Everard F. Arbour

Everard Arbour was born on June 1st, 1921 in Brightwaters, New York. A graduate of Bay Shore High School, Everard worked for the Grumman Corporation as a “Miscellaneous Helper” and later as a Driver for the family business; Arbour Transportation Service. The company had location in both Bay Shore & Blue Point, New York. Everard was drafted into military service on November 3rd, 1943. Private Arbour completed his basic training at Fort Riley, Kansas. Everard was offered the opportunity to become an instructor at Fort Riley, but chose to go overseas instead. The 3rd Cavalry Squadron (Mechanized) were shipped to England for further training before deploying to France.

Private Arbour arrived ay Utah Beach on July 27th, 1944. Private Arbour’s first and final day in combat began on August 11th. Troop-C was sent on a reconnaissance mission in Ville de Jublains, France. Private Arbour along with three other soldiers were in the lead Bantamn Jeep. Troop-C was held up on Montsûrs Rd., just outside of the hilltop town by a mined roadblock. When the four soldiers began their attempt to remove the roadblock, Private Everard F. Arbour was killed instantly.

The officers of the 3rd Reconnaissance Squadron (Mechanized) were quite fond of Private Arbour. In a letter to Everard’s mother, Ruth, Captain Thomas N. Downing of Troop-C wrote the following;

“I knew him to be a fine soldier and, above all, a true gentleman. He never grumbled or complained and accepted every hardship in a manner of which you should be justly proud.”

Major Curry Vaughn expressed a similar sentiment in his letter to Ruth Arbour;

“I assure you that your son died a heroic death, leaving the highest honor for his loved ones and for his country. I thank God for your son, and more like him who are willing to give their lives to prevent such a war having to be fought in our country. He gave his life that America might go on.”

Private Arbour was burried in a temporary grave before being repatriated to the United States in July 1948. Private Everard F. Arbour is buried in the Oak Wood Cemetery in Bay Shore, New York.

In 1946, the towns of Bay Shore and Brightwaters commissioned a bronze plaque, an Honor Roll for residents. In the “They Gave Their Lives” section, Everard F. Arbour is the first name listed at the top of the first column. The Bay Shore-Brightwaters WWII Honor Roll originally hung in the lobby of the Bay Shore High School’s auditorium. At an unknown date, it was replaced by an interactive electronic database & memorial (which is available for public display on the high school’s website). The original bronze plaque is currently housed in the Bay Shore Historical Society.

On August 11th, 2024 the residents of Ville de Jublains unveiled a monument commemorating six American soldiers who gave their lives to liberate Jublains. Private Arbour is the first name listed on the top left of the granite plaque.