Acton Heads Overseas with New England Sawmill Unit #3

In April 1917, a colonel attached to the British War Office put out the word that skilled labor was desperately needed to cut and process lumber for the war effort.  The New England state governments and private companies worked together quickly to send 10 companies of men, equipment, and horses to fill the need.  One of those companies was Unit No. 3 that served at Ardgay, Scotland, mostly filled with men from Acton and nearby towns, many associated with Arthur F. Blanchard’s Blanchard & Gould Lumber Company.  His son Webster S. Blanchard was the foreman of the company.
 
These pictures are from Webster Blanchard’s photograph collection donated to the Society – all the pictures are in Jenks Library. If you can help us to identify individuals, please contact us!

See our blog post for more information about the unit.  The location of unit #3 was mapped here.
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