Jump to content

Looking for photos showing First World War US Army Officers wearing British Sam Browne belts.


Mr-X
 Share

Recommended Posts

Hi everyone. I was wondering if some of you might be able to help me out.

 

I am looking for period photographs that show First World War US Army Officers wearing British Army Sam Browne belts.

 

I am preferably looking for portrait style photographs but any will do.

 

Thanks in advance. :thumbsup:

 

Leigh

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Robswashashore

Leigh, not to ask a "Stoopid Question" here, but,

 

Are British Sam Browne belts different from US Sam Brown belts?

 

I have lots of photos of my Granddad (1st Lt.) overseas in France during WWI and he is wearing a Sam Browne belt, but are there different kinds?

 

I'll be happy to dig them up and post them if this is what you need.

 

(Actually, if you look over at my avatar that is what the belt looks like. Did the Brits have their own style?)

 

Jean

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Good questions guys.

 

From my understanding, and please correct me if I am wrong, officers of the US Army did not wear Sam Browne belts until they got to Europe and saw their fellow allied officers wearing them. Officers of the AEF then started to wear them.

 

I would assume that they would have initially started wearing foreign belts, presumably British made belts. Not necessarily British issue belts but possibly those sold by officers out fitters.

 

Were there any US made Same Browne belts made during the First World War? If so how did these belts differ from British belts?

 

There is a good reference on British belts HERE and HERE

 

Some British Belts were only made for a single cross over shoulder strap. Others were made to have two shoulder straps and could be worn with either two straps on just the one.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In the ad for the March Military Equipment Company shown below you will see an American Sam Browne belt.
I believe this particular ad dates from between the wars.

Notice how this belt has no sword rings or hook on the left hand front of the belt. This is bacause it uses a removable Saber Chain Slide system. Also shown in the ad.

post-22-0-56640300-1408738473.jpg

Compare that belt to the British 1916 dated belt in my collection. (Note this belt is made for two shoulder straps but is fitted with only one.) You can see one of the sword loops under the cross strap and the sword hook mounted to the left hand side of the belt.


post-22-0-20741500-1408738475.jpg


Now compare both belts to the following picture of General Pershing. Note the Sword rings on he left of the belt.

post-22-0-34860500-1408738477.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have a Sam Browne belt that came out of an estate sale with a uniform grouping of a US Captain in the 78th Division. His belt is marked as sold by R. J. Inglis Limited Military Outfitters Montreal Winnipeg. So he may have ordered it in the US (he was from Watertown NY which is very close to the Canadian border) or perhaps this seller had them for sale in Europe as well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes Tim that is the sort of thing I am looking for.

 

I would prefer field grade officers but at this stage I dont care.

 

I am trying to get an idea of how prevelent British type belts were.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have a Sam Browne belt that came out of an estate sale with a uniform grouping of a US Captain in the 78th Division. His belt is marked as sold by R. J. Inglis Limited Military Outfitters Montreal Winnipeg. So he may have ordered it in the US (he was from Watertown NY which is very close to the Canadian border) or perhaps this seller had them for sale in Europe as well.

 

 

Can I trouble you for pic of that belt?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bingo! That is my understanding also. The US-made belts -- '20's and later -- used a detachable hanger with a sword chain. The British sword was hung on two loops with leather straps, and had a hook on the belt itself.

 

It is my understanding that the Sam Browne belt was adopted by the Allies as a universally recognizable symbol of officer status. The Pre-War US sword belt was a simple garrison belt without a shoulder strap.

 

In the 1920's, we also adopted a double strap version for field use -- many belts of this era will have the second brass ring atop the belt in the back and a second slider for the other cross belt.

 

GOOD DISCUSSION!

 

G

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi everyone. I was wondering if some of you might be able to help me out.

 

I am looking for period photographs that show First World War US Army Officers wearing British Army Sam Browne belts.

 

I am preferably looking for portrait style photographs but any will do.

 

Thanks in advance. :thumbsup:

 

Leigh

 

Hi Leigh,

Attached is a photo from my collection of a lieutenant wearing the style of belt you requested.

 

John A-G

post-949-1291057661.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I wonder if any of our forum members might have a picture of a British type Sam Browne with a pistol holster?

 

In theory it could have been possible using the 'Holster, Canteen, First aid or Bayonet slide' of the Garrison belt.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

General Apathy
In the ad for the March Military Equipment Company shown below you will see an American Sam Browne belt.

I believe this particular ad dates from between the wars.

 

Notice how this belt has no sword rings or hook on the left hand front of the belt. This is bacause it uses a removable Saber Chain Slide system. Also shown in the ad.

 

2styles-sam-browne2.jpg

 

Hi leigh, I own a copy of the March Equipment catalog, not certain where you picked up the copy advert above and whether it was one I have posted here on another forum topic sometime, if so then my copy is dated 1941-1942.

 

lewis

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi leigh, I own a copy of the March Equipment catalog, not certain where you picked up the copy advert above and whether it was one I have posted here on another forum topic sometime, if so then my copy is dated 1941-1942.

 

lewis

 

I picked the picture up up doing an internet search on Sam Browne belts.

 

Thanks Lewis for helping to date the ad. :thumbsup:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Leigh,

 

I just received my monthly copy of MILITARY TRADER and there was an interesting article about the Sam Browne Belt in the December issue. It may be worth looking into and maybe you can get in touch with the author of the article.

 

Leigh...

 

(PS, kind of strange writing my name in the heading and again in the conclusion of the letter) :lol:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You requested photos of the Sam Browne I have to a 78th Division Captain; the belt was from a Canadian outfitter. Here are photos. If you have any questions, let me know.

 

Regards - Gary

 

post-2256-1291183338.jpg

 

post-2256-1291183349.jpg

 

post-2256-1291183358.jpg

 

post-2256-1291183371.jpg

 

post-2256-1291183380.jpg

 

post-2256-1291183390.jpg

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...