WWI American Field Service/ French Army Tunic

[Croix de Guerre]

A few years back this uniform showed up for sale on eBay. It was identified to an American named Alastair Ian Grant Valentine. Valentine served in the American Field Service as a volunteer ambulance driver in 1917 before enlisting in the French Army. He became an aspirant in the artillery corps before being assigned as an artillery spotter in the balloon corps. I know this is a long shot but does any one out there know what became of this uniform?

[Croix de Guerre]

A few years back this uniform showed up for sale on eBay. It was identified to an American named Alastair Ian Grant Valentine. Valentine served in the American Field Service as a volunteer ambulance driver in 1917 before enlisting in the French Army. He became an aspirant in the artillery corps before being assigned as an artillery spotter in the balloon corps. I know this is a long shot but does any one out there know what became of this uniform?

[Croix de Guerre]

A few years back this uniform showed up for sale on eBay. It was identified to an American named Alastair Ian Grant Valentine. Valentine served in the American Field Service as a volunteer ambulance driver in 1917 before enlisting in the French Army. He became an aspirant in the artillery corps before being assigned as an artillery spotter in the balloon corps. I know this is a long shot but does any one out there know what became of this uniform?

[Croix de Guerre]

Any body?? :think:

[Bugme]

Can't help you here Tom but, I sure wish it was mine.

[Croix de Guerre]

Can't help you here Tom but, I sure wish it was mine.

 

Yeah me too,,that why I'm posting it any where I can. :thumbsup: Somebody out there knows where it is.

[Jvb737]

Is there any more information available on this uniform? It belonged to my grandfather!

 

John Valentine

[Croix de Guerre]

John Valentine, I have found out a great deal of information about your grandfather. Please contact me.

[Croix de Guerre]

I'm going to bump this topic back into play as I have discovered a little more information concerning Mr. Valentine. Valentine volunteered with the American Field Service in SSU 32 as a volunteer ambulance driver in the summer of 1917. When the AFS was federalized in the fall of '17 he was denied enlistment in the US Army for medical reasons, so he enrolled with the American Red Cross as a volunteer ambulance driver in Section III, and spent the winter/spring of '17-'18 driving ambulances on the Italian front. (Just like Ernest Hemingway as he described in his book "A Farewell to Arms".

 

In the spring of 1918 when his enlistment was up, Valentine returned to France and enlisted in the French Foreign Legion. The French government opened it's officer's training school to a limited number of Americans that were not illegible for service in thier own army. Valentine was assigned to artillery school at Fontainebleau. Upon graduation with the French rank of an apirant (basically a second lieutenant) he was sent to the French school of balloon aeronautics and trained as an artillery observer. I don't know anymore about his service and do not know if he completed his training in time to see service with the French balloon corps before the Armistice.

 

Recently a small number of Valentine's decorations and a few photos showed up for auction. If anyone has any information as to the whereabouts of his uniform or other artifacts, please contact me.

 

[Croix de Guerre]

Here are some photos of some of the items identified to Valentine that recently turned up. They are; A protrait of Valentine in the uniform of a French Balloon officer, a photo of Vantentine when he was with the American Red Cross in Italy, a second American Field Service Medal, his French WWI Victory Medal, his Italian Unification Medal and his WWI Italian Service Medal.

[Croix de Guerre]

Valentine in the uniform of a French Balloon officer. Note the combination of artillery buttons and aviation/balloon insignia on his collar.

[Croix de Guerre]

Bump back into play!

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Still searching,,,,

[Souvigny]

HI,

 

I purchased few years ago on ebay the Valentine uniform. I just sold it to an american collector but I would like to write the uniform story for french "Uniformes" magazine and I would be pleased if you could help me to do so with pictures and inormations...

[Croix de Guerre]

HI,

 

I purchased few years ago on ebay the Valentine uniform. I just sold it to an american collector but I would like to write the uniform story for french "Uniformes" magazine and I would be pleased if you could help me to do so with pictures and inormations...

Hi, please email me.

 

Tom

[Jvb737]

Tom has the most information on this matter, he has researched this topic. I can only add personal perspective. I have no photos or memorabilia regarding my grandfather.

 

Curious, do you remember who sold you his uniform?