rustbucket Posted March 7, 2015 Share #1 Posted March 7, 2015 This rainbow is red, white and blue, not the red, yellow, blue of the 42nd division. Is this a variant, or just a generic WW1 AEF patch with a rainbow motif? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daniel griffin Posted March 7, 2015 Share #2 Posted March 7, 2015 I would consider it a 42nd Division patch variation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustbucket Posted March 7, 2015 Author Share #3 Posted March 7, 2015 Thank you, Dan. Always appreciate your advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Too Much WW1 Militaria Posted March 28, 2015 Share #4 Posted March 28, 2015 All, It could be a variation, or made for sale at reunions or 40/8 events. The construction sure looks earlier though. I've never seen a worn WW1 SSI with AEF on it, which leads me to think it might be 1920's. So, my .02 is that it could be either or. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAW Posted March 29, 2015 Share #5 Posted March 29, 2015 It is "supposed to be" a 42nd Div. patch. Not sure I would recommend buying it as an original though.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Too Much WW1 Militaria Posted March 29, 2015 Share #6 Posted March 29, 2015 It is "supposed to be" a 42nd Div. patch. Not sure I would recommend buying it as an original though.... I agree. There are a lot of "what if's and is it's" here. I've never seen one like that on a tunic or anywhere else for that matter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Too Much WW1 Militaria Posted March 29, 2015 Share #7 Posted March 29, 2015 Here is a good one on a named AEF Dr's tunic in my collection. If you notice, the general shape isn't close. I have my doubts about the AEF one. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchcollector Posted March 30, 2015 Share #8 Posted March 30, 2015 I did some research on the 42nd insignia some time back.The patch can occur in two shapes.The "half arc",and the "quarter arc". The symbolism for this is explained here: The 42nd Infantry (RAINBOW) Division received the name "Rainbow Division" in 1917 during its organization at Camp Mills, Long Island, New York. The Chief of Staff of the Division at that time was Colonel Douglas MacArthur, As they were discussing the organization of the Division and reviewing the National Guard units from 26 states that would make up the Division, Colonel Douglas MacArthur commented that "The 42nd Division stretches like a Rainbow from one end of America to the other." The comment caught the interest of those present and they decided to call it the "Rainbow Division". After a few weeks of training had past, it was decided to create a patch for the Division, Local seamstresses in Hempstead were contacted and a Rainbow patch was created out of strips of felt on squares of brown wool uniform cloth. The three primary colors of the Rainbow; Red, Gold, and Blue were selected. The soldiers immediately adopted the design. Since there was no method for the government to provide the patches, seamstresses on Long Island and later in France, were kept busy throughout the war sewing Rainbow Patches. During the latter part of World War I and post war occupation duty in Germany, Rainbow Division soldiers modified the patch to a quarter arc, removing half the symbol to memorialize the half of the division's soldiers who became casualties (killed or wounded) during the war. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gomorgan Posted March 30, 2015 Share #9 Posted March 30, 2015 I don't think this one is original to period, but do not dismiss all "Rainbows" that are more semi circular in shape, there are originals in other than the quarter circular. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Too Much WW1 Militaria Posted March 30, 2015 Share #10 Posted March 30, 2015 I don't think this one is original to period, but do not dismiss all "Rainbows" that are more semi circular in shape, there are originals in other than the quarter circular. I didn't "dismiss" anything, I've just never seen one that I considered anything more than a reunion piece. That is the one thing I've learned from 50+ years of collecting WW1, that just about anything is possible. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchcollector Posted March 30, 2015 Share #11 Posted March 30, 2015 I was doing some looking around online and came across this interesting site: http://www.seth.com/coll_memorabilia_29.html This is Boston Braves catcher Hank Gowdys' World War I cap, with the famous "Rainbow Division" "patch" on it.It looks like a "direct embroider" job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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