DOB/DOD: August 15, 1905 (Orrville, OH) – January 9, 1942; 36 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Married Ruth V. Barbour Bingham Bachmann (1913-1981) on April 6, 1932, in Norwich, CT. Divorced in February 1938. Married Delcini Louise Daniels (1918-1990) on March 5, 1938, in New London, CT.
CHILDREN: One daughter, unnamed, only lived a few hours and was buried in February 1937. Two sons with Ruth, Cletus Arthur Chilcote (1933-present) and Gene R. Chilcote (1935-1995). One son with Louise, Arthur E. Chilcote [U.S. Navy, 1963-1969] (1940-1971).
LOCAL ADDRESS: 20 Division Street, New London
SERVICE NUMBER: Unknown
FAMILY: Born to Arthur E. (1872-1955) and Gertrude Rutter Chilcote (1883-1965). Three sisters, Mildred (1907-1968), Ida Mae “Mary” Chilcote Fetherolf (1912-1991), and Eleanor Chilcote Edwards (1917-1995). Five brothers, Ralph E. (1909-2000), Floyd D. (1914-2006), Robert R. (1919-2005), Melvin E. (1921-1997), and Lester (1923-2007).
CIRCUMSTANCES: Cletus served as a Mate on the Mine Planter General Richard Arnold, U.S. Army, during World War II. The General Arnold, after successfully saving another Army mine planter that had suffered engine trouble while heading to Portsmouth, sprang a leak in a storm and sank off Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The only survivor of the General Arnold was the Captain of the ship, William H. Chasteen. When they first tried to rescue him, he shouted, “Never mind me. Save the others! ” He, however, was the only one left to rescue, and he also survived the war. [from russpickett.com]
From The Day (New London, CT) on January 10, 1942
CHILCOTE LOST HIS LIFE ON FIRST TRIP AS ARNOLD MATE
Mrs. Dulcie Chilcote of Oswegatchie road, Waterford, disclosed today that her husband, Cletus A. Chilcote, was making his first trip under his new appointment as mate of the army’s junior mine planter General Richard Arnold, when he lost his life, with nine others, in the sinking of the Arnold off the New Hampshire coast Thursday.
Mrs. Chilcote said the 35-year-old officer received his promotion last Tuesday and assumed his new post on Wednesday, the day before he put out to sea for the first time as mate.
The Arnold formerly was a passenger and freight boat plying between this city and harbor defense posts of Long Island sound. Recently she was converted into a junior mine planter and assigned to Portsmouth.
Planned to Move to Portsmouth
The Chilcotes planned to move to Portsmouth. Pending the finding of an apartment there. Mrs. Chilcote and her two-year-old son, Arthur, had been staying with Mr. and Mrs.
Wilfred J. Gelinas in the Oswegatchie road.
Mrs. Gelinas said that Chilcote’s young son became aware of the tragedy Thursday night when news of the sinking was received, but before Chilcote’s death was announced. She said the little boy, lying in his crib, cried over and over again: “Daddy’s gone: Daddy’s gone,” and could not be comforted until, after being picked up, he fell asleep from exhaustion.
Besides his widow and son. Arthur, Chilcote leaves another son by a former marriage, Cletus Arthur Chilcote, Jr., of this city. He also leaves his parents, five brothers, and three sisters in Ohio.
Before entering the Army boat service, Chilcote served 12 years in the Navy.
He was one of ten members of the crew of the Arnold who lost their lives. Five besides Chilcote were residents of this city and vicinity, as follows:
Robert H. Larkin, chief engineer, married, of 5 Farnsworth Street of this city
Harry N. Reeves, deckhand, of 8 Thames Street, this city
John J. LoGioco, deckhand, of 77 Belden Street, this city
Robert E. Gaboury, fireman, married, of 404 Poquonoe Road, Groton
Nicholas M. Robinson, fireman, married, of Niantic
William H. Chasteen, 32, of Glenwood Avenue extension, Waterford, Master of the Arnold, the only survivor.
Chasteen today was reported to be suffering from severe shock, and he has not been told of the loss of the members of his crew. He is a patient at the Camp Langdon post hospital at Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
WEBMASTER NOTE: William Chasteen lived to be 70 years old and died in Port Arthur, Texas, in 1982.