Private Hubert Aloysius Deasey

Family details:
Son of Patrick and Ursula Deasey.

Census details:
1901 - 6 years old Hubert is living at 79 Vincent Street, St Helens with parents James (45), Ursula (37) and five siblings: Mary G (15), Annie M (13), Ellen (10), Cecelia (8), Patrick J (1 Mth) 1911 Census - confirms the 16 Year old Hubert living at the parental home at 77 Vincent Street with his siblings. Sisters Mary aged 25, Annie aged 23, Nelly aged 19, Cicelia aged 17, and brother Patrick aged 10.

Notes:
Awarded the US Distinguished Service Cross St Helens Star: [url=https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/17204313.family-honour-wwi-soldier-hugh-received-second-highest-us-military-honour/]Family to honour WWI soldier Hugh who received second highest US military honour[/url]

Hubert Aloysius Deasey was a 1913 immigrant to the United States. He had been born in St. Helens, Lancashire, England of Patrick and Ursula Deasey. Previously he had been employed in the family business. He enlisted in the First Illinois National Guard Regiment commanded by Col. Joseph Sanborn which was eventually sent to France as the 131st Infantry of the 33rd Division. He was killed on August 9, 1918 at Chipilly Ridge, France in the Somme Sector. Hubert received a posthumous Distinguished Service Cross for this action. His citation reads in part: ...For extraordinary heroism in action near Chipilly Ridge, France, August 9th, 1918. Acting on his own initiative, he advanced alone against a machine-gun nest that had been causing heavy casualties among his comrades. He crawled to within a short distance of the enemy position before he was detected. He then rushed the spot and bayoneted three gunners, being himself killed in the encounter. He is buried at the American Cemetery at Suresnes, France outside of Paris. The Distinguished Service Cross is second only to the Medal of Honour for gallantry in the United States Army. The award criteria states "Extraordinary heroism not justifying the Medal of Honor; and the act or acts of heroism must have been so notable and have involved risk of life so extraordinary as to set the individual apart from his or her comrades". Thirty-third, 33rd Division (Illinois National Guard) Trained at Camp Logan. Houston, Texas. It held the Nickname the "Prairie Division" and was commanded by Major General George Bell, Jr. The Division fought at Hamel, St. Mihiel, Chipilly, Argonne and Meuse. [pic]imgs/WW1_misc/HubertAloysiusDeasey.jpg[/pic][caption]The St Helens Reporter - Courtesy Ste M[/caption] [center][pic2]imgs/S1PWHYAOTV/DSC_WW1-1.png[/pic2][/center][caption]US Distinguished Service Cross[/caption] [pic]imgs/S1PWHYAOTV/Hubert_Deasey_Draft1.jpg[/pic] [pic]imgs/S1PWHYAOTV/Hubert_Deasey_Draft.jpg[/pic][caption]Private Hubert A Deacey's Draft Card (Images Courtesy of John Yates)[/caption] [pic]imgs/WW1_ext/LoweHouseMem4.jpg[/pic][caption]Hugh is remembered on the [url=lmem.php?lmem=10]Lowe House Memorial[/caption][/url]