Wilson High School World War I Memorial: Maurice D. Benedict 4/11/1899 -10/22/1918

MAURICE D. BENEDICT
62 South Washington Street, Rochester, N. Y.

Democrat_and_Chronicle_Sat__May_11__1918_

From the Democrat and Chronicle May 11th, 1918

Maurice D. Benedict was born in Holley, N. Y, April 11, 1899, son of Jarvis S. and Elizabeth Benedict. Entered the service, April 11, 1917, on his eighteenth birthday, at Rochester, N. Y., as a Private, in Company A, 3rd Regiment, National Guard of New York,
afterwards Company A, 108th Infantry. He was trained at Pelham Bay, N. Y., and Camp Wadsworth, Spartanburg, S. C. He was promoted to Private, 1st Class, April 4, 1918. He embarked overseas, May 10, 1918, on transport Kursk, and arrived at Brest, France, May 25, 1918. He was engaged in action at Mt. Kemmel, Dickebusch, and the Hindenburg Line. Private Benedict was a runner for Company A, and displayed rare courage on many occasions.

On September 29, 1918, on the Hindenburg Line between Ronssoy and Bony, when Company A, went “over the top” in its biggest fight in France, he was shot through the abdomen with a machine gun bullet, while carrying messages for the Company Commander, across a shell-swept field. He was sent to the First Southern General Hospital at Stowbridge, England, and was operated upon, but died, October 22, 1918, from complications arising from the wounds received in action. He was first buried at Stowbridge, England, and later his body was brought back to America and reburied in Hillside Cemetery, Holley, N. Y., Lot No. 336, with military honors, under auspices of Company A, 108th Infantry, Major Arthur T. Smith in command, and Yerkes Post, Number 99, American Legion. His name appears on the West High School
Honor Roll.