Pat "Taddle" Craven
| Date and Place of Birth: | August 17, 1882 Williamstown, PA |
| Date and Place of Death: | October 1, 1918 Argonne, France |
| Baseball Experience: | Minor League |
| Position: | Umpire |
| Rank: | Private |
| Military Unit: | Company D, 108th Machine Gun Battalion, 28th Division US Army |
| Area Served: | France |
Patrick F. “Taddle” Craven, the son of James and Annie Craven, was
born in Williamstown, Pennsylvania on August 17, 1882. Pat was one of
nine children born to the Irish-American family in this close-knit coal
mining community. Himself a miner, they faced dangerous conditions
underground, with long hours and little safety regulation which led to
tensions between miners and owners over wages and working conditions.
Pat was among the Williamstown miners caught up in the riots during a
strike in 1902.
A familiar site at local athletic affairs he officiated baseball and
football games for many years and even tried his hand as a minor league
umpire in the Class B Tri-State League in 1913, but resigned in mid-May
due to ill health.
On May 1, 1917, 36-year-old Pat Craven enlisted with Company G, Fourth
Pennsylvania National Guard based at Pine Grove. He was assigned to
Company D, 108th Machine Gun Battalion of the 28th Division, and trained
at Camp Upton, New York in early 1918, before a 13-day voyage to
Liverpool, England.
Private Craven was soon in the midst of battle in France. On September
23, 1918, he wrote home:
“All the boys are well with the exception of a few who were gassed, but
will soon be back with us. The Williamstown boys are second to none, and
the people at home need not worry about any of their friends. If
anything serious happens I will write and tell you, so do not listen to
any rumours. Good-bye and good luck to everybody.”
During a particularly vicious counterattack by German troops in the
Argonne, Craven stuck to his gun and held off the attack despite heavy
losses on both sides. On October 1, 1918, he volunteered to crawl to a
spring to refill the canteens of his pinned-down comrades. A German
shell dropped 10-feet away and Private Pat Craven was killed instantly.
Pat was originally buried at Apremont in France. His remains were
returned home in 1921, and buried at Sacred Heart Cemetery in
Williamstown on September 24. It was one of the largest funerals ever
seen in Williamstown. The mines were closed down and the procession,
headed by a band, was followed by veterans and 41 vehicles.
It had not been known at the time that Pat was entitled to the Purple
Heart Medal. His sister, Margaret, received the award on his behalf 60
years after his death in 1978.
Private Patrick F. Craven
Thanks to Jack Morris for bringing Pat Craven to my attention.
Date Added December 11, 2025
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