Armenian Relief, 1916

"You Won't Let Me Starve, Will

You?", Poster, American Committee

for Armenian and Syrian Relief, early

20th century.

Posters such as this raised

awareness of the plight of Turkish

Armenians during the years of the

Armenian genocide.  Both Middle-

borough's Armenian and non-

Armenian communities engaged in

relief efforts designed to reduce the

suffering inflicted upon Armenians in

what is considered by many as the

first genocide of the twentieth

century.

Perhaps no local ethnic group of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries witnessed such collective horrors or suffered so grievously as the Armenians.

Following abortive attempts to establish territorial autonomy for themselves within Ottoman Turkey in the early 1890s, Armenians were retaliated against through a wave of Turkish and Kurdish atrocities which was unleashed between 1894 and 1896. Encouraged by Sultan Abdul Hamid II, the widespread violence prompted Armenians to begin emigrating en masse. Among the first Armenians to seek refuge in Middleborough were Michael Krikorian, who arrived in 1892, and Garabed Kayajan, who arrived about the same time, both escaping the worst violence. Others would soon follow.

The arrival of additional Armenians seeking refuge from the Hamidian massacres being perpetrated in Turkey fueled the local Armenian community’s lingering distrust and fear of the Turkish government and its intentions towards the Armenian minority both within and outside Turkey. In 1897, ten Armenian operatives of the Leonard & Barrows shoe plant on Center Street quit the manufactory, alleging that a fellow employee was a Turkish government agent, an indication of just how deeply-rooted were anti-Turkish fears within the local Armenian community.

Taking employment in the town’s several shoe factories, local Armenians organized both politically and socially, establishing the Armenian National Union of Middleboro to address and meet the needs of their small, but growing, community, and assisting newly-arrived immigrants in learning English. Many Armenian immigrants were desperate to learn the language, and advertisements in the local newspapers conveyed their sense of urgency.

Wanted. - Board and room for two young men, where they may have an opportunity to learn and talk the English language, with the family. Will pay liberal charges for board and room. Address P. O. Box 199, Middleboro.

Situation Wanted. - Young Armenian, good, clean, smart fellow, desires position, where he can learn American language, will work for board. Vagim Tatulian. 8 Frank Street.

The creation of a stable, though small Armenian community in Middleborough encouraged others to seek refuge in town from the continuing violence back in Turkey. In 1910, when a number of new Armenian immigrants to Middleborough were interviewed by a Middleboro Gazette correspondent, they revealed that their motive in leaving Turkey was “to pass the rest of their lives here away from the danger of Turkish massacres.”

Indicative of the growing assimilation of the local Armenians into the community, as well as the esteem in which they were held, was Middleborough's response to renewed violence against Armenians in Ottoman Turkey beginning in 1915.

Though the Turkish government today denies that the systematic mass deportations and atrocities of 1915-23 constitute genocide and states they were the unintended consequence of civil war, Middleborough’s Armenian community at the time, then numbering about 100 souls, had little doubt (then or since) that the events transpiring in Turkey were the results of a concerted, deliberate and orchestrated government policy to eliminate Armenians within the Ottoman Empire.

As Turkish actions against the Armenians grew in scope and severity in 1915, news regarding the deteriorating situation filtered back to Armenian-American communities like those in Middleborough and local Armenian-born residents formed relief committees in an effort to ameliorate the worst excesses of the Turkish government. In the latter half of 1915, the Armenian Relief Fund solicited local Armenians to contribute to relief efforts in their native land. The response was overwhelming for such a relatively small community composed of manual laborers who earned low wages and had little money to contribute. “…A romance, a wonderful financial sacrifice when compared with the number of earners and their modest earnings”, wrote the Middleboro Gazette of the Armenian community’s efforts.

For Middleborough’s non-Armenian community, news of the atrocities of mass killings and forced deportations occurring in Turkey were brought to the fore by reputable newspapers and journals, including the New York Times, throughout 1915 and 1916. More locally, the Gazette carried a news item in early 1916 that focused upon the famine conditions prevailing in Turkish Armenia and reported that “conditions in many quarters are so distressing that the Armenians are forced to eat grass. They are dying by hundreds for want of food!” Undoubtedly, the local shoe plants where the majority of the Armenian community was engaged in employment became centers for the dissemination of information regarding the genocide.

