Jump to content

Mystery Insignia On WW1 Hat


Bill Scott
 Share

Recommended Posts

Bill Scott

Has anyone ever seen this transportation related patch and if so what unit does it represent.Thanks for your time and help.Scotty

resized_MVC-004S19924.JPG

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Reminds me of an old joke: a Transport Corps SSI and Luftwaffe eagle walk into a bar...

 

Interesting and impressive whatever it is. Is that an eagle superimposed over the Transport patch or a winged-helmet with exaggerated wings?

 

Dave

Link to comment
Share on other sites

world war I nerd

Not 100% sure, but I think that might be a cloth variation of the Women's Motor Service cap badge. Photo courtesy of the John Adams-Graf collection.

post-5143-0-42530200-1558603730_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

everforward

There is a picture on Facebook under discussion that shows a motorcycle rider wearing this insignia on his left sleeve, that it’s use was very short-lived.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

world war I nerd

Sorry, I only had one eye open when I posted the above photo this morning. It's "Women's Motor Corps", not "Service", as I incorrectly typed earlier today.

 

Women's Motor Corps was a branch of the American Red Cross during WW I, so definitely an American organization. My understanding is that their chief duty was to transport wounded Doughboys in ambulances from arriving hospital ships (or trains) to whatever hospital or other medical facility in the U.S. that was their destination.

 

Photo courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution

post-5143-0-96194200-1558650653_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

world war I nerd

Oops. I got it wrong again ... I conflated the Red Cross Motor Corps with the National League for Women's Service, Women's Motor Corps, both of which, more or less, performed similar duties. The main difference being that the Red Cross was a private organization, while the National League for Women's Service was operated by the U.S. Government.

 

Attached is the metal version of the Women's Motor Corps cap badge and a 1918 dated magazine cover featuring an artist's representation of a WMS driver in uniform.

post-5143-0-42852800-1558663669_thumb.jpg

post-5143-0-08457300-1558663701.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We see that the cloth version was embroidered in a much simpler design with no BAR that says WOMEN'S and no wording on the wheel, MOTOR CORPS.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...