The Home Guard Units Of The Three Pelham Villages During World War I

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By the spring of 1917, New York State was gearing up for the war effort in connection with World War I.  For example, on May 1, 1917, New York established a "Council of Defense" headed by then Governor Charles S. Whitman (with many State government officials appointed to the council).  

The New York State Council of Defense worked closely with the Council of National Defense and helped local communities including Westchester County and its municipalities to recruit members of local Home Defense organizations.  Each of the counties in New York including Westchester formed a seven member home defense committee.  According to one authority "There was an outpouring of community support for the war effort through the county home defense committees."  Eisenstadt, Peter & Moss, Laura-Eve, eds., The Encyclopedia of New York State, p. 405 (Syracuse, NY:  Syracuse University Press, 2005).

Westchester County quickly created a "Home Defense League Committee" of the Westchester County Commission of General Safety to coordinate and to communicate with local Home Guard organizations in its various municipalities.  Leslie Sutherland served, at least in part of 1917, as Chairman of the Westchester County Home Defense League Committee.

Early in the process, the Office of the Adjutant General provided the Westchester Home Defense League Committee with guidelines regarding standardized uniforms and equipment for use by Home Guards.  As one high-ranking government official wrote:  "'Uniforms and equipment of home defense contingencies will be according to specifications to be prescribed by the governor, and this department will deem it inadvisable for you to procure the same pending the receipt of the regulations which are now being prepared.'  (signed) Louis W. Stotesbury."

Many local Home Guards, however, already had seized the initiative and, in bouts and of war fervor and patriotism, and arranged their own uniforms, badges, identification cards and, it appears in some cases, firearms despite the fact that Westchester County did not envision such groups handling firearms. 

All three villages in Pelham quickly organized Home Guard committees.  The headquarters of the Village of North Pelham and the Village of Pelham (Pelham Heights) groups was Town Hall on Fifth Avenue, although the Home Guards of North Pelham later moved their headquarters to Firemen's Hall on Fifth Avenue.  The Pelham Manor Home Guards headquarters was in Pelham Manor Village Hall.  

The organizations were surprisingly well organized and arranged uniforms, badges, identification cards and, at least in the case of the Pelham Manor Home Guards, revolvers.  Early on there were suggestions that the general purpose of the Home Guards would be to provide emergency policing in the event of a war emergency, although the concept evolved until most understood and believed that Home Guards could serve as Minutemen in the event of unexpected enemy activity on American shores.  Thus, local Home Guard units including those in The Pelhams drilled and prepared for military-like defense of the homelands.  

For example, all three Home Guard groups in Pelham drilled their members incessantly -- at least weekly and, occasionally, more frequently.  The North Pelham Home Guards seemed also to have emphasized pomp and circumstance.  They created a fife, drum, and bugle corps to participate in marches and drills and to provide non-verbal music commands during battle.  As one newspaper reported at the time:  "The North Pelham Home Defense corps under the direction of Captain J. T. D. Weiss is taking up extended order drill and the regulation setting up exercises every Tuesday evening.  In a few weeks Captain Weiss claims the men will be able to go through the setting up exercises by music without verbal commands."

The Pelham Manor Home Guard grew to more than one hundred men.  The group was led by Captain Henry M. Myrick and was "fully equipped with uniforms, badges, revolvers, and drilled regularly in anticipation of being called to defend the village."  

Home Guard units like that of North Pelham used experienced former military men to teach "noncommissioned officer" classes.  In the case of North Pelham, those classes were held every Friday to train young men with exceptional promise to lead others in defense of The Pelhams.

After the close of the War in 1918, Home Guard units were disbanded throughout the nation.  The New York State Council of Defense was closed by law in March, 1919.  See Eisenstadt, Peter & Moss, Laura-Eve, eds., The Encyclopedia of New York State, p. 405 (Syracuse, NY:  Syracuse University Press, 2005).

There was, however, an odd and amusing twist to the disbanding of the Village of Pelham Manor Home Guard.  Due to oversight, the members of the Pelham Manor Home Guard organized during World War I were not discharged from duty for more than twenty years.  When the error was discovered, it was determined that applicable laws might allow resurrection of the group to handle unspecified "emergencies."  To mitigate that risk, on the evening of Monday, April 25, 1939, the Pelham Manor Board of Trustees took official action and revoked the Board's resolution enacted in March, 1917 creating the "Voluntary Police Department" of the Village (i.e., the Home Guard).  The Pelham Sun reported:  "Of course the Home Guard had disbanded shortly after the Armistice was signed, but the action of the Board of Trustees was necessary because the provision under which the Home Guard had been created specifically stated that the volunteer police department could be called for any emergency, until the Board of Trustees rescinded the original act.  According to Village Trustee Branch P. Kerfoot, there is no record of the Village Board having previously officially mustered out its home guards."

