Maine and the Great War

With a long history of patriotism and service, Maine experienced the war in a truly distinct way. Its individual experiences tell the story of not only what it means to be an American but also what it means to be from Maine during the war to end all wars.

During the period of World War I, Maine men, women and children of all ages, ethnicities, and religions supported the war effort from home. They formed relief organizations, donated and rallied for the troops abroad, and participated in civil defense. Everyone learned to ration food and many supported the increased focus on agriculture and industry

Troops of the 2nd Maine Marching in Portland

Maine furnished 32,032 fighting men to the war, about five percent of the state’s population. Many more men and women served in administrative or support service roles, at home and abroad. The National Guardsmen of the state's 2nd Infantry (successor to the 20th Maine that held Little Round Top at Gettysburg) were  assigned to the 103rd Regiment of the the 26th "Yankee" Division and the draftees to an assortment of units. The 54th  Coastal Artillery Corps, made up of different National Guard batteries of Maine Coast Artillery, was called into Federal service in January of 1918. The regiment arrived in Le Havre France on 6 April 1918 and was designated the Replacement Regiment for the Heavy Artillery. The entire University of Maine Band joined the 103rd Infantry Regiment, as did a squad of warriors from the Passamaquoddy Nation, including the chief’s own son, who was killed in action on 11 November 1918. 

Between April 1917 and December 1918, 1,032 Maine men and women gave their lives for their country. Countless more returned wounded, both physically and psychologically. The introduction of modern warfare with mechanized weaponry, submarines, trench warfare, chemical weapons, and newer technology like tanks and airplanes, took an immense and often misunderstood toll on the soldiers. 

An Enthusiastic Member of Maine's 54th Coastal Artillery, Recently Arrived in France

Maine civilians supported the war by purchasing $118.4 million in government bonds and $8.4 million in war savings stamps. At the outset of the war, Maine producers kicked into gear and took an active role in supplying the Allies with goods. Industries like shipbuilding, textile manufacturing, and farming of staple crops accelerated and expanded production to support the troops. 

There was a surge in Maine's shipbuilding during World War I. However, as ships became larger and with a larger draft, it became harder for the ships to navigate the Kennebec River channel, and the logistics of building them in Bath became too difficult. During World War I, Bath saw its largest population and many ships built, including over 20 destroyers, but following the war, all of the shipyards in Bath went out of business. Bath Iron Works was sold at auction but was resurrected to become the only remaining shipyard in Bath. It is still the sole commercial shipyard in Bath and continues to build destroyers for the U.S. Navy. It is now the largest public employer in Maine.

USS Manley, Built in Bath During the War

Private sector relief programs operated by the American Red Cross, YMCA, YWCA, and the Salvation Army also received generous contributions from the public. By the end of the war, every man, woman and child in the state had donated an average of $147 to the war effort.

The most famous Maine veteran of the war was air ace Sumner Sewall (1897–1965). Sewall dropped out of Harvard College in 1917 to go to Europe to aid the Allies during World War I. Sewall served first in the American Ambulance Field Service from February through August 1917, then in the U.S. Army Signal Corps, then finally as a fighter pilot in the U.S. Army Air Service, becoming an ace by scoring seven victories, flying his SPAD XIII with the 95th Aero Squadron. 

Lt. Sumner Sewall, DSC

Afterward, Sewall became and aviation executive and went into politics. He served as governor of Maine over two terms, 1941–45. After stepping down as governor, Sewall became president of American Overseas Airlines for a year, then served as the military governor of Württemberg-Baden from 1946 to 1947. In 1948, Sewall finished a distant third in the Republican primary for Maine's open United States Senate seat, which ended his political career. Sewall became president of the Bath National Bank in the 1960s. He died on 25 January 1965.

Sources:  Maine Memory Network, BDN, Wikipedia, Bath Shipyard