It always makes me happy to receive emails from American descendants to Swedish emigrants who shares their family stories.
In this specific case I received an email from the granddaughter to one of the brothers to the Swedish born soldier, Carl R Gylfe, who was born as Karl Ragnar Fredriksson Gylfe i Torrskog parish in the landscape of Dalsland in Sweden, on August 13th, 1891. In Sweden he was raised together with his two, Swedish born brothers, Axel Herman and Gustaf Evald.
The Gylfe family emigrated to North America in March 1896, when Karl was around 5 years old. In the American census documents from Massachusetts in 1910 I find that the family was extended with two more sons, Fred and Roy. In the document I see that the surname Gylfe was changed to Gilfe, but can be related to how it is pronounced and written in the document.
The relative who wrote me the email explained the stories about all the brothers, especially about their name changes, which I find really interesting.
It started with the father in the Family. His name was Gustaf Fredriksson, but as the surname “Fredriksson” was quite common in the unit where he did his Swedish Military service, they gave him a new, special surname, “Gylfe”.
Why they gave him “Gylfe” is unknown, however, the swedish word “Gylf” is “zipper” or “fly” in english.
Carl Gylfe kept his swedish surname when he served in the American Expeditionary Force during the Great War.
On May 17th, 1917, Carl’s unit went over to France. From September 24th to October 20th, 1918, the 27th Division participated in the offensive north of St. Quentin within the 2nd American Corps, operating with the British 4th Army against the Hindenburg Line. The outstanding features of this operation were, the severe fighting in the vicinity of Guillemont Farm, Quennemont Farm and Gouy in September 27th to 28th, and the battle of La Selle River during October 17th to October 20th. (Brief Histories Of Divisions, U.S Army 1917-1918)
Carl was killed in action during October 18th, highly likely during the battle of Jonc De Mer Ridge south-east of Le Cateau in France.
Carl’s brother, Axel Herman, changed his names to Harry Roy Gayle, and he served in WW2, as I understand.
Carl’s second brother Gustaf Evald, who also was called Evol, changed his names to Jack Gylfie, and the youngest brother, Royal, who was born in the US, changed his names to Roy Guilford.
Imagine, they surname that the Swedish Army gave their father, Gustaf, “Gylfe”, became Guilford! I find it amazing! If you say Gylfe quite fast, it sounds like Guilford.
The fifth brother in the Gylfe family, Fred Gylfe, kept his original surname, as Carl did. Fred was born as Frederick Leif on August 13th, 1897, in Worcester, Massachusetts. He also served in the Great War and his story is really interesting.
Fred enlisted for The New York National Guard in October 1915. He was a non-commissioned officer and initially saw service on the Mexican Border. He was like Carl discharged from the National Guard and drafted for U.S service on August 5th, 1917. He was also transferred to 108th Infantry Regiment on October 13th, 1917.
Pvt First Class Fred Gylfe left for France with his unit one week before his brother Carl, on May 10th, 1918 and served in the Headquarter Company within 108th Infantry Regiment, 27th Division.
Fred’s company saw action in both Belgium and in France, with the start in the area of Reningelst and Ouderdom through Dickebush in Belgium. They also passed the area of Vierstraat south of Ypres in August 1918, towards the Wytschaete Ridge, in Belgium, in August and September 1918.
The Headquarter company also participated in the same battles as Carl did, in the area between Le Catelet towards Le Cateau, France.
Fred went back to the US on March 6th, 1919, and was discharged on March 31st , 1919.
One very interesting fact that I found was that Fred Gylfe was awarded the French Legion of Honor.
In the Congressional Record from 1999 I can read the following text:
“A TRIBUTE TO FRED GYLFE, LEGION OF HONOR AWARD RECIPIENT.
Ms. SNOWE.
Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute a veteran from Maine who this week will have bestowed upon him high honors from the French Government for the sacrifices he made during World War I.
Fred Gylfe will receive the most prestigious honor that France bestows, the award of the National Order of the Legion of Honor, in gratitude for the valor he displayed serving in France during the First World War.
Last year, the French Government announced Project 1918–1998, which honors the 80th anniversary of the armistice of World War I. As part of this undertaking, France is awarding the Legion of Honor Award to surviving American veterans who served in France between 1914 and 1918—in recognition for the crucial support American veterans lent to French soldiers fighting to defend French soil.
It is estimated that as many as 1,000 American veterans who served in France during World War I may still be living, and there is a search underway to locate as many of these men and women as possible. Fred Gylfe was born in Worcester, Massachusetts on August 14, 1897. His parents emigrated from Sweden, and he was their first child born in the U.S. He entered the U.S. National Guard in 1916 and departed for France on May 16, 1918. He fought in Ypres/Lys and Saint Quentin Tunnel in the French province of Somme. He was a Sergeant in Headquarters Company for the 108th Infantry 27th division of the New York National Guard. He is the father of two children, and three grandchildren.
I have nothing but the utmost respect for those who have served with courage, honor and distinction, answering the call to duty when their country—and the world no less—needed them so desperately. Indeed, it is no small challenge to put into words the enormous pride I feel for the opportunity to represent men like Fred Gylfe as Maine’s senior Senator. “
Fred became over 100 years old, and he is today buried at the Mount Auburn Memorial Park Cemetery in Berwyn, Illinois, in the US.
Some more photos of Fred Gylfe, one as a young soldier, and one from when he was preparing to be the Grand Marshal in a Veterans Day parade. He was then 97 years old.
Carl R Gylfe is buried at the Somme American Cemetery in France, and I will try to visit him again when possible, together with the other eight Swedes who are buried there as well.
The email from the granddaughter of Fred Gylfe spread light over how the surnames of the Swedish emigrants can be changed to something completely different, and this knowledge can be used in further research.