Dennis L Kirby (1892 - 1918)

Born 24 Aug 1892 in Lick Creek, Williamson, Illinois, United States

Husband of Frances M (Hill) Kirby — married about 1916 in Illinois, USA

Died 17 Oct 1918 at age 26 in Liverpool, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

This newspaper clipping from 1918 captures the first time that the body of a Williamson County soldier had been returned from foreign soil. It, unfortunately, would not be the last.

Body of Soldier Arrives From England Dennis L. Kirby, former private in the 113 Sanitary Train, is to be buried with military honors in Marion on Tuesday afternoon. The body was returned from England on Sunday and is held at the Cash Undertaking Parlor pending the funeral. Kirby was born at Lick Creek, 12 miles east of Anna, on August 24, 1892 and died from the influenza on October 17, 1918, at the age of 26 years, 1 month and 23 days. The death occurred at Liverpool, England from influenza just as he was being removed from on board the converted Italian freighter, the Velander. On December 12, 1914, he was united in marriage with Miss Fannie M. Hill of Marion and their only child died in infancy. The marriage was solemnized at Anna and they made that city their home. Kirby entered the army from Anna on May 27, 1918, and was sent to the Camp Shelby, Mississippi, where he joined the 151 Field Hospital Unit of the 113 Sanitary Train which belonged to the 38th Division. He was sent to Camp Mills with his division and sailed on October 6. At the time he joined the army, Kirby was a nurse at the hospital at Anna. He was not a member of any church, but had always taken an interest in the Christian church at Anna and had lived a true Christian life. He was a member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Anna. The widow has made her home in Marion since the death of her husband. She is at present with her sister, Mrs. Harry Norman, 1304 South Buchanan Street. The mother, Mrs. Tenny Kirby, also survives and lives at Lick Creek. The body was brought to Marion on Sunday night under military escort. Private Reid F. Fallon, Company L, 45th Infantry, accompanied the body from New York. The body was in a sealed steel casket, which was inside of an ordinary casket and that was in one of the large wooden boxes used for shipping caskets. The wooden box was draped with an American flag throughout its trip from the seaport. Williamson Post 147, The American Legion, will have charge of the funeral and will be assisted by the Marion and Anna Odd Fellows lodge. The body will be taken from the undertaking parlor at 2 p.m. and escorted to the First Baptist Church where services will be held and from there it will be taken to the cemetery. The American legion is not able to conduct a full military funeral because of the fact that their rifles have failed to arrive, but they voted at a special meeting on Sunday to wear their uniforms, if they had uniforms. They will conduct the military funeral as far as possible without firing squad. Mayor E. Lewis has issued a proclamation requesting that all flags in the city be flown at half-mast on Tuesday until after the funeral and that everyone in the city join in paying homage to the hero of the World War. It is especially requested that all returned servicemen attend the funeral in full uniform as far as possible. This is the first body of a soldier to be brought to Williamson County from a foreign land.

Sources

• Marion Illinois History Preservation - http://www.mihp.org/2013/12/kirby-dennis-l-1892-1918/
• "Family Genealogies of Sparta, Illinois," complied by Mrs Frank Torrens & daughter Louise M Torrens
• "A Few Pioneer Families of Randolph County, Illinois," Compiled by Elda Jones, published by the Marrissa Historical & Genealogical Society, 1994
• www.flackgenealogy.com
• www.findagrave.com