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107th Infantry Regiment
World War One
History
The 107th Infantry Regiment, formerly the 7th New York Infantry was a New York
State National Guard Regiment that saw action in a number of conflicts, including
the Civil War, the Mexican Border Dispute of 1916, World War I, and World War
II. For service in WWI, the old 7th New York Infantry officially became the 107th
Infantry Regiment and was brought up to strength with transfers from the 1st New
York Infantry. It was paired with the 108th Infantry Regiment and placed in the
54th Brigade of the 27th Division. At the commencement of active fighting, the
107th had a total effective strength of 2,995 officers and men. The 107th shipped
out to Europe in May of 1918 and was placed in the East Poperinghe Line with the
rest of the 27th Division, to serve as a reserve unit.
On July 25th 1918 the 27th division was slowly rotated into the front line in
relief of the British 6th Division. On August 31st 1918, operations of the Ypres-Lys
Offensive began in an attempt to remove the Germans from the Dickebusch/Scherpenberg
area. On September 3rd 1918 the Germans withdrew from the area, marking the successful
completion of the Ypres-Lys Offensive. From September 24th to October 21st 1918
the 107th participated with the rest of the 27th Division in the successful Somme
Offensive, which was an attempt to pierce the German’s Hindenburg defensive
line. The 107th encountered fierce resistance and was involved in the heaviest
fighting for the line. On October 21st 1918 the entire division was relieved.
By March 19th 1919 the division had returned in full to the states where it was
quickly mustered out.
During its service in World War I, the 107th sustained 1,918 casualties including
1,383 wounded, 437 killed, and 98 who later died of their wounds.
Historical sketch of the Seventh Regiment, National Guard of New York (Pro patria et gloria) edited by Harold C. Hansen
Further Reading
This is meant to be a comprehensive list. If, however, you know of a resource that is not listed below, please send an email to ng.ny.nyarng.list.historians@mail.mil with the name of the resource and where it is located. This can include photographs, letters, articles and other non-book materials. Also, if you have any materials in your possession that you would like to donate, the museum is always looking for items specific to New York's military heritage. Thank you.
American Battle Monuments Commission. The 27th Division:
Summary of Operations In the World War. United States Government Printing
Office, 1944.
Feldbin, Mark. "The 107th Infantry in the Great War." www.oryansroughnecks.org/ [link
opens new window]. 2002-2004.
Harris, Stephen L. Duty, Honor, Privilege : New York's
Silk Stocking Regiment and the Breaking of the Hindenburg Line. Brasseys,
Inc., 2001.
Jacobson, Gerald (comp.). History of the 107th Infantry
U.S.A. New York: Seventh Regiment Armory, 1920.
You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to open this.
Love, Edmund G. The 27th Infantry Division In
World War II. Nashville: Battery Press, 1982.
O'Ryan, John F. The story of the 27th division.
New York, Wynkoop Hallenbeck Crawford Co., 1921.
O'Ryan, John F. History of the 27th Division :New York's
own. New York : Bennett & Churchill, 1919.
New York (State). Education Dept. Division of Archives and
History. World War I veterans' service data and photographs, 1917-1938 (bulk
1919-1924).
Quantity: 33.4 cu. ft.
Quantity: Copies: 53 microfilm reels; 35mm.
Arrangement: Alphabetical by county, then alphabetical by municipality.
Additional phys form: Microform is available at the New York State Archives
through interlibrary loan.
Abstract: This series primarily contains personal information, service data,
newspaper clippings, and photographs of New York State veterans of World War
I, and some accounts of home front activities in the state. Also included is
a small amount of material documenting contributions toward the war effort
by the state's schools, faculty, and students as well as war work done by units
of the Education Department.
Abstract: These records were collected by State Historians James Sullivan and
Alexander C. Flick (from 1923) in response to a joint resolution of the senate
and assembly to "collect, collate, compile, edit, and prepare for publication
sufficient material, statistics, and data for a history of the State of New
York in the World War...." Because no funds were appropriated for this
work, the publication was never completed.
Abstract: The State Historian relied on officially appointed local historians
to collect and forward information relating to their communities' roles in
the war. Only two-thirds of the state's communities provided the requested
information, and very few veterans from New York City are represented in the
series. There are no files for Bronx, Queens, or Richmond counties.
Abstract: The contents of the files vary considerably, but each contains all
or some of the following: list of soldiers from the community; service record
forms for each veteran, usually providing name, address, place and date of
birth, parents' names and address, date entered service, drafted or enlisted,
military unit at entrance and discharge, brief outline of service giving duty
stations, combat experience, wounds, and decorations received, and date, place,
rank, and military unit at discharge or death; narrative statements of individuals'
war service by veterans or the local historian; newspaper clippings documenting
the return of soldiers, commemorative celebrations, or other soldier-related
activities; transcripts of original letters written by soldiers while in the
service, some written from France; photographs of soldiers, most in uniform
and identified; narrative written by the local historian describing home front
activities in the community; transcripts of community newspaper articles concerning
local home front activities; souvenir booklets or other items of memorabilia;
transmittal correspondence between the state historian and the local historian;
and information on nurses who served in the war.
Abstract: Photographs in the series are primarily portraits of soldiers in
uniform, taken either formally in studio settings or informally as private
snapshots in home-like surroundings. Some are of the souvenir variety taken
overseas. There are no scenes from the war front.
Abstract: The final box of the series contains important additional material
(correspondence, reports, lists, bulletins, pamphlets, books, and a few photographs)
on the New York State's contributions to the war. These materials provide information
on: wartime activities of the state's schools, teachers, and pupils (e.g. Liberty
Loan campaigns, Red Cross and civilian relief work, conservation activities,
and work for base hospitals); war service of college and university students;
wartime activities, especially through the Bureau of Educational War Service,
of the Regents and the Education Department, including specific projects of
the Division of Archives and History, the State Museum, and the State Library;
and the reorganization of New York State troops in the federal service, including
transcribed extracts from military cables and comuniques (May 1917-December
1918) on deployment and military actions of New York components of the American
Expeditionary Force (the 77th, 42nd, 78th, and 27th Divisions).
Abstract: Copies of several noteworthy works are also found with this material:
a research paper, New York State "Boys" in the War: A Report of Impressions
Gathered From Sorting and Reading Soldiers' Letters of the World War During
the Summers of 1934 and 1935, prepared for Alexander Flick using materials
collected by the Division of Archives and History; a 1920 book, The New York
Hospital in France: Base Hospital No. 9, A.E.F., a historical diary of the
New York Hospital Unit during its two years of active service in the war; and
a 1920 booklet, Army Ordnance: History of District Offices - New York, a detailed
account of the organization, activities, and production (including statistics)
of the New York District of the Army Ordnance Department.
Abstract: Researchers may consult Alexander Flick's 10 volume History of the
State of New York (1933), available at the New York State Library, for a review
of New York's civilian and military efforts in World War I.
Located at the New York State Archives.
Starlight, Alexander. The Pictorial record of
the 27th Division. New York : Harper, 1919.
Items in the museum collection are in bold.
Back to World War One Infantry Regiments
New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs: Military History
Last modified:
April 3, 2017
URL: http://www.dmna.state.ny.us/historic/reghist/wwi/infantry/107thInf/107InfMain.htm
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