PRIVATE GUADALUPE GARZA, U.S.

ARMY
JANUARY 29, 1887 FEBRUARY 5, 1918
World War I
th
Detachment 2, 90 Infantry Division, Camp Travis, San Antonio, Texas
Killed in Action: Sinking of the HMS Tuscania between Scotlands Islay Isle and Irelands
Rathlin Island

VICTORY MEDAL

HMS TUSCANIA

Guadalupe Garza was born in Benavides, Texas. His father was Telesforo and his mother
was Maria G. Garza. His siblings were: Dolores, Josepha, Jose Ildifonso, Hilario and Nestor.
Guadalupes wife was Otila Cuellar Garza and they had a daughter Concepcion Cuellar
Garza.
Information from the military registration card dated 2 June 1917: Guadalupe was drafted
on 2 June 1917 at the age of 30. He was born January 29, 1887 in Benavides, Texas and
was a naturalized born citizen. On his registration card He marked that he was a Chauffeur
and self-employed in San Diego, TX. He also indicated that he supported a wife. Note: His
daughter was born two months after he was drafted.

Guadalupe GARZA- U.S. WORLD WAR I Draft Registration Card.

Guadalupe reported for duty as a Private with the 165th Depot Brigade, 40th Company,
Travis Detachment #2, Camp Travis, San Antonio, Texas. After training, the Detachment
was sent by rail to Hoboken, New Jersey. The unit boarded a steamer and crossed the
Hudson toward a Pier in New York. The Detachment was to board the HMS Tuscania at Pier
56. While in port the Tuscania was painted an olive drab for camouflage. A special Rapid
fire four-inch gun was mounted at her stern.
The Tuscania ((http://www.islayinfo.com/loss-troopship-tuscania-islay.html) was manned
by British officers and 384 crew members. There were 2,013 American troops as
passengers aboard. Around 24 January 1918 with the destination being La Havre,
France, the Tuscania departed New York with a scheduled arrival date of March
24, 1918.
The ship steams for Halifax, Canada and on the morning of 26 January 1918 the HMS
Tuscania arrives in Halifax, the designated rendezvous, for this ship, joining ships from
other locations, to form a convoy. On 27 January 1918, Sunday, HMS Tuscania leaves the
harbor of Halifax with 2 other troopships, the HMS Baltic and the HMS Ceramic.
After twelve days at sea, 4 February 1918 while west of Ireland, the convoy is met by 8
British destroyers that came to escort them through the British Isles.
The next day on 5 February 1918, a German U-boat 77 (submarine) had come north after
operating off Berehaven to try her luck in the North Channel, and took up her position
seven miles north of the Rathlin Island Lighthouse, in which another submarine UB-97
happened to be operating. The convoy had passed the Northern tip of Ireland, and was
proceeding South easterly of Ireland in the North English Channel. It is recorded that they
were 30 miles from land, the Scottish Coast on one side, the Irish Coast on the opposite
side.

5:40 p.m.- With considerable difficulty Commander Meyer (UB-77) fires two 2,000 lbs
torpedoes (G7 type II, 280 kg. warhead) at what he perceived as the largest ship of this
convoy, the Tuscania, range 1300 yards. No alarm sounded from any one of the 15
lookouts on the Tuscania. No one saw the wake of foam as the torpedo came towards the
vessel.
5:41 p.m. - One torpedo passes harmlessly in front of the Tuscania. The second torpedo
slams into the side of the Tuscania's hull. Simultaneously the lights went out and a
deafening crash echoed and re-echoed through the ship. The torpedo struck squarely amid
ship on the starboard side (boiler room). A great hole was torn in the hull and all the
superstructure directly above was reduced to a mass of wreckage. Several lifeboats were
lost due to the explosion, which had thrown a sheet of flame and debris, two hundred feet
in the air. Fragments of Steel and wood were shot in all directions. Clouds of hissing steam
rose from the ship. From the moment of the explosion the ship began listing starboard.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Tuscania_(1914)
10:00 p.m. Four hours after being struck, the Tuscania took her final plunge. With a
muffled explosion as the water reached her boilers, she gently slid; bow first, under the
surface. According to official reports from the British Navy, the Tuscania sank 7 miles
north of the Rathlin Ireland Lighthouse.

