Battalion of Death

While little is known about the Buffalo men in this photograph, newspaper reports from early August 1918 refer to the 200 draftees leaving for training at Camp Upton. Prior to their departure by train from Exchange and Michigan Streets to Long Island, a patriotic sendoff  parade was led by a squad of mounted patrolmen and two brass bands, followed by African American members of the Red Cross, the boy scouts and the campfire girls.  As stated in the Buffalo Evening News, “The men of division three put a big placard on one of their cars; “The Battalion of Death.”

On the 4th of July in 1919, Buffalo servicemen, including members of the Battalion and 3,000 other returning soldiers took part in a triple Welcome Home celebration: Independence Day, the signing of the peace treaty, and the safe return of our honorable men. 

Photograph electronically donated by Tom Bauerle