Army Shoulder Board

[manayunkman]

This pair of boards at one time belonged to a General. Shouldn't it have stars ??

[Justin B.]

After 1902 the stars were moved to the cuff of the full dress uniform, and the epaulettes became "generic" for the different grades of general (and you could also tell rank by their coat buttons). Those are perfectly right as-is, nice set!

 

Justin B.

[GIl Sanow]

After 1902 the stars were moved to the cuff of the full dress uniform, and the epaulettes became "generic" for the different grades of general (and you could also tell rank by their coat buttons). Those are perfectly right as-is, nice set!

 

Justin B.

 

Not exactly -- the stars were attached with tiny straight pins. The stars were added as the officer was promoted. The coat of arms was not added until 1902 regs.

 

Shown below is one of BG (later MG) Charles Justin Bailey's, ca 1913. See the March 1, 2012 issue of AAMUC FOOTLOCKER for more on Bailey's uniforms.

 

Company and field grade officers DID NOT wear epaulets like this after '03 -- they wore knots similar to those still worn on Army mess jackets, but in real bullion, of course.

 

G

[Justin B.]

Thanks for the correction. Was there no period, then, that the epaulettes were "blank" for generals as the post-1902 shoulder knots were for other officers? Or have I mis-remembered once again!

 

Justin B.

[manayunkman]

Who would have worn these as is ??

 

M

 

While fringed epaulets similar to this were worn by all officers before the CW, later on only GO's wore them. With stars only before '03, with stars and the coat of arms afterward.

 

I believe yours are incomplete as shown. Neither stars nor buttons are present.

 

G

[GIl Sanow]

Thanks for the correction. Was there no period, then, that the epaulettes were "blank" for generals as the post-1902 shoulder knots were for other officers? Or have I mis-remembered once again!

 

Justin B.

 

Before 1903, company and field grade officers wore what are generally called 'paddles' -- knots with branch colored pads at the ends which held the rank (1LT and above), plus the regimental number and/or other device like a shield for adjutant. ONLY General officers wore fringed epaulets as shown above with ONLY stars. After 1903, GO's added the coat of arms, as shown, and other officers wore plain knots, at times with rank device on the knots.

 

G

[Justin B.]

Before 1903, company and field grade officers wore what are generally called 'paddles' -- knots with branch colored pads at the ends which held the rank (1LT and above), plus the regimental number and/or other device like a shield for adjutant. ONLY General officers wore fringed epaulets as shown above with ONLY stars. After 1903, GO's added the coat of arms, as shown, and other officers wore plain knots, at times with rank device on the knots.

 

Right, what I was thinking was that after '02 the GO epaulettes didn't carry rank insignia for a time, like the other officers' shoulder knots 1902-1911.

 

Thanks again,

Justin B.

[b jay]

nice boards

 

 

B Jay