BOTHWELL BIERCE KANE (1893-1918)
Bothell Kane should inspire all of us to be strong and responsible global citizens.
BOTHWELL KANE
Bothwell Kane was a promising starting tackle on the 1912 Longhorn team, earning a letter as a freshman. That much we know. We also know that Lieutenant Bothwell Bierce Kane was mortally wounded in the bloody battle of the Ourcq River crossing in Picardy, France, in July 1918.
He is buried in the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery, plot A, Row 8, Grave 63, in one of those fields with thousands of white crosses that still today dot the landscape where 30,000 Americans died in the same campaign of the war that claimed Kane.
Bothwell Kane's story, like so many of those who died so long ago, could have ended here. Yearbooks, history chronicles, and all the rest cannot account for every story, every loss.
Mrs. John D. Kane of Fort Worth, Texas, wanted to do something to honor her son. In 1920, she established a scholarship with the fledgling Ex-Students Association—now known as the Texas Exes.
She specified the scholarship should be granted to someone who plans to pursue a Christian vocation, such as the ministry or other such endeavors. This is what she wrote: "It should go to a man or woman who possesses an unselfishness and sacrifice which characterized Bothwell Kane, and which was recognized and appreciated by his friends, his family, and his classmates."
OTHER FACTS ABOUT BOTHWELL
Bothwell B Kane was a World War I Era casualty on July 28, 1918.
Like his 1912 Longhorn teammate Louis Jordan, Bothwell Kane served in the 42nd Infantry Division in France during World War I, was killed during the fighting in that country, and later had an American Legion post bear his name.
He enrolled at UT in 1912 and, as a 19-year-old freshman, he was a regular starter at right tackle for the 1912 Longhorn team that finished with a record of 7-1. He impressed with his play on the field, but it would be the only season in which he earned a letter at Texas.
Contemporary news reports indicate that he was ineligible in 1913 but returned to the team in 1914. At 21 years old, he was 6 feet tall and reported to be 195 pounds, and the press described him as the team’s “star tackle.” He started in UT’s first game of the 1914 season, a dominating 30-0 win over Trinity. Still, he was sidelined for the next month and a half due to a bout with pneumonia and ultimately was not awarded a letter for that season. He left the university at some point in 1915.
The July 27, 1918 edition of the Fort Worth Record reported that Kane had recently cabled his mother, saying he was “well and happy,” and it went on to say that his unit was involved in “the hardest fighting on the Marne.” He was killed the following day.
▼ STATE OVERVIEW Texas- Bothwell B Kane is among the 26,958 American Gold Star casualties recorded in our archive with close ties to Texas. This is a substantial number of individuals who gave their lives in service to their country.
SERVICE OVERVIEW-Name Bothwell B Kane From Tarrant County, Texas DeathJuly 28, 1918 War World War I Branch US Army Rank First Lieutenant Group 42nd Division, 165th Infantry Regiment Cause Hostile, Killed in Action Awarded★ Purple Heart
SERVICE-He had enlisted in the Army. Served during World War I. He had the rank of First Lieutenant. Served with the 42nd Division, 165th Infantry Regiment.
CASUALTY-Kane experienced a traumatic event that resulted in the loss of life on July 28, 1918. Recorded circumstances attributed to: "Killed in Action".