WARBRITTON, Ernest - CW - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

-- thanks so very, very much to Tom F for sending this article our way. What a touching rendition of what life was like for those who cared for the boys who #1 came home or #2 died. So many are left in France, England and ....

How unbounded joy may in a few hours be converted into the deepest grief was demonstrated when Mrs. Anna Warbritton, 612 Riverside Avenue, after having participated in the joyous celebration of the conclusion of the great world war, which she hoped would soon bring her soldier husband back to her, yesterday received notice that her gallant husband, Captain Ernest Warbritton of Company K, 334th United States infantry had sacrificed his life on the altar of freedom. Although Capt. Warbritton died a month ago, neither his wife nor his parents had as yet received any word of his demise. The word that the vailant officer had died of pneumonia October 14, in the cause of the nation was received hre by the wife in a letter from Pauline Spencer Clay, sister of John Jacob Astor, at whose estate which had been converted into a military hospital, Captain Warbritton had succumbed. Pauline Spencer Clay at whose estate, Ford Manor at Lingfield, Surrey, England convalescent hospital NO 101, had been established, has been spending all of her time in helping care for soldiers at the hospital and the letter received here from her tells glowingly how well the fighting men are cared for when they are sick or injured.

Capt. Warbritton was the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Warbritton of Crawfordsville, Ind. He was a Mexican border veteran, having served 9 months on the border with the Indiana National Guard Company of Crawfordsville in 1916-1917. He entered the first officers school at Ft. Benjamin Harrison and graduated therefrom with the rank of First Lt, subsequently winning the double bars of a captain, and being place in command of Company K, 334th Infantry. From Ft. Harrison, Capt. Warbritton was assigned to Camp Taylor, Ky. and from thence to Camp SHerman, Chillicothe, O, when his regiment was assigned as a unit of the famous 84th or Lincoln Division. He was united in marriage to Miss Anna Koehlinger, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G.A. Koehlinger of 612 Riverside Avenue, Dec 1, 1917 and Mrs. Warbritton had been staying in Louisville so as to be near her husband until the latter left (SOME MISSING ....)

... nice to me," and used to distress me beyond words to feel that there was so little hope for his recovery. Dr. Fanny, our medical officer, did everything that was humanly possible for anyone to do for him and I am sure it was owing to his skill and care that your husband lived as long as he did. Dr. Fanny was assited by another very clever doctor, whom we called in and who used to come almost daily. Your husband also had 3 nurses to look after him, so that he was never left alone for a moment, day or night. "When penumonia set in, in addition to the other complications, we felt that he would not have the strength to pull through, weak as he was, but we did not give up all hope until his heart became affected by the poison and showed signs of weakness. He became delirious on Saturday, October 12, although he had moments when he recognized us and talked quite sensibly, but most of the time he seemed to be leading his men into battle, thus showing what a keen soldier he was. On Sunday and Monday, he remained unconscious practically all of the time, although he was able to take his food, and he died quite peacefully and without a struggle at half past 10 Monday night.

Dr. Fanny and Sister Taylor were in the room at the time. "I cannot tell you how deeply I feel for you in your great bereavement and I know that words are futile, and that there is nothing that one can say to lessen the burden of your loss. However it may be some little help to you to know that everything that could possibly be done for your husband was done, and that we all felt his death very deeply. I cannot tell you where he was buried as a motor came down from army headquarters in London to take him away, and on his coffin was spread an American flag on which we place a cross of lilies. With our deepest sympathy, I remain, Yours sincerely, Pauline Spender (sic Spencer?) Clay.

A very pathetic letter from one of the nurses who cared for Capt. Warbritton in his last illness is as follows: Dear Mrs. Warbritton : I just felt I must send you a line to bring a little word of sympathy about your husband's death. I was on night duty when he was so ill, and I sat with him the last two afternoons before he died. He was just wonderfully plucky and didn't seem to suffer very much. Twice in his delirium he spoke of you and each time he smiled such a bright, happy smile. I know so well the heartache of losing anyone in this cruel war because I have lost everything that matters to me. That's why I just can't help but send you a line to tell you that I sympathy with you and also to tell you that everything possible was done to save him. He had wonderful care. I know that nothing really comforts much at a time like this, but I just wanted so much to send you a little word of sympathy. Sincerely yours, Miss T. Nicholson, Nurse.

Captain Warbritton is survived by the widow, the parents and one sister, Miss Blanche Warbritton.

Capt. Ernest R. WARBRITTON a former New Market boy died in England of pneumonia Oct 14. Capt. Warbritton was the 1st Montgomery County boy to answer the call for volunteers when the Mexican border trouble came up in 1916. He went to England in September.   -- typed by kbz