W.F. Ingram of Midway, Claude Sears of Roberdel Killed in France, 1918

From the Rockingham Post-Dispatch, Dec. 12, 1918. There are two nice photos with this article. You can see them at https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn91068736/1918-12-12/ed-1/seq-3/

Two More Crusaders. . . William Franklin Ingram and Claud Sears, two Richmond county Men, Killed in Action in France.

William Franklin Ingram

Mr. Edwin T. Ingram of Midway, several weeks ago received a wire from the War department, notifying him that his son, William Franklin Ingram, had been officially reported as missing in action since August 2^nd.

However, Mr. Ingram has every reason to believe that his son was killed in action. The young man was a member of Co. B, 120^th 30^th division, and according to letters received in “Raleigh in September from members of that company, young Ingram was the first of the company to lose his life. According to those letters, a German machine gun nest was raided in broad daylight by Lt. Williams, Marshall Teachey and Frank Ingram. They killed about 12 of the enemy, but Ingram himself was killed. As a reward for his bravery, Teachey was given a 14-day leave to Paris. Since that time, Teachey has himself been killed in action

There is a possibility that Ingram may be a prisoner, but the letters of the Raleigh boys would indicate that he really is dead. The lad came of good fighting stock. His grandfather, Major Sanders Ingram, was a brave soldier in two wars—the Mexican and Civil wars, and died about 13 years ago at the age of 87 years., Young Ingram was born May 11, 1898, and volunteered Sept. 16, 1916, when but 18 years old. He saw service on the Mexican border with his Raleigh company, and at the time of his death in France was a Corporal.

Claude Sears

Claude Sears, son of J.T. Sears of Roberdel No. 2, was killed in action in France September 29^th. At the time of his death he was a Corporal.

Sears was born Aug. 14, 1893, in Moore county, but the greater portion of his life was spent in this county. Two years ago he volunteered with the Raleigh company of the National Guard, and saw service on the Mexican border. This company later became Co. B, 120^th Infantry, commanded by Capt. Walter Clark Jr., son of Chief Justice Clark. This regiment belonged to the “Old Hickory,” or 30^th division publically praised by Field Marshal Haig, of the British army. That young Sears was a faithful and brave solider, his promotion from the ranks to Corporal show.