Thomas Henry Stritch

Thomas Henry Stritch

Thomas Henry Stritch was born in England of Irish parents. He came to America at an early age. When he was 12, he joined the 2nd Regiment Rhode Island Volunteer Infantry. Within 3 days was home again, his mother having revealed his age to the army. On September 24, 1864, he enlisted at the age of 17 as a Private into Company K, 13th Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, but was later transferred to Company C on December 29, 1864. With this regiment, he served in the Shenandoah Valley under General Sheridan. He served in the Battles of Cedar Creek and Fisher's Hill and took part in General Sherman's March to the Sea. He was discharged from service on August 12, 1864.

Following the war, Mr. Stritch was twice New York Department Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), was at one time Commander of Adam Goss Post #330 (New York City), and, at his death, was Commander of Robert Anderson Post #394 (New York City). He was Grand Marshall of a number of GAR parades and served as Chairman of Memorial and public exercise committees. He was a carpenter by trade.

Thomas Henry Stritch heard his Supreme Commander's call to enter His eternal home Thursday, January 21, 1943. He had entered the Veterans Administration Hospital, in the Bronx, New York, ten days before his death. He was 96. At the time of his death, he was a widower (Mary McClure Stritch) and had no immediate survivors.

Photograph and information submitted by Thomas J Burchell and from the 1943 New York Department’s Woman’s Relief Corps Journal.

Thomas Henry Stritch