As a result of a growing local consciousness, in May, 1916, Middleborough’s non-Armenian community established the Middleborough Committee for Armenian and Syrian Relief, an organization composed of leading residents and dedicated to raising funds for relief efforts. Among the representatives were Town Clerk A. A. Thomas, Alvin C. Howes and several local pastors. Representing the Armenian shoe workers were Superintendent Kennedy of the George E. Keith shoe manufactory on Sumner Avenue and Sylvanus L. Brett of the Boot & Shoe Workers’ Union.

Leonard & Barrows Shoe Manufactory, Center

and Pearl Streets, Middleborough, MA,

picture postcard, A. S. Burbank Co., c. 1910

The local shoe industry was the largest

employer of members of the local Armenian

community.  Consequently, it was in factories

such as Leonard & Barrows that much

information about the situation in Turkey was

shared and relief efforts were initiated.

The Gazette made an eloquent appeal for funds for Armenian relief, and termed the Armenians the “constant martyrs of the century … who have suffered all out of proportion to any relation to the great European powers at war”. The newspaper emphatically committed both itself and the community to the cause, boldly declaring “Middleboro will help – and you are a Middleboroean!” Tuesday, June 6 was set aside as the day for local residents to give, with the preceding Sunday designated as a day for collections by local churches, Sunday schools and brotherhoods. "Thirty societies responded and it was splendidly representative of Middleboro's best interest in these people who have suffered massacre, pillage, starvation, outrage, in whole families and villages, 750,000 having perished since the great war began."

Though the success of the local Armenian relief movement in 1916 undoubtedly helped reduce the suffering of Armenians in Turkey, ultimately it failed to bring about an end to the genocide. Consequently, many Armenian-Americans would be moved to adopt a more aggressive approach towards this end. On August 3, 1917, following American entry into World War I, a number of local Armenian men including Haroutune Haroutunian, Sarkis K. Afarian, Madirus Gochgarian, Dicran Baghdelian and Mihran Piranian, enlisted in the French Army Legion d'Orient, anxious to serve in the front lines against Germany’s Turkish ally and avenge the Armenian genocide. The Legion, created in November 1916, included some 2,000 Armenian-Americans, most with the same goal.

In 1918, Haroutunian wrote his brother John in Middleborough: "We are ready to attack the Turkish army by orders from Gen. Allenby. We are very happy at the present time because we are seeing the surrender of our enemy from our motherland." Haroutunian gave voice to not only the local Armenian community’s willingness to sacrifice but its desire for justice relative to the genocide when he wrote Lorenzo Wood on March 16, 1918, that “for humanity and justice, we will be ready for all happenings…”

It is estimated that between 800,000 and 1,500,000 Armenians perished during the Armenian genocide.

Dickran Diran

Eighty years ago, on Memorial Day, May 30, 1929, Dickran Diran Square at Lakeville was dedicated to the memory of the town's sole World War I casualty in a simple, though moving, ceremony. Featured was the joint dedication of Dickran Diran Square and Lakeville's World War I Honor Roll which stands in the square in front of the Lakeville Town House. At the time, the following eulogy to Diran was delivered by Clarence M. Gurney of Simeon Nickerson Post No. 64 of the American Legion:

At this point in today’s activities, we assemble here to honor the memory of, and dedicate this square to Dickran Diran, the only citizen from the Town of Lakeville who was killed in action during the World War.

Notwithstanding the late entry of the United States into the World war, there is scarcely a town in the country that did not sacrifice, at least the life of one citizen, in that great conflict.

Cities and towns are rapidly adopting the idea of dedicating public places to the memory of such citizens, and it is a most commendable idea.

A marker of bronze is erected, years may come and years may go, but as the elements of time fail to destroy, or lessen, the admiration and respect now held for those heroes.

Early in the month of October, 1917, within a stone’s throw of where we now stand, Dickran Diran called to receive his outfit provided by the Soldiers’ Aid of this town. As far as can be learned, this was his last act before leaving this town in answer to his adopted country’s call, and his last words will never be forgotten by those who heard them, I trust, that by you too they will be forever remembered, he said, “Whatever I do, Lakeville will never be ashamed of me.”

“Whatever I do, Lakeville will never be ashamed of me,” let us remember those words of Dickran Diran.

He was a stranger to many in this town, his residence in the town of Lakeville, prior to his service in the army, was less than one year, but that is of little importance, he is the man who said, “Whatever I do, Lakeville will never be ashamed of me.”

