William Charles Shubert, born in December 1898, was the son of John and Nancy Margaret (Bearden) Shubert from Edgemoor, Anderson County, Tennessee. Edgemoor is in eastern Tennessee 178 miles due east of Nashville and 18 miles west northwest of Knoxville.
In the 1910 census, one-year-old William is living with his parents and siblings: Joe 18, Bessie 14, Samuel 11, Mattie 8, Nolie 5, and a lodger Martha Jackson 75, in civil district 9 of Anderson County, Tennessee. His father is farming.
In the 1910 census 11-year-old William is living with his parents and siblings Mattie 18, Nolie 15, and Edith 7, still in civil district 9 of Anderson County, Tennessee. His father is still farming.
William was in Company L of the 11th Infantry Regiment, 5th Division.
On 24 April 1918, the 11th infantry regiment sailed for France. By May of 1918, it joined the 5th Division near Chaumont, France. The 11th then took part in the Vosges Mountains, St. Mihiel, and Meuse-Argonne offensives. In the second phase of the Meuse-Argonne offensive, the regiment forged a brilliant crossing of the Meuse River.
William is not listed on any Tennessee WWI casualty or Gold Star lists. He is not listed in Soldiers of the Great War, Tennessee. Exclusion from these listings are likely because the Tennessee State Library and Archives lists Shubert, William C., Pvt., from Edgemoor, Anderson County, as a Deserter. I found no cause of death listed but given the date I would suspect influenza. Between April 1917 and November 1918 American court-martials sentenced 24 American deserters to death. None was actually shot.
Mrs. John Shubert is listed on the 1930 Pilgrimages of Gold Star Mothers and Widows to visit her son’s grave.
SHUBERT — Mr. and Mrs. John Shubert, Edgemoor, Tennessee, have just been informed of the death of their son, Pvt. Wm. Chas. Shubert, 11th Infantry of the American expeditionary forces.
The telegram received was dated July 14th, but up to the present time no information regarding the date or cause of death has been received. The remains, when received, will be interred in the Knoxville National Cemetery at Knoxville.
Private Shubert enlisted in the service in Cincinnati, March 9, 1918 at the age of 18 years, and landed in France May 1, 1918. Several months before he sailed he was stationed at Camp Forrest, Ga., where he at several times had the pleasure of visiting relatives and friends in Knoxville and Edgemoor.
He was gassed last August, and the last letter received from him (Dec. 29th, 1918) stated that he had been in the hospital for some months, but at that time seemed to think he would sail.
He is survived by his father and mother, also the following brothers and sisters: Miss Edith Shubert, Mrs. H.M. Walters and Mrs. J.S. Holt, Edgemoor, Tenn; Mrs. C.S Milligan, Inskip, Tenn. and Miss Nola Shubert, Knoxville, Tenn. and J.E. and S.J. Shubert, Knoxville, Tenn. Funeral notice will appear later.
- Rank: Private
- Date of death: 13 January 1919
- County: Anderson
- Hometown: Edgemoor
- Service Branch: Army
- Division/Assignment: Company L, 11th Infantry Regiment, 5th Division
- Theater: Europe
- Conflict: World War I
- Battles: Vosges Mountains, St. Mihiel, and Meuse-Argonne offensives
- Burial/Memorial Location: Knoxville National Cemetery
- Contact us to sponsor William C. Shubert
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