Harry J. Doughty

Private First Class, U.S. Army

Company D, 31st Battalion, United States Guards

Entered the Service from: New Jersey
Died: October 17, 1918

Private First Class Harry J. Doughty was born in the Westmont section of Haddon Township, New Jersey on March 12, 1893. He was raised by his widowed grandmother, Mrs. Rebecca Jack on Cuthbert Road in Haddon Township.

When Harry J. Doughty registered for the draft on June 5, 1917 he was living in Palmyra, New Jersey. He was then working as a trolley car motorman for the Southern Pennsylvania Traction Company in Chester, Pennsylvania. Harry Doughty was single at that time, and had not married when he was called up in June of 1918 at Beverly, New Jersey.

Harry J. Doughty was inducted into the United States Army in Beverly, New Jersey on June 27, 1918. Initially assigned to the 153 Depot Brigade at Camp Dix, Private Doughty served with the 312th Ammunition Train from July 18 to August 10, 1918. He was returned to the 153 Depot Brigade little more than a week, then transferred to Company D, 31st Battalion of U.S. Guards. The United States Guards were a formation of the United States Army created to guard strategic installations and areas in order to free infantry regiments for war service during World War I. The Guards were created on 22 December 1917 and were controlled by the Chief of the Militia Bureau. They eventually comprised 48 battalions of men who were either too old or physically unfit for active service.

Private Harry J. Doughty was sent to Camp Ethan Allen in Vermont to join his new unit. He was promoted to Private First Class on August 29, 1918.

Private Doughty became a victim of the Spanish Flu pandemic that reached America in the fall of 1918. He died of pneumonia at Camp Ethan Allen on October 17, 1918.

Funeral services were held for Private First Class Doughty at the home of his grandmother, Mrs. Rebecca Jack, 310 Cuthbert Avenue, Haddon Township, New Jersey.