Henry Augustus Coit, 2nd

Henry Augustus Coit was the first grandchild of the first Rector of St. Paul's, for whom he was named, and was the only child of Joseph H. Coit (Master 1883-1907) and Adeline Balch Coit. He was born at St. Paul's School on May 26, 1888. Having spent his childhood and school days at St. Paul's, Henry was known to a great many alumni. He grew into a strong athletic youth, and in his Sixth Form year he was awarded the Gordon Medal as the best all-around athlete. In 1915 he enlisted in the Canadian Light Infantry, the only American in his company, and in 1916 while serving in the trenches at the front, he was struck by a motor lorry, had to have both legs amputated, and died August 7, 1916. Many of the letters from the Chaplain, the nurses and others who ministered to Henry during the last weeks of his life were put together and printed in a small volume. The nurse who had charge of him wrote: "Your dear son was my patient almost from the first...He was one of the bravest boys I have ever known. No matter how much he was suffering, he always had a cheerful word and bright smile for everybody." These and many other letters show Henry's bravery in his hard fight with suffering and death, and he serves as an example of all those St. Paul's boys who gave their lives in sacrifice for their country in the Great War.