Memorial Day tribute — Julius Frasier and Edward McCauley

The remains of Private Julius Frasier of Graphite and Corporal Edward McCauley of Utica, previously of Ticonderoga, arrived at the Ticonderoga rail station at noon March 23, 1921, more than 29 months after the local men were killed in separate World War I battles in Europe.

“The arrival … has rekindled that spirit of sorrow,” the Ticonderoga Sentinel reported.

Ticonderoga American Legion Commander Henry Edmonds was in charge of six-person unit of post members that met the train, coming from Hoboken, N.J., carrying the remains of Frasier, who was killed in action Oct. 7, 1918, and McCauley, who was killed in action Sept. 29, 1918.

Many soldiers that died were buried temporarily in Europe until after the war.

The Rev. E. R. Stone, a local pastor who had been a Young Men’s Christian Association worker with soldiers in France, preached both funerals.

Frasier, who fought with the U.S. Army National Guard Rainbow Division, left Graphite July 31, 1917, along with Graphite resident Leland Shortsleeves, to enlist in the military.

Frasier was among 53 departing soldiers that posed for photographer George P. Sauter on the steps of Glens Falls City Hall on Oct. 6, 1917, just before leaving the Glens Falls train station at 11:57 a. m. for Camp Devens in Massachusetts.

Frasier and fellow soldier Frank May of Graphite returned to the town of Hague mining village at Thanksgiving for a brief visit, and Frasier visited his family in February 1918 before going to France.

His funeral at 10 a.m. March 25, 1921 was a simple service with the pastor preaching and blowing taps, and an eight-member American Legion honor guard at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Zera Frasier.

Members of the honor guard were: Willard Belden, Thomas Palmer, Harry Snow, Earl Carr, Ross Cruickshank, Harold Wood, Harold Pinchion and Bud Lesperance.

He was buried at Bolton Landing.

McCauley’s funeral at 2:30 p.m. March 27 at Ticonderoga Methodist Church was more formal.

The Ticonderoga Band, members of the American Legion post, and about 50 other veterans marched with the flag-draped coffin in a procession from the home of Mrs. John White, the soldier’s sister, to the church.

McCauley was buried at Mount Hope Cemetery in Ticonderoga.

McCauley, who grew up in Ticonderoga, enlisted in Company D of the 107th Infantry in June 1917 at Utica, where he was living and working.

He landed in France in May 1918.

Sources: Ticonderoga Sentinel March 24, 31, 1921; The Post-Star Aug. 2, Oct. 5, Dec. 10, 1917; Feb. 21, 1918; March 23, 28.1921

Click here to read a previous Memorial Day tribute.