Daisy May Pratt Erd USNR (1882-1925) was a Canadian-born American songwriter and composer, and a naval Yeoman (F) in Boston, Massachusetts during World War I. After the war, she advocated for the recognition of women veterans.
Early life Daisy May Pratt was born in CanadaE. M. Foxwell, "Daisy May Erd, Yeoman (F) and war composer" American Women in World War I (May 22, 2017). and raised in Chicago, Illinois, where she taught music."To Sell Naval Song at Yeowomen's Ball" Boston Daily Globe (July 1, 1917): 9.
Career
Erd was a young mother of two and a piano teacher, when she enlisted in the United States Navy Reserve in 1917."Two Youngsters Travel Alone from Boston" Chicago Tribune (September 2, 1917): 8. via Newspapers.com Soon she was the chief yeoman in charge of all the enlisted women working in the Boston Navy Yard. She opened a lunch room for the naval yard's employees, and created the Hingham Naval Training Station Band, for the recreation of recruits with musical skills."Senior Chief Yeoman in First Navy District" Asheville Citizen-Times (October 20, 1918): 14. via Newspapers.com Compositions by Erd included "We'll Carry The Star Spangled Banner Thru The Trenches", "Uncle Sam's Ships" (a tribute to the ),"American Music Goes To War, World War One in American Song Part 2: Over There, Page 2" The Parlor Songs Academy (December 2000). "Welcome Home", and "The Rear Admiral Wood One-Step" (written in honor of Spencer S. Wood). She donated thousands of dollars in profits from these songs to the Naval Reserve Fund and the Naval Relief Society."Affairs and Folks" National Magazine (September 1918): 459. She was awarded a gold medal in 1918 by William R. Rush, commandant of the naval yard, "for merit, war service".Lettie Gavin, American Women In World War I: They Also Served (University Press of Colorado 2011).
After her active service, she helped to found the first women's post of the American Legion, in Boston, and was elected as commander of the post."War Women Form Their First Post" Boston Daily Globe (July 9, 1919): 4. She successfully persuaded the American Legion's national executive committee in Washington D. C. to maintain the unique post's charter and Charlestown location, against some local opposition."Women's Legion Post May Remain" Boston Daily Globe (February 10, 1921): 6. She advocated for a state bonus of $100 for women in Massachusetts who served in the Navy, and began a union to improve the women veterans' job prospects. "We did a man's job, and why shouldn't we be treated like the men are treated in the matter of bonuses?" she asked.Kristine Carlson Asselin, Women in World War I (ABDO 2016): 6-8. As a show of appreciation, the women of her American Legion post bought her ringside seats to a boxing match in Boston in 1921, assuring a reporter that "she will be tickled foolish when we tell her that she is going to the fight.""Daisy Erd to Attend Fight" Boston Post (January 7, 1921): 17. via Newspapers.com
Personal life Daisy May Pratt married Louis Erd, a barber. They had two daughters, Norma and Georgia. Georgia also served in the military, rising to the rank of Major in the Army.
Daisy Pratt Erd died in 1925, from tuberculosis that she contracted during her naval service. References
External links Sheet music for "The Rear Admiral Wood One-Step" by Daisy M. Erd, from the University of Florida Special and Area Studies Collections.