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USMC WW1 Cap Company or Regiment #7


nchistory
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Did only Marines in the FRANCE wear Overseas caps, Or DID WEAR Marines Overseas caps in different theaters? ? I've often understood the ## WAS FOR COMPANY, but could it also be REGIMENT??

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Nice cap! By WWI I believe the numbers were for Company

Yes I was pretty sure it was Company too. Interesting I think the name is Tyler, but can't find in 7th Company which was AEF HQ guard. I did find a QM SGT in the 7th Regt in Cuba named Deral E Tyler, but am uncertain if these caps were worn in Cuba, or if # ever used for Regt in 1919?. Guess it could have started life anywhere in the AEF, and converted Marine by someone unknown in the 7th Co.
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Marine Historian Steven Girard wrote me "The 7th Marine Regiment was in Cuba with the 3rd Marine Brigade and wouldn't have been issued these overseas caps."

 

So this belonging to 7th Company AEF HQ the "Praetorian Guard". I understand many of it's members were transferred to the 6th MGB after Blanc Mont. This cap is named Tyler, but can't find anyone by that name, most likely relieved from a soldier and repurposed by a Marine. This cap made by Spear & Co. 1918.

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world war I nerd

Chris, to answer one of your original questions: From the time they were adopted by the AEF in January of 1918 until sometime in 1919, overseas caps were only authorized to be worn by personnel serving in the AEF.

 

They were commonly worn by all branches (Army, Navy, Marine, YMCA, Red Cross, etc.) that served with or were attached to the AEF.

 

Officers and enlisted men were not allowed to wear overseas caps in the United States while training. In fact, for the most part, overseas cape were not issued until the men arrived at one of the Ports of Embarkation, which was their last stop before boarding a troop ship bound for France. Many men did not receive an overseas cap until after their arrival overseas.

 

Likewise, AEF veterans returning from France were likewise banned from wearing overseas caps upon their return from overseas duty. This was because the overseas cap was never a part of the uniform of the U.S. Army. Like trenchcoats, the Sam Browne belt, and steel helmets, overseas caps were a part of the uniform of the AEF. Once an AEF veteran set foot on US soil, he ceased being a member of the AEF, and once again, became a member of the US Army.

 

At some point in 1919 (I forget which month) the regulations governing the wear of overseas caps in the US were amended. The primary change was that returning AEF veterans, who were destined for immediate discharge from the military were allowed to wear the overseas caps until they were discharged.

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Chris, to answer one of your original questions: From the time they were adopted by the AEF in January of 1918 until sometime in 1919, overseas caps were only authorized to be worn by personnel serving in the AEF.

 

They were commonly worn by all branches (Army, Navy, Marine, YMCA, Red Cross, etc.) that served with or were attached to the AEF.

 

Officers and enlisted men were not allowed to wear overseas caps in the United States while training. In fact, for the most part, overseas cape were not issued until the men arrived at one of the Ports of Embarkation, which was their last stop before boarding a troop ship bound for France. Many men did not receive an overseas cap until after their arrival overseas.

 

Likewise, AEF veterans returning from France were likewise banned from wearing overseas caps upon their return from overseas duty. This was because the overseas cap was never a part of the uniform of the U.S. Army. Like trenchcoats, the Sam Browne belt, and steel helmets, overseas caps were a part of the uniform of the AEF. Once an AEF veteran set foot on US soil, he ceased being a member of the AEF, and once again, became a member of the US Army.

 

At some point in 1919 (I forget which month) the regulations governing the wear of overseas caps in the US were amended. The primary change was that returning AEF veterans, who were destined for immediate discharge from the military were allowed to wear the overseas caps until they were discharged.

Thanks Brian

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Hello,

Very interesting !

Thanks for your explanations.

Loïc.

Hey my friend Loïc, hope all is well. A lot of people helped me with that explanation. Thanks. Chris Carroll

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  • 3 weeks later...
Schnicklfritz

I have looked at quite a few RPPCs of Marines and have seen that in the AEF, the 5th and 6th Regiments used company numbers while the 11th and 13th used Regimental numbers on their headgear, both overseas caps and campaign hats. Stateside, Marines appear to have worn company numbers. Don't know about overseas outside of the AEF, but imagine they used company numbers also. I have one grouping that has a forest green "field made" overseas cap with 6th Company numeral. I believe he was a clerk at Quantico. There are some other caps with numerals in my collection. I'll have to do some digging to find them. Everything is boxed up!

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