http://www.20thengineers.com/ww1-bn06.html

While the work of abandoning ship was in progress a number of trawlers and smaller
fishing boats helped in gathering the survivors. These together with the destroyers combed
the vicinity picking up men in lifeboats and rafts. Each bit of wreckage was closely scanned
on the possibility of there being someone clinging to it. In this way the majority of the
living was rescued. A few swimming alone and helpless were left. Darkness and the wide
area the rafts and boats were scattered made it impossible to find them all. Three
lifeboats, each more than filled with its complement of men, were overlooked. Among the
first from the big ship, they had drifted quite a distance before the rescue work had fairly
commenced. With no guidance and at the mercy of the wind and waves they drifted
aimlessly for hours and then were dashed upon the cliffs of the Isle of Islay, Scotland. Out
of more than sixty men in one of these boats but eight were saved. It was here
that the greater part of our loss was sustained.
The Tuscania was the first ship carrying American troops to be sunk, and public opinion in
the USA regarded its loss as an outrage. In 1920 the American Red Cross erected a
monument on the Isle of Islay, where many of the victims had been buried before their
transfer that year to the American War Cemetery at Brookwood (England) or to their
homeland.
Some of the burial accounts as published in Scotland newspapers read:
"Oban, Argyllshire - Many sad scenes have been witnessed in Islay, but no one can
remember any tragedy of the sea which so deeply stirred the feeling of all as the
internment of the brave young men from America, who lost their lives when coming to
fight for us. The people of this district did all that was possible to render assistance in the
sad work of reverently disposing of the remains and showing all honor to the United
States. Plain coffins were made and a suitable piece of land for burial was given. All
together 50 bodies came ashore in Lochindaal. Some were temporarily placed in the
church at Porthaven, others housed at Port Charlotte and two at Bowmore."
"Port Ellen - The last week was one of mournful activity in this district. Civilians of all
grades took part in searching for bodies on shore, rock and islets, and aiding the survivors
in burying the dead. The first internment took place at Killeyan in a wild, romantic spot,
known locally as Portman Galon, and adjoining the Mull of Oa."
Owing to a shortage of wood to make coffins, many of the bodies were wrapped in canvas
and buried in tiers one on top of the other. This part of the coast is practically without
trees. The owner of one estate to make coffins for as many as possible ordered out his
men to cut down 25 trees, the only ones in many miles.
The newspaper El Paso Herald, El Paso, Texas Wed, Feb 13, 1918-Page 1 and 2 reported
that 164 Americans were laid to rest at different points on the Scottish coast. There were
131 identified and 33 unidentified soldiers. The unidentified soldiers were given a number
and noted with: unidentified private or unidentified soldier. * Private Guadalupe Garza was
one of those soldiers buried as an unidentified private.
*NOTE: Private Guadalupe Garzas body was later identified by fingerprints as reported by:
The Washington Post (Washington, District of Columbia) 31 Mar 1918, Sun, Page 16. A
copy of the article is shown on pages following.

Left (picture) is a ceremony of the American Soldiers when they were first buried.
This American Hero, Private Guadalupe Garza was one of two local soldiers (Pvt Rosendo
Diaz) that were killed aboard the HMS Tuscania. Theirs are the only names engraved on
the Memorial in front of the Guadalupe R. Ramirez American Legion Post #405, as World
War I Casualties from the Benavides, Texas area.
This Hero is buried in the La Piedad Cemetery, McAllen, TX. An American Hero, indeed.
God Bless you Sir!
From an article written about a Tuscania Casualty (Newspaper Unknown)
http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~carmita/Regiment/news/Travis_2.html
The sinking of the Tuscania is the first considerable loss that brings the war home to
America, but it thrills the American people to a new realization of the task confronting
them in helping to secure an ordered world
The men in the long graves gave their lives as simply and as gallantly for their flag, their
country and humanity, as if they had fallen, Veterans, on the firing lines. They showed
their spirit in their last moment living. Dead, they are not forgotten. Their valor and their
sacrifice will not be lost upon their countrymen.
-END OF TRIBUTETHE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS FROM CAMP TRAVIS, TEXAS TO SCOTLAND/IRELAND, TO
BURIAL AND MEMORIAL DEDICATION FOR PVT GUADALUPE GARZA FOLLOW:

BY TRAIN: CAMP TRAVIS TO HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY BY SHIP (HMS TUSCANIA): NEW
YORK, NY PIER 56 TO SCOTLAND/IRELAND COASTS

FEBRUARY 5TH, 1918 (5:41 PM): HMS TUSCANIA IS TOPEDOED OF THE COASTS OF
SCOTLAND/IRELAND. THE DESTINATION WAS LA HAVRE, FRANCE

Read columns left to right: THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE (SAN FRANCISCO, CA) FEBRUARY 8,
1918

THE WICHITA BEACON (WICHITA, KANSAS) 7 FEB 1918 THU, PAGE 1

El Paso Herald (El Paso, Texas) 13 Feb 1918, Wed Page 1: PVT GARZA WAS
UNIDENTIFIED AT THIS POINT AND HIS BODY WAS GIVEN A NUMBER ONLY.

THE WASHINGTON POST (WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA) 31 MAR 1918, SUN,

PAGE 16. GUADALUPE GARZA APPEARS ON THIS LIST.

