"SONOGEE" HOME FOR WOUNDED SOLDIERS - 1918

"SONOGEE"  HOME FOR WOUNDED SOLDIERS - 1918

Bar Harbor Record
August 10, 1918


Sonogee, the beautiful summer home of Mrs. Lyman B. Kendall of New York, is now a convalescent home for wounded soldiers.  The home bars no soldier of any of the Allies and this week six wounded Canadian soldiers arrived.  The boys are all very happy in spite of the loss of limbs and are recuperating rapidly with the excellent care which is being given them.  The boys are waiting for artificial limbs which have been ordered for them.  When these are received they will go to Canada where the government offers them six months course in any work they wish to take up.
The new arrivals are Pvt. Houston of the 50th Battalion, Can. Infantry, who saw two and a half years service on the western front and lost one leg in the battle of Lens Avior.  Pvt. W.E. Browne of the 18th Battalion, Can. Infantry, who saw 23 months service on the western front and lost one leg in the battle of Bullie Granie.
The remaining four men each lost one leg at the battle of Passhendale in November, 1917.  The men are Pvt. L. Williamson, 30th Battery, Can. field Artillery, who saw 37 months service, Pvt. J. Parkinson of the 22nd Battery, Can. Field Artillery who saw 4 years service;  Pvt. A. Bishop, 10th Battery, Can. Artillery, who saw 4 years service, and Corp. J.J. Melhan of the 27th Battalion, Can. Infantry, who saw 43 months service.

Stock photo of a wounded soldier

At the battle of Passhendale an interesting story is told of an artillery duel between a Canadian and German Major, both in charge of machine gun companies.  Both officers knew each others exact position and had been waiting for the chance to get at each other.  It is told that after several hours battle the Canadian officer won the fight with the last remaining cartridge from the last machine gun.  The only men who came through were the Canadian Major with one Corporal and one private.
Lieut. Roberts of the Royal Flying Corps has been at Sonogee for several weeks.  He has been gassed and finally received a shrapnel wound in the head.   as the result of this wound for several days he lost eyesight, speech and hearing.  He underwent four operations, eighteen pieces of shrapnel being removed from his head.  He owes his life to an American doctor from Rochester, N.Y..



NOTE;
With Sonogee about to go out of business and the fate of its buildings unknown, I though it fitting to run this old story from the Bar Harbor Record and share a bit of history about Sonogee i was unaware of.    Most likely, due to its prime location over looking the ocean, the property will be purchased, torn down, and yet another large hotel built, I hope that is not the case but the property does set along hotel row.