Collingswood, N.J. — World War I Memorial

Situated near one corner of Collingswood N.J.’s historic Knight Park, this monument is inscribed with the names of 4 men who gave their lives in the service of our nation during World War I. This monument was erected in 1921, and also bears the names of those from Collingswood who served in the Great War.

Harry Rowles, of 110 Lawnside Avenue, Collingswood, died at Great Lakes Naval Station, IL, on October 3, 1918 from spinal meningitis following an attack of Spanish Influenza and pneumonia. He was the husband of Mrs. Eva Roles of Atlantic Avenue, Collingswood, and the son of William M. Roles, of Knight Avenue, the same borough. At the age of thirty years he enlisted in the Naval Aviation Corps on June 27, 1918, but was not called to service until September 9th. He was dead in less than a month after entering the service.

William P. Tatem, Private, of 885 Haddon Avenue, Collingswood, died at Camp Devins, MA, from pneumonia, on March 30, 1918. At the age of 25 years he enlisted on March 1, 1918, and on the eighteenth of the month he was sent to Fort Slocum. From there he was transferred to Camp Devins in a few days and assigned to Company B, 33rd Engineers. His death occurred within a month from the day he enlisted. He was the son of Henry R. Tatem, of Collingswood.

Ellwood K. Young, Private, of 21 West Stiles Avenue, Collingswood, N.J., died from pneumonia on December 2, 1918, just two days after being pronounced cured from wounds received during an accident in the Argonne Forest. Young was a motorcycle runner and in rising from a shell hole during an attack his belt became fastened in something and was torn from his waist. When the pistol in the holster fastened to the belt fell, the weapon exploded and he was wounded. He recovered only to contract pneumonia. Young was 20 years old and enlisted July 21, 1917, in the old 3rd regiment four days before its departure for Camp Edge, Sea Girt, N.J. He went to Camp McClellan, AL with the regiment and was transferred to Company B, 111th Machine Gun Battalion. He was the son of William H. and Azza Young, of Collingswood, N.J.

Six men from Camden, N.J. — Frank Ballerino, Michael Carr, Michael Yachus, Stephen V. Koscianski, Lewis Riondino, and Joseph H. Johnson — died together when the troop transport HMTS Rohna was struck by a German guided glider bomb and sank off the coast of North Africa. In addition, six other Camden County men — Jacob K. Jenkins and Carl Johanson of Pennsauken, 19-year-old Harry V. Taylor Jr. of Haddonfield, William McKeon of Blackwood, Merle Reagle of Lindenwold, and Elmer F. Day of Merchantville — also were lost that day. In total, 1,015 men were lost, but the story was never told to the families or the general public for over 57 years due to wartime censorship.

• The Rohna Disaster — Camden County Internet War Memorial
• MSNBC Coverage — Tom Brokaw