nchistory Posted January 10, 2017 Share #1 Posted January 10, 2017 WW1 U. S. Marine Corps overseas Cap with a USMC Quartermaster (HQ, or MO)??, Philadelphia stamp, has ID but too worn to read. There is more to stamp under Philadelphia, as well as writing in cap but impossible for to read. it may be closest to "French Style", but apparently the USMC had these made given the stamp? I can't find this one in the reference books. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nchistory Posted January 10, 2017 Author Share #2 Posted January 10, 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nchistory Posted January 10, 2017 Author Share #3 Posted January 10, 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nchistory Posted January 10, 2017 Author Share #4 Posted January 10, 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nchistory Posted January 10, 2017 Author Share #5 Posted January 10, 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warguy Posted January 10, 2017 Share #6 Posted January 10, 2017 Neat cap, I have never seen those markings. I have a RPPC of a Marine in Germany 1919 wearing this style of cap. Nice, and thanks for sharing. Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nchistory Posted January 10, 2017 Author Share #7 Posted January 10, 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nchistory Posted January 10, 2017 Author Share #8 Posted January 10, 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nchistory Posted January 10, 2017 Author Share #9 Posted January 10, 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nchistory Posted January 10, 2017 Author Share #10 Posted January 10, 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
world war I nerd Posted January 10, 2017 Share #11 Posted January 10, 2017 Both caps are variations of the French Army's Modele 1918 Bonnet de Police. I have no idea of the actual numbers,but probably thousands of French pattern overseas caps were manufactured from khaki, mustard & olive drab woolen fabric in France for the AEF. Your cap is the first one I've ever seen with USMC markings ... what a great pair of caps! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
world war I nerd Posted January 10, 2017 Share #12 Posted January 10, 2017 Chris for more information on French overseas caps as used by the AEF look at page 2 & 3 of this thread: http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/254296-ae-f-trench-overseas-caps/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nchistory Posted January 10, 2017 Author Share #13 Posted January 10, 2017 world war I nerd, thanks for your response, from what information I am finding, it appears this is a previously unknown WW1 USMC contract cap ca. 1918-19. I do believe it is an American copy of the French M-18, and by the way it is only 1 cap posted. I just unfolded the peak at the corners to extend to original shape that this Marine had altered. I spoke with Alec yesterday evening, and this is also the first he has seen, and mentioned he had read an article about the introduction of this cap in 1918-19, but none are known. Hopefully he can find this article, as this is truly a neat discovery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nchistory Posted January 10, 2017 Author Share #14 Posted January 10, 2017 Has anyone seen this particular USMC stamp with exact wording on other items? If so, how would it read in it's entirety? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nchistory Posted January 10, 2017 Author Share #15 Posted January 10, 2017 Front of Cap, sorta of rounded, not sharp point V. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nchistory Posted January 10, 2017 Author Share #16 Posted January 10, 2017 Nut off post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nchistory Posted January 10, 2017 Author Share #17 Posted January 10, 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nchistory Posted January 10, 2017 Author Share #18 Posted January 10, 2017 Neat cap, I have never seen those markings. I have a RPPC of a Marine in Germany 1919 wearing this style of cap. Nice, and thanks for sharing. Kevin Kevin, would you mine posting RPPC? If not send via message, would love to see. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nchistory Posted January 10, 2017 Author Share #19 Posted January 10, 2017 Maybe prototype actually issued by USMC QM Dept?? Maybe war ended, and they discontinued??, and few issued?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nchistory Posted January 10, 2017 Author Share #20 Posted January 10, 2017 By the way, this cap surfaced in Northern Virginia about 40 years ago @ an estate sale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nchistory Posted January 10, 2017 Author Share #21 Posted January 10, 2017 More words under Philadelphia, but can't quite discern. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nchistory Posted January 10, 2017 Author Share #22 Posted January 10, 2017 word under Philadelphia, almost looks like Virginia? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brig Posted January 10, 2017 Share #23 Posted January 10, 2017 Can't recall seeing these marks in a WWI cap, but I have seen USMC marked inside WWII or Korea era caps. Interesting mark, some sharp corners on that baby. I imagine those corners may have made it unpopular, hence why they don't surface often Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nchistory Posted January 11, 2017 Author Share #24 Posted January 11, 2017 Yes Tim, some Sharpe corners, only because Marine pushed the tips of the corners in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
world war I nerd Posted January 11, 2017 Share #25 Posted January 11, 2017 I have seen soldiers wearing French pattern caps with the corners pushed or folded in like your USMC cap ... some even put a few stitches through the folded corner in order to make that alteration permanent. I also questioned the USMC marking. If it was procured overseas by the AEF, why it would have a USMC stamp,unless of course the cap was specifically marked as USMC property once it reached the 4th Marine Brigade?I've always wondered if the Department of the Navy had to cover the bill of all the Army clothing that was issued to USMC and U.S. Navy personnel serving in the AEF. If the cap was U.S. made in 1918 -1919, I wonder why they went with the French pattern cap rather than the U.S. or British two button pattern cap that seemed to be favored by Marine personnel. Anyway,here are some images of Marines wearing French pattern caps in France & Germany ... First a pair of 2nd Battalion,5th Regiment Marines either during or shortly after Belleau Wood and a Navy Pharmacist Mate also from Belleau Wood. Pharmacist Mate photo courtesy of the Belleau Wood collection Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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