EL PASO HERALD (EL PASO, TEXAS) 26 JUN 1920, SAT PAGE 4

Note: Reading other articles, showed where the Scottish clan was indeed adamant that
they wanted to take care of the American Heros buried on the island.
LAST
ALTWEIN
BARKER
BARNES

FIRST
George
Ben
Edgar

DIAZ
EDMONDSO
N
FEYRER
FLORES

Rosendo

GARZA
HERAS

Guadalupe
Florencio

HILL
HUDGEONS
KEOWN
MAY
McMURRAY
MORENO
OWENS
OXFORD
PEREZ
PEREZ
RAMOS
RAY
RODRIGUEZ

Martin
Thomas
William
Roy
William
George
Ben
Henry
Angel
Juan
Lucio
Otto
Cirilo

ROUTT
SCHULZE
SMITH
SPARKMAN
STRAACH
WHITE
WHITTINGTO
N
WILSON
WOOD
YBARRA
YOUNG

Elton
Edward
Sixto

Edward
Richard
Oscar
James
Arthur
Patrick
Walter
William
James
Jose
Edward

MIDDLE
A.
Carl

RANK
Pvt
Pvt
Pvt

HOMETOWN
Temple, Texas
Fouselburg, Texas
Ranger, Texas
*Orange Grove,
Texas

CASUALTY
KIA
KIA
KIA

KIA
KIA
KIA

Pvt
Pvt

Strawn, Texas
Weiner, Texas
Alice, Texas
**Rio Grande City,
Texas
Alice, Texas

Pvt
Pvt
Pvt
Pvt
Pvt
Pvt
Pvt
Pvt
Pvt
Pvt
Pvt
Pvt
Pvt

Wimburley, Texas
Halletsville, Texas
Sand Spring, Texas
Lindale, Texas
Royse, Texas
Pearsall, Texas
Canadian, Texas
Turnerville, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
Boerne, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
Coleman, Texas
Bergs Mill, Texas

KIA
KIA
KIA
KIA
KIA
KIA
KIA
KIA
KIA
KIA
MIA
KIA
KIA

Pvt
Pvt
Pvt
Pvt
Pvt
Pvt

Pecan Gap, Texas

Boerne, Texas
Winters, Texas
Frisco, Texas
Miles, Texas
Dallas, Texas

KIA
KIA
KIA
KIA
KIA
KIA

Pvt
Pvt
Pvt
Pvt
Pvt

Sherman, Texas
Canton, Texas
Yantis, Texas
Laredo, Texas
Gilmer, Texas

KIA
KIA
KIA
KIA
KIA

Pvt
Lee
Charles

Columb
us
E.
W.
F.
V.
Grady
A.

Lafayet
te
Lee
F.
Henry
L.
R.
C.
Franklin

Pvt
Pvt
Pvt

KIA

KIA
KIA

These were the Heros that lost their lives during the sinking of the Tuscania. This list
shows only those Texans assigned to Det 1 & 2, Camp Travis, TX.

Upon arrival of Pvt Garzas remains to the United States circa 1920, an application was
submitted to the War Department for a Grave marker. The request was submitted in 1933,
all newspapers stated that they were being exhumed by July 1 st, 1920. I was not able to
ascertain the disparity.

Corrections submitted to change place of Birth to Benavides, TX and Rio Grande City also
will change to Benavides, Texas

Guadalupe Garza photo circa 1915, San Diego, TX

The Memorial in front of the Guadalupe R. Ramirez, American Legion Post #405,
Benavides, Texas. This memorial was dedicated sometime after the end of World War II.
PVT GUADALUPE GARZAS FAMILIES CENSUS, AND OTHER DOCUMENTS FOLLOWS:

Pvt Guadalupe Garzas widow: Otila Cuellar Garcia. She is buried next to Pvt Garza at The
La Piedad Cemetery, McAllen, TX.

Otila Cuellar was the widow of Pvt Guadalupe Garza and she was the niece of the Head of
the Household Benicio Salinas. Concepcion Garza was the daughter of Otila Cuellar and
Pvt Guadalupe Garza.

Concepcion Conchita Garza was the daughter of Pvt Guadalupe Garza and Otila Cuellar
Garza.

Concepcion Garza, the daughter of Pvt Guadalupe Garza and Otila Cuellar.
Concepcion Garza, daughter of Pvt Guadalupe Garza and Otila Cuellar Garcia.

1910: Pvt Guadalupe Garzas family, Karnes City, Texas

1920: Pvt Guadalupe Garzas family 2 years after he was KIA. The family had moved from
Karnes City to Benavides, TX between 1910 and 1920.

Hilario Garza younger brother to Pvt Guadalupe Garza WWI Draft card

Continuednext page

The above article appeared: The Alice Daily Echo, Alice, Texas Wednesday, Feb 2, 1968.
The article was provided by Omar Rivera
Pvt Miguel Martinez (29 Sep 1892 - 27 Oct 1981 buried in San Diego Cemetery, Jim Wells
County, TX) survived the sinking of the HMS Tuscania on 5 Feb 1918. He went on and
fought against the Germans almost to the end of WWI. The Santo Nino Community that
relates to Pvt Guadalupe Garza on the article is in Duval County, between Gonzalitoz and
Rios, TX.

MAY THEY ALL REST IN PEACE!