south of Washington Street. This was located in the Bradbury Building that also contained the newspaper and printing business. My father was known as the Dean of writers and editors and I guess I inherited this skill from him.

I attended Central School and Waukegan High School graduating in 1912. My friends and family called me “Sam”. In my high school annual next to my photograph is the following quote: “For that fine madness still he did retain, Which rightly should possess a poet’s brain.”

After graduation I could not decide what profession I wanted to pursue. I joined Battery C, here in Waukegan and I found the military was what I really wanted to do. In 1912, our unit went to Camp Riley, Kansas. It was here that a high military officer noticed my ability and encouraged me to apply to West Point. Upon retuning home I began the process and was accepted. I entered West Point in June of 1913. I was known as the “kid” of my class.

I graduated in April of 1917, two months before the rest of my class and was commissioned first lieutenant. About an hour after graduation I married Miss Talita Burke, we met at the first dance I attended at the academy.

I was soon promoted to captain and was stationed at various camps in the east. I regularly sent letters home and I hear that the local newspaper’s published them. I guess my tales of the military were popular.

I was assigned to the 49th Coast Artillery Regiment, and finally in mid October we sailed for France. I had been eager to get where the action was. I was only three days out at sea when I became ill with influenza. I got better but then became worse and by the time we reached the coast of France I passed away. I was temporarily buried in Brest, France. My remains were later moved to the Oise-Aisne American Cemetery, northeast of Paris, France. My nephew Ray Bradbury, came to visit the cemetery while he was in France.

I was honored by the American Legion Post #281, when my name was placed on this memorial. It was said that I was every inch a soldier and patriot and died as truly in the service of his country as if I had been on the field of battle.

49th Artillery, Regiment C.A.C. During World War One

Captain Samuel H. Bradbury, Jr.

49th Artillery, Regiment C.A.C.
During World War One