USWV Uniform

[SARGE]

Gents,

 

I picked up a United Spanish War Veteran (USWV) uniform at the Hastings, Nebraska Military Show over the weekend that I thought I would show. This is one of the earlier Spanish-American War Veteran organization uniforms as there are two styles that I am aware of. The first is this closed stand-up collar blue coat while the later one is an open collar blue coat cut in the general manner of the post WWI US Army uniform coats from the 1920s or later. This coat has more of the feel of the blue Model 1902 US Army Enlisted uniform.

 

This uniform consists of grey wool trousers with a broad black leg stripe. These are the same general style of trousers that were worn with the later open collar version of the uniform. These trousers have two front slash pockets and two standard rear pockets. They are held up with suspenders or a belt. They have a Union Made label but no other markings.

 

The coat consists of a blue wool four pocket tunic with a closed stand-up collar. The breast pockets are pleated while the hip pockets are not. It has plain cuffs with two USWV buttons on each cuff secured with spring clips. The front has five sewn on USWV brass buttons and the closed collar has direct embroidered "U.S.W.V." in gilt bullion letters. The coat also has a Union Made label along with a clothier label. Finally, the coat has a Camp identification patch that is embroidered in gilt bullion on the left sleeve. As there are no city markings in the uniform, and each state had their camps numbered from one (1) forward, there is no way to tell where this coat is from or who wore it I am afraid.

 

Since I picked up a USWV sword the other day I was happy to find this uniform at the Hastings Show.

 

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/261492-uswv-sword-from-sos/

[KevinBeyer]

That is a really interesting piece of uniform history! Thanks for sharing that!

 

Kevin