What did he do? He gave his life for his country. What more could he do? No, Lakeville will never be ashamed of Dickran Diran, and attests to that fact by placing here this bronze marker, and dedicating this spot to his memory.

I have tried to get an outline of the life of Dickran Diran, and briefly this is what I found.

Dickran Diran was born in Armenia, May 4, 1889, he came to the United States in the year 1902, was educated in the public schools of this country, graduating from Dorchester High School, after which he went to work for Weber Brothers, in Wrentham, was with them a number of years, when he decided to start in business for himself.

He came to Lakeville and located on the farm now owned by William Wright, about one-half mile north of Lakeville station on Bedford street, here he laid his plans for the future, and here, in less than one year, he laid down the ambition of his life, for the service of his country.

The call to the colors came October 4, 1917. With several other residents of this town he went to Camp Devens, Mass., and was located there about one month, his life there I could not follow closely, but I will only give to you the exact words of one who served there with him and who later came in contact with him several times. After we had talked for some few minutes about Dickran Diran, this man said, “No matter what you say, you cannot say anything good enough about Dick.” It would be futile for me to try to improve on such a statement.

His service in Camp Gordan, Georgia and overseas, was hard to follow owing to the fact that he was separated from local men, but his official record on file with the War Department shows that promotion came fast, which indicates ambition, perseverance, the things we would expect from the man who said, “Whatever I do, Lakeville will never be ashamed of me.”

He was wounded in action, August 8, 1918, and killed in action October 16, 1918, his body was returned to the United States and buried in the “Field of Beulah Section” of Forest Hills cemetery, February 5, 1922. Funeral services were conducted in the Stanton avenue church at Dorchester, the Rev. Wilbar Choffee officiating.

I will now read you the official military record of Dickran Diran as furnished by the office of the adjutant general of the army, through the courtesy of Hon. Joseph W. Martin, Jr., representative in Congress, for this Congressional District:

Dickran Diran, Sergeant, Company “G”, 327th Infantry.
Resident of Lakeville, Massachusetts.
Army Serial Number 1907022
Inducted into military service October 4, 1917.
Forwarded to Camp Devens, Mass., assigned as private to the 3rd Additional Company, Depot Brigade.
Transferred November 10, 1917 to Camp Gordan, Georgia.
Appointed Corporal, December 12, 1917.
Left the United States April 25, 1918, for service overseas, with Co. “G” 327th Infantry.
Appointed Sergeant, July 7, 1918.
Wounded in action August 8, 1918.
Killed in action October 16, 1918, on Hill 180, near Cornay, France.

It is with reluctance that I speak of his death. His body, twisted and torn, fell to the blood stained soil of France where it was buried, later to be moved to the United States, and now rests quietly in the shade of Forest Hills – his soul has gone to his God – there is no death, there.

Dickran Diran, my departed comrade, Lakeville will never be ashamed of you.

.Illustrations from top to bottom:

Red, White and Blue Club, photograph, May 30, 1929.
Red, White and Blue Club members Jeannette Bassett, Cynthia Caswell, Helen Hoard and Bertha Stiles flank the Lakeville Honor Roll, behind which flies the town's World War I service flag.

Dickran Diran Square dedication ceremony, photograph, May 30, 1929.
Members of Simeon Nickerson Post No. 64, American Legion stand at attention at the start of the dedications services.

Flag raising, Dickran Diran Square and Lakeville Honor Roll dedication ceremony, photograph, May 30, 1929.
Ceremonies open with a flag raising on the Lakeville Library Lawn by the Girl and Boy Scouts, while Francis Goodridge sounds "Colors".

Red, White and Blue Club, photograph, May 30, 1929.
Members of the Red, White and Blue Club, which had been formed during World War I and which following that time had been responsible for overseeing Memorial Day exercises, sing "The Vacant Chair." The signpost dedicating the square to Diran is draped with an American flag.

Rev. Chellis V. Smith and Red, White and Blue Club, photograph, May 30, 1929.
Following the eulogy to Dickran Diran and the dedication of Dickran Diran Square, the Lakeville Honor Roll was unveiled. The service included a keynote address by Reverend Chellis V. Smith of the First Baptist Church of Hyde Park, Boston. Here, he stands next to the memorial along with Jeanette Bassett, Cynthia Caswell, Helen Hoard and Bertha Stiles.

Mr. and Mrs. Suren Diran, photograph, May 30, 1929.
Diran's brother and sister-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Suren Diran, in attendance at the dedication ceremony.