In effect, the members of the Pelham Manor Home Guard were honorably discharged and mustered out more than two decades after the end of World War I -- shortly before the need for such a Home Guard arose again in connection with World War II.  Indeed, the model of the Home Guard implemented during World War I served only a couple of years later as a model for creation of similar home defense units during World War II.

During that April 25, 1939 Pelham Manor Board of Trustees meeting the Board further decided to require former members of the Home Guard to turn in their Home Guard identification cards to the Board "in order that there be no abuse of privilege."  One of the Board members who had served in the Home Guard said "I'll turn in my card . . . but I'd hate to lose that badge."  The Board agreed that former members could keep their badges "mementos of the days of the Home Guard!"

"Wake Up America!" World War I Propaganda Poster

Designed by Pelham Manor Native James Montgomery

Flagg Urging War Support on the Home Front.  Published

in 1917.  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

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"UNIFORMS AND ARMS.
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For Home Guards Word From State To County Commission.
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Leslie Sutherland, chairman of the Home Defense league committee of the Westchester county commission of general safety, recently received the following instructions from the office of the adjutant general regarding uniforms and equipment of home defense contingencies.

'Uniforms and equipment of home defense contingencies will be according to specifications to be prescribed by the governor, and this department will deem it inadvisable for you to procure the same pending the receipt of the regulations which are now being prepared.'  (signed) Louis W. Stotesbury.

The atmosphere of vagueness which has surrounded the status of Home Defense leaguers and drilling corps since their organization following the declaration of war, has led to some confusion regarding the matter of uniforms and equipment.  Many organizations of this character have gone to the expense of purchasing uniforms.  In regard to equipment, it has been definitely stated that these drilling corps have no authority whatsoever for possessing arms.

The home defense committee of the Westchester county commission of general safety is confident that these details will be decided within two or three days."

Source:  UNIFORMS AND ARMS -- For Home Guards Word From State To County Commission, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Apr. 27, 1917, p. 2, col. 4.

"HAPPENINGS IN NORTH PELHAM . . . 

Non-Com Class.

The class of noncommissioned officers being conducted under the auspices of the North Pelham Home Defense league is attracting many of the local residents who have been certified for service in the national army but who have not gone to camp as yet.  This class is held every Friday evening.  Tonight the league will hold its regular weekly drill.  The headquarters is now at the Firemen's hall on Fifth avenue. . . ."

Source:  HAPPENINGS IN NORTH PELHAM . . . Non-Com Class, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Sep. 11, 1917, p. 7, col. 5.  

"HAPPENINGS IN NORTH PELHAM . . . 

Home Defense Drilling.

The North Pelham Home Defense corps under the direction of Captain J. T. D. Weiss is taking up extended order drill and the regulation setting up exercises every Tuesday evening.  In a few weeks Captain Weiss claims the men will be able to go through the setting up exercises by music without verbal commands.  A non-commissioned officers' school is held every Friday evening at Hutchinson school.  Three new members were taken in last week and it is hoped now that there is a project of the company being taken over by the state, many more young men will join.  The corps has an excellent fife, drum and bugle corps and is looking for two more fifers.  Headquarters has been moved temporarily from the town hall to Firemen's Hall on Fifth avenue, owing to the Pelham Heights corps using the town hall.  Any one who desires information will be cheerfully furnished the same by Captain Weiss any evening at his home in this village. . . ."

Source:  HAPPENINGS IN NORTH PELHAM . . . Home Defense Drilling, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Sep. 17, 1917, p. 6, col. 1.  

"Home Guard Organized During War Era Officially Disbanded; Village Had Failed to Take Action At End of War
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Home Guards, Attention!  You are hereby notified that you have been honorably discharged from the service of the Village of Pelham Manor.

By official action of the Board of Trustees on Monday night revoked a resolution adopted in March 1917 creating the Volunteer Police Department of the village, organized during the World War period for special police duty in time of emergency.  Of course the Home Guard had disbanded shortly after the Armistice was signed, but the action of the Board of Trustees was necessary because the provision under which the Home Guard had been created specifically stated that the volunteer police department could be called for any emergency, until the Board of Trustees rescinded the original act.  According to Village Trustee Branch P. Kerfoot, there is no record of the Village Board having previously officially mustered out its home guards.

Building Inspector Clyde F. Howes offered the information that the Home Guard numbered more than one hundred men, under the leadershop of Capt. Henry M. Myrick.  The organization was fully equipped with uniforms, badges, revolvers, and drilled regularly in anticipation of being called to defend the village.  That summons never came.

Mayor Edmund C. Gause suggested that the Home Guard cards should be turned in to the Village Board, in order that there be no abuse of privilege.

'I'll turn in my card,' said Mr. Howes, 'but I'd hate to lose that badge.'

It was agreed that the badges could be retained as mementos of the days of the Home Guard!"

Source:  Home Guard Organized During War Era Officially Disbanded; Village Had Failed to Take Action At End of War, The Pelham Sun, Apr. 28, 1939, p. 1, cols. 7-8.

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