Edward Thomas Hand (1918 - 1972)

Born 12 Aug 1918 in 404 Bridge St, Lowell, Massachusetts, USA

Ancestors

Died 11 Feb 1972 at age 53 in Lowell, Massachusetts, USA

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Biography

Ed Hand was a Massachusettsan.

Ed Hand has Irish ancestors.

Ed Hand is a Military Veteran.
Served in the 406th Infantry Regiment who were active in the 2nd World War in Europe

Edward Thomas Hand was born at 404 Bridge St, Lowell, Massachusetts on 12 August 1918. He was the son of James Hand (an ice company teamster) and Catherine Rothwell, both Irish immigrants.^[1] Edward was born four months after the death of his father from the "Spanish Flu". He was apparently very close to his only brother James and commonly known by the nickname "Ed". Their eldest brother - John - died in infancy.

In the census of 1920, Edward is listed as a one year old son living with his widowed mother and older brother in Lowell City 6 Precinct 2, ED 222.^[2] Ten years later, the three are still living together in Lowell and Edward is 11 years old.^[3]

Edward's first employment seems to have been as a labourer in a cotton mill. This is his occupation listed on the 1940 census when he was 21 years old and still living with his mother and brother. ^[4]A later record from 1940 (a military draft registration) identifies his employer as the Merrimack Manufacturing Company in Lowell. ^[5] On 16th October 1940 at the age of 22, Edward was drafted into the US Army. At this time, the Second World War was already in progress in Europe. At his registration, Edward is described as 5 ft 9 inches in height, weighing 210 pounds, of light complexion and with black hair. ^[6]

Edward enlisted in the US Army on 26 Oct 1942 at the age of 24. He served with the 406th Infantry Regiment, which was part of the 102nd Infantry Division. He served three years and three months in the army, being part of their campaign in Europe during the war. He was discharged from the army on 15 January 1946.^[7]

Brief outline of the military service of 102nd Infantry Division
Note: This division was activated as a triangular division consisting of the 405th, 406th and 407th Infantry Regiments. Ed Hand was a soldier with the 406th Regiment.

Ordered into active military service: 15 September 1942 at Camp Maxey, Texas
Overseas: 12 September 1944
Campaigns: Rhineland, Central Europe
Days of combat: 173
Inactivated: 23 March 1946.^[8]

Family knowledge is that Ed was also an amateur boxer, and a long time employee of "General Electric". In 1950, Ed was 31 years old and living with his mother and brother in Lowell. He was recorded in the census as working for a wire factory as an "electric coiler" . This was most likely "General Electric". ^[9]

Edward never married or had children. He died from cancer on 11 February 1972 at Lowell, Massachusetts. He was 53 years old.^[10] He is buried with his parents in St Patrick's cemetery, Lowell, MA. ^[11]

Research Notes

Military rank and service number:
Edward's rank and service number are unknown and need to be researched.

Military Service:
Further research is needed into the exact location of Edward's regiment during the war and where he was located during his military service.

Sources

1. ↑ "Massachusetts State Vital Records, 1841-1925", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLKG-9G31 : 1 September 2021), Edward T Hand, 1918.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MX19-VZH : Tue Jul 25 20:39:16 UTC 2023), Entry for Catherine Hand and James F Hand, 1920.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1930", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XQPS-9JH : Thu Aug 03 12:01:00 UTC 2023), Entry for Catherine Hand and James Hand, 1930.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1940", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K4VY-N91 : Sat Jul 29 17:57:59 UTC 2023), Entry for Katherine F Hand and James F Hand, 1940.
5. ↑ Wikipedia page on Merrimack Manufacturing Company: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merrimack_Manufacturing_Company Accessed 10th August 2023.
6. ↑ Edward Thomas Hand in the U.S., World War 2 Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 Transcript: Name: Edward Thomas Hand Race: White Age: 22 Birth Date: 3 Aug 1918 Birth Place: Lowell, Mass., U.sa. Residence Place: Lowell, Middlesex, Massachusetts Registration Date: 16 October 1940 Registration Place: Lowell, Massachusetts, USA Employer: Merrimack Manufacturing Co Height: 5 ft 9" Weight: 210 Complexion: Light Hair: Black
7. ↑ Edward T Hand in the US Department of Veteran's affairs BIRLS Death File 1850-2010 Transcript: Name: Edward T Hand Gender: Male Birth date: 12 Aug 1918 Death date: 11 Feb 1972 SSN: 034010577 Enlistment branch: ARMY Enlistment date: 26 Oct 1942 Discharge date: 15 Jan 1946
8. ↑ Wikipedia entry on the 102nd Infantry Division (United States) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/102nd_Infantry_Division_(United_States)#:~:text=406th%20Infantry%20Regiment,-Inactivated%2016%20March&text=Activated%203%20January%201947%20with,3d%20Battle%20Group%2C%2014th%20Infantry. Accessed 10th August 2023
9. ↑ "United States 1950 Census", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6F3K-2K11 : Fri Jul 21 19:10:48 UTC 2023), Entry for Catherine Hand and James Hand, 1 April 1950.
10. ↑ "Massachusetts Death Index, 1970-2003", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VZT9-1WX : 13 June 2019), Edward T Hand, 1972.
11. ↑ Burial record on https://ccemetery.org/locate-a-loved-one/: EDWARD T HAND Born: Died: Service: 02/14/1972 Age: 53 Section | Columbarium: Yard 3 Row | Range | Path |Tier: 34SEC1 Row | Lot | Grave: 3 Grave: 3UNK2 Accessed 10th August 2023.

Acknowledgements

• Sallie Hand for some biographical information and the photos of Edward in uniform and with his regiment.

• Brad Cunningham and David Browne for assistance finding the military records.

• Thanks to Gary Walls, FindAGrave member, for the photos of the Hand gravestone in St Patrick Cemetery, Lowell.