Wilcox Countians celebrated the end of WWI a century ago this week

Lt. Harry Irby Savage of Wilcox County.

This week marks the 100^th anniversary of the end of World War I, an event that resulted in one of the biggest celebrations in the history of Wilcox County. At 11 o’clock in the morning of the 11^th day of the 11^th month of 1918, World War I came to an end. The armistice agreement to end the war was signed at 5:10 a.m. on the morning of Mon., Nov. 11, and commanders on the Western Front were telegraphed orders to cease hostilities at 11 a.m. “French time.”

According to the Nov. 14, 1918 edition of The Wilcox Progressive Era, the news of the war’s end did not take long to reach the citizens of Wilcox County.

“When the citizenship of Camden arose on Monday morning, they were greeted with the glorious news that Germany had ‘surrendered unconditionally’ and the greatest war that had ever been was closed. Prayers went up in thankfulness to the Almighty that right had triumphed, and this world would not be under the dominion of the warlords, but was safe for Democracy. Mothers, who had sons whose bones rest on French soil, gave vent to their feelings; and while their hearts were bursting with grief, their bosoms swelled with pride that they had given their lives in so great a cause.”

Wilcox County citizens were so happy that the war was finally over that one of the biggest celebrations in the history of the county ensued.

“At 3:30, there was a spontaneous uprising of the citizens, who with the ringing of bells, blowing of whistles and many other devices for making noise gave vent to their feelings,” Editor S.C. Godbold reported in that week’s newspaper. “Patriotic speeches were made by Hons. E.W. Berry, J.M. Bonner, Lee McMillan and Solicitor J.F. Thompson. It would be impossible to describe the emotions of the crowd.

“Mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters shed tears of joy that they would soon be rejoined by their loved ones who are at the front, and the prayers of the entire crowd went up that such would be the case at an early date. There are no more patriotic people on earth than those of Camden and Wilcox County.”

Elsewhere in that week’s paper, Godbold explained to readers that “The Progressive Era columns are a little ‘skimpy’ this week on account of editors and typos being intoxicated with gladness distilled from the war news.”

Godbold also encouraged local educators to take advantage of the historic occasion.

“Every teacher should see that the pupils are given an opportunity to take part in this history making epoch. In the years when the heroes of today have passed to their reward, the young boys and girls of today, will thrill their children with the stories of their part in the momentous struggle.”

In 1918, what we now call “World War I” was called the “Great War,” and it was believed to be the “war to end all wars.” This terrible war claimed the lives of an estimated nine million soldiers, and 21 million more were wounded. Civilian casualties caused by the war are estimated to be close to 10 million.

As best that I can tell from state records, at least 26 Wilcox County soldiers were killed during World War I. Those soldiers include Charley Blackman, William Boykin, William Dumas, William Kelsaw, William Reaves, Harry I. Savage, Howard Singleton and James Williams, all of Camden; Henry M. Autrey, Vivian T. Deaton and Jenkins Jones, all of Sunny South; Oscar L. Autrey, Henry C. Boutwell and Charles E. Treaster, all of Pine Hill; Jimmie A. James and Willie Gay Williams, both of Furman; John Henry Privett and Fletcher E. Smith, both of Lower Peach Tree; Frank C. Brooks of Coy, Fred Battle of Gastonburg, John Butler of Snow Hill, Daniel Robinson of Prairie, Frank Stallworth of Bellview, John Watson and Wiley McMurphy Steen, both of Pine Apple; and Samuel C. Watford of Caledonia.

In the end, some of these soldiers are buried in Wilcox County, but others are not, and it’s up to us to remember their sacrifice. I’d like to hear from anyone in the reading audience with more information about the World War I casualties listed above. Also, if you know of any other soldiers from Wilcox County who were killed in World War I not mentioned above, please let me know and I will add them to the list.