AEF Service Uniform (Assembled from parts)

[trenchfoot]

So I bought these uniforms and i am so confused! They come from the same soldier and seem to be unmeshed with. The first one is probably his discharge uniform, with a first army engineers patch, possibly a croix de guerre mini fouragerre, and the most perplexing part, a 371st infantry collar disc, which was an all black unit in ww1. This guy was white. It is possible they replaced the collar disc, but if the fouragerre is what i think it is, it may stand a chance as being original, BUT i would love some expert opinion. The second uniform is his training or extra uniform that has a completely different unit, the 308th, company F. That seems to be okay. Now heres the odd part. I found his records, and he was awol when he was originally supposed to be overseas. He did finally go overseas on July 31st 1918 a month after, with the Mixed overseas casual company #311. Not sure what the "mixed" part means, maybe race? He came back to the us in April 23 1919 attached to the ordinance casual company #18. I would love some opinions on this uniform. The only odd thing is really just the 371st collar disc. I hope someone can shed light on this. I usually wouldn't buy something thats this confusing to me but the price made me thing otherwise.

First uniform:

2nd uniform:

[12thengr]

Can't tell you much except their were NO mixed race units in the U.S. Army in WWI. The second collar disc is an artillery battery 'F'. If the 371st disc is legit it's worth more than all the rest combined. IMHO

[trenchfoot]

Can't tell you much except their were NO mixed race units in the U.S. Army in WWI. The second collar disc is an artillery battery 'F'. If the 371st disc is legit it's worth more than all the rest combined. IMHO

Someone probably put it there as a place holder without knowing what it really is. I'll just put the artillery battery F disc from the cap on the uniform.

[trenchfoot]

Also, how do you tell if a collar disc is legit.

[trenchfoot]

Also, how do you tell if a collar disc is legit.

Alright one last thing. Would a first army engineers patch be appropriate on a 361st regiment?? Maybe the uniform doesn't belong to who I think it does.

[jprostak]

Mixed Casual Units were replacement soldiers that were put together as a unit for transport.

 

As for the uniform. I always assume that everything is wrong and then go from there. I try not to make up a story that makes the uniform make sense. Work with the name you have and see what parts of the uniform make sense. (please don't let my story offend) Because if I did, I could write a story like this........

 

Young white boy joins Battery F 308th Artillery as and artilleryman. It is found out that he is 1/8 negro and he deserts. He is recaptured and forced to join the 371st Infantry because he is black. Is shipped overseas and wins the various awards. He comes home and is now proud to wear his 371st uniform.

 

or

 

Battery F 308th Artillery uniform group is missing a disc and a collector (or old lady in antique store) with no understanding of discs, put a disc he/she has is a box on this uniform.

[doyler]

Someone probably put it there as a place holder without knowing what it really is. I'll just put the artillery battery F disc from the cap on the uniform.

 

 

But if the uniform is 1st Army Engineers why put the Artillery/F on it ?

[themick]

Because if I did, I could write a story like this........

 

Young white boy joins Battery F 308th Artillery as and artilleryman. It is found out that he is 1/8 negro and he deserts. He is recaptured and forced to join the 371st Infantry because he is black. Is shipped overseas and wins the various awards. He comes home and is now proud to wear his 371st uniform.

 

 

LOL. Jprostak certainly deserves an award for creativity!! ...and we've all seen this sort of things by various dealers.

 

Steve

[trenchfoot]

Yeah that's what I'm going at, that someone put the disc on later.

 

This is my theory:

 

The 308th artillery battery F uniform is the uniform of the guy who's dog tags are in the lot. The 1st army uniform could be his, I'll have to check for a name, but someone placed the wrong collar disc on it, probably a collector.

[trenchfoot]

 

 

But if the uniform is 1st Army Engineers why put the Artillery/F on it ?

Oh, just as a placeholder. I'm not even sure if the 1st army patch is original to the uniform. I haven't got it in my hands yet. I bought if just for that little 371st collar disc:)

[littlewilly]

Patch is First Army Artillery, not Engineers. First Army Engineers wore a small red castle in the lower panel of the A. The 371st disc is most certainly an add-on. It looks like a good one (at least it does not look like the reproductions I am aware of). If so, it is, as 12thengr says, worth a pretty penny. The Battery F, Artillery disc on the overseas cap is probably what the uniform coat should have on it. Since the man's other uniform has the Battery F, 308th Artillery disc on it, I would say that wraps up the disc issue. The marksmanship award and French CdG device are on the wrong pocket, they may be add-ons as well. His shipment home at the end of the war with a casual company is not unusual. Some men on detached duty away from their units did not return home with their organization when it was shipped home. These men were organized into casual companies at the Base Sections and shipped as space on transports was available. The ordnance designation would fit in with his artillery connection. He could well have been an artilleryman attached to the ordnance section of his artillery regiment, or he had been sent to an ordnance training school for instruction post-Armistice when his unit went home. A quite common practice after the fighting ended.

 

As for the mixed race unit issue - I have in my collection a "yard long" photograph of a remount squadron (stateside) that has one black soldier as part of the unit. I always presumed he was probably a cook. I do believe that once this squadron shipped to France this man was taken away and reassigned to other duties (mess stevedore unit most likely). MHJ

[trenchfoot]

Patch is First Army Artillery, not Engineers. First Army Engineers wore a small red castle in the lower panel of the A. The 371st disc is most certainly an add-on. It looks like a good one (at least it does not look like the reproductions I am aware of). If so, it is, as 12thengr says, worth a pretty penny. The Battery F, Artillery disc on the overseas cap is probably what the uniform coat should have on it. Since the man's other uniform has the Battery F, 308th Artillery disc on it, I would say that wraps up the disc issue. The marksmanship award and French CdG device are on the wrong pocket, they may be add-ons as well. His shipment home at the end of the war with a casual company is not unusual. Some men on detached duty away from their units did not return home with their organization when it was shipped home. These men were organized into casual companies at the Base Sections and shipped as space on transports was available. The ordnance designation would fit in with his artillery connection. He could well have been an artilleryman attached to the ordnance section of his artillery regiment, or he had been sent to an ordnance training school for instruction post-Armistice when his unit went home. A quite common practice after the fighting ended.

 

As for the mixed race unit issue - I have in my collection a "yard long" photograph of a remount squadron (stateside) that has one black soldier as part of the unit. I always presumed he was probably a cook. I do believe that once this squadron shipped to France this man was taken away and reassigned to other duties (mess stevedore unit most likely). MHJ

You have been a load of help! Thank you for clearing it all up! I'll take your advice and switch the collar discs. The 371st will go great in my collection of discs, so no big deal that it's getting taken off.

Many thanks,

TF