s/o William Henry McGrath and Ellen Gormley

Sources: NH Birth Record; NH Death Record of Burial; U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans

Laconia Citizen, July 31, 1918 "Laconia Boy Killed in Action":

The first Laconia boy to give his life in defense of his country in the world war was announced last week in the despatches and has since been confirmed by the War Department stating that Earle O. McGrath of Company D, 103rd infantry had fallen. He was twenty-three years of age and one of the trio of valiant sons of Mr. and Mrs. W H. McGrath of Lakeport who are in the service, the others being Corp. James H McGrath, Battery B 73rd. artillery and William F. McGrath of the 1st Army headquarters in France. Earle McGrath, whose untimely death Laconia mourns, was one of our brightest young men, pleasant and obliging in manner and possessing qualities of character that gave him a, distinctive refinement among his associates. Before enlisting in the army he had been employed for five years as clerk at the F. s. Peaslee store, beginning work there while he was a student at the Laconia High School. His family have the sympathy of all in their loss. Monday morning at nine o'clock, Requiem High mass was celebrated at the church of Our Lady of the Lake at Lakeport.

August 2, 1918 Killed in Action, Earl McGrath, First Laconia Boy to Fall in Battle on Foreign Soil:

World was received Friday, July 26th that Earl O. McGrath, son of Mr. and Mrs. William H. McGrath of 326 Elm street, Lakeport, had been killed in action in France. He is the first Laconia boy to be killed. McGrath was serving in Co. B, 103 infantry.

He enlisted in June, 1917, in the 1st new Hampshire Regiment. He was sent overseas in September. He was 23 years old and was a member of Our Lady of the Lake church. Two of his brothers are in the service, William F. McGrath, who enlisted with him but who was later transferred to the 1st Army Headquarters Company and is in France, and James McGrath, who is a member of Battery B, 73rd Artillery, stationed at Newcastle, N.H.

[He has] two other brothers, Thomas McGrath of Manchester and Leo McGrath of Lakeport; four sisters, Sadie, Eva, Helen, and Catherine McGrath, and the parents.

All of the pastors of our Laconia churches held brief memorial services in connection with their regular service Sunday morning in honor of Earl McGrath, the first Laconia boy to lose his life in battle for the cause of democracy.

August 2, 1918:

The first blue star to run gold was in the service flag of William McGrath 236 Elm Street, when last Thursday afternoon, a message came from Washington that his son, Earl O. McGrath, had been killed in action in France on July 14. The first boy in this ward, to make the supreme sacrifice, that his home town might remain a safe place for his parents, his sisters, his brothers, and friends to live. Lest he may not have died in vain, Lakeport should feel a renewed obligation and interest to "carry on" until the fight is won. "Not for self, but all for justice, And for honor, true and bright, 'Twas for these he gave his heart's blood, When he perished in the fight"

Earl McGrath was the first of the three sons of William McGrath to enlist in June, 1917; he was sent ot Concord a member of Co. B, 103rd regiment, and went overseas in the 26th division from Westfield, the last of September. The last letter received from him was dated June 19, at which time he was not in the trenches, although he had been previously. He was a clean, manly, conscientious young fellow, whom everybody liked; although not a native here, most of his life had been passed in this ward, a and through his work as a clerk for the past five years for F. S. Peaslee, he came in contact with many, all of whom appreciated his gentlemanly, obliging manners, and his sterling character. The family have the sincere sympathy of the entire city. He was educated in our parochial and public schools, and he was a student at the Laconia High school. He was 23 years old on June 12. [Survivors are] his parents, four brothers, Thomas, James, who is a corporal in Battery B, 73rd artillery, and expects to go overseas very soon, William, who is in the 1st Army headquarters in France, and Leo, of this city; four sisters also survive, Sarah, Helen, Eva,a and Katherine McGrath. Grand requiem high mass was celebrated in the Church of Our Lady of the Lake at nine o'clock Monday morning, and was largely attended, (the other churches in the the city also had special services). The official communication from the war department in Washington, announced that the place of burial would be given them later, and that after the war the remains would be send home.