Post Your Span-Am to WW I Full-Length Soldier Photos

[world war I nerd]

Another rare shot of the oilskin suit in use ... this time by a 3rd Army motorcycle courier, also wearing the "MDS" brassard. He's also wearing the lined leather cap that was authorized specifically for the drivers of motorcycles. Rubber boots, an oilskin suit, driver's gauntlets and the leather cap was the prescribed uniform for an AEF motorcyclist while operating during inclement weather.

 

Photo courtesy of the National Archives

That's it for this batch of photos. I'll be posting more soon.

[derrbrad]

Cavalry Trooper 11th Cavalry A Troop

[derrbrad]

Trooper with Patton Saber

[derrbrad]

Troopers with experimental gear in Mexico.

[derrbrad]

Cavalry Trooper 11th Cavalry A Troop

Close up of the collar disc that got lost in scanning.

[world war I nerd]

derrbrad, thanks for the great cavalry themed additions. Can you post a close up of the 1912 experimental cavalry equipment?

 

New York National Guard mess line circa 1903 or 1904-ish.

 

Close up of the early mess gear, NY,NG insignia and the 1903 pattern olive drab woolen service coats.

[world war I nerd]

Early field kitchen circa 1906.

[world war I nerd]

Three artillerymen, somewhere in the tropics, circa 1906. One is wearing either the 1904 or 1906 pattern khaki cotton service coat, and two are cradling tropical helmets

[world war I nerd]

Pyramid tent inspection at Camp Sheridan, Alabama in 1917.

 

Close up of the pyramid tent's disgorged contents.

[world war I nerd]

Soldier wearing faded khaki cotton service dress circa 1916 or 1917. The sleeve insignia is a cook's specialty chevron.

[world war I nerd]

A posed press photo depicting new recruits morning hygiene at an unidentified aviation training camp.

 

Close up of the toilet kit and its contents, hung above the sinks. In it, among other things, I can see a steel shaving mirror, shaving soap, toothbrush, sewing kit, flashlight and foot powder.

[world war I nerd]

Signal Corps sergeant first class and his ride somewhere in France, 1918.

[world war I nerd]

Unidentified French studio shot of an American Doughboy posing with a pair of artillery shells.

[world war I nerd]

An unidentified rifle platoon wearing what looks to be the shoulder insignia of the 87th Division, 1918 or 1919.

 

Close up of what I think is the 'acorn' bearing shoulder patch of the 87th Division.

[world war I nerd]

Last photo ... an unidentified artillery regiment fresh off the boat and back on U.S. soil sometime in 1919.

[derrbrad]

derrbrad, thanks for the great cavalry themed additions. Can you post a close up of the 1912 experimental cavalry equipment?

 

New York National Guard mess line circa 1903 or 1904-ish.

Best me and my computer skills can do.

[Salvage Sailor]

On 3/15/2019 at 2:28 PM, world war I nerd said:

Last photo ... an unidentified artillery regiment fresh off the boat and back on U.S. soil sometime in 1919.

 

Victory Arch

25th Street and West Avenue, Newport News, VA

 

Originally built in 1919, returning WWI troops disembarked from ships and marched through the arch in victory parades. Today it serves as a memorial to the men and women of the armed forces and hosts Newport News' annual Memorial and Veterans Day ceremonies.

 

 

 

 

Newport News Port of Embarkation in World War I http://file:///C:/Users/craig/Downloads/Newport%20News%20-%20Newport%20News%20Port%20of%20Embarkation%20in%20World%20War%20I%20Guide.pdf

 

During World War I, the War Department established major embarkation stations in Hampton Roads to send troops and supplies to Europe. In Northern Virginia, the Marines started building their base at Quantico and the War Department began the precursor to Fort Belvoir.

 

In the Shenandoah Valley, the Quartermaster Depot created a remount station to ship horses to Europe.

 

[world war I nerd]

Thanks derrbrad. Now I can make out the pommel bags, etc.

 

Thanks also to Salvage Sailor. I had no idea that a WW I Victory Arch was erected in Newport News, Virginia.

[carthage light guard]

Unidentified hospital scene. Possibly American University during the influenza outbreak. The sign above the stage reads "Pro Deo Et Patria" (for God and Country).

[world war I nerd]

Carthage Light Guard, thanks for posting the hospital image. Wish I could find some good close ups of WW I era hospital orderlies, nurses and doctors wearing Army issued hospital garb. All of the military hospital clothing photos seem to be at a distance, much like yours. One of my research goals is to document what AEF hospital personnel (including patients) wore.

 

Now for some more photos ...

 

Company M of an unidentified regular Army or National Guard outfit (probably NG) at Camp Forsten, 1911.

 

Close up of Company M's bugler. Wish I could make out his collar disc.

[world war I nerd]

Not sure if these are Regulars or National Guardsmen - probably the latter. Also not entirely sure of the date, but my best guess would be between 1911 and 1916. Note the sleeve garters on both men, as well as the non-regulation woolen puttees worn by the right hand soldier.

 

Woolen puttees show up with some degree of frequency in pre-1917 photos of U.S. Army personnel. The infantry equipment board actually recommended that the Army replace canvas leggings with woolen puttees in 1910. This, of course, didn't happen until late 1917 or early 1918.

[world war I nerd]

I'm really disappointing that I wasn't the high bidder on this eBay photo of a soldier in the Philippines circa 1913. I'm posting it anyway, because it's such a great image with a small amount of colorization.

[world war I nerd]

An undated photo of a Navy shore party/kitchen detail. No ID or date, but the fruit crates all appear to have Spanish names, so maybe Central or South America?

 

Close up of the wash-basin-beating petty officer, what looks to be a Filipino sailor and the above mentioned fruit crates.

[world war I nerd]

Close up of the right-side items for sale.

 

This is not anywhere near to being a full-length soldier photo, unless you count the commissary sales counter as being "full-length"

 

Anyway, the image is of a 23rd Infantry (note the stencil in the lower left-hand corner) field or camp commissary. What's interesting is the array of goods for sale that are on display. They range from cigars to toothpaste, to snacks and playing cards.

 

Close up of the left-side items for sale.

[world war I nerd]

Snapshot of Chas Daniels and Ralph Mussen at Camp Lee, Virginia, December 1917. The plate wrapped around the front fender reads: "U.S. ARMY Q.T.M.C.".