Gustave F. Marquardt
January 16, 1887 - May 9, 1970
Gustave F. Marquardt (Gus) was born on January 16, 1897 to William and Emille (Schmoll) Marquardt in Elkton, SD. Gus would grow up in the Elkton\Flandreau SD area along with siblings Henry, Etna, Mary and Albert. Gustave joined the Army in WWI where he served as a Private in the 26th Co. Engineers.
After the war, he returned to South Dakota where he farmed with his brother Albert. Gus died on May 9, 1970.
WWI Veterans
Fairview Cemetery
26th Co. Engineers (Water Supply Regiment) WWI:
During World War I, the 26th Engineers (Water Supply Regiment), a unit of the US Army Corps of Engineers, was responsible for providing water to troops in the field, transporting it in petrol cans and purifying it with chemicals.
Here's a more detailed look:
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Role: The 26th Engineers (Water Supply Regiment) was part of the US Army Corps of Engineers and played a crucial role in ensuring the troops had access to potable water.
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Water Transport: They transported water to the front-line trenches in petrol cans.
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Water Purification: The water was purified with chemicals.
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Drinking Water: To help disguise the taste, most water was drunk in the form of tea, often carried cold in soldier's individual water bottles.
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Historical Context: The regiment's activities are documented in "History of the 26Th Engineers, U.S.a. (Water Supply Regiment) in the World War, September, 1917-March, 1919".
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Other Units: The Royal Engineers in the British Army also had Inland Water Transport Services during WWI.
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