pre-ww1 breeches- when did the laces move

[world war I nerd]

Front and back view of a pair of 1912 Cotton Dismounted Service Breeches. Mounted breeches were identical except for the fact the second layer of fabric on the seat and thighs - the shape of which closely mirrored that of the shape used on the 1907 pattern mounted breeches.

 

 

[WPG]

Thanks very much for your post, but I am still confused. The 1908 regulations give us an illustration showing the seat reinforcement of the 1907 specificiation, but the 1912 regulations don't show us anything. Your photo is really puzzling. Looks like a 1902 campaign hat, early M1910 equipment, and wrap puttees (not worn until sometime in 1917). It's an infantryman wearing mounted breeches, but the breeches seem to have two rear pockets, indicating they are 1917 pattern.

 

I am still looking for photos of cavalry troops on the border. I can't find any photo showing anyone wearing breeches with reinforcements. We know the Army didn't always procure everything that was specified in the uniform regulations. As always, research continues.

[world war I nerd]

The photo of the soldier wearing mounted breeches is difficult to date. As you said he is wearing early 1910 infantry equipment (which was still being worn well into early 1918).

 

The exact pattern of hat the guy is wearing is difficult to determine. I doubt that it's the 1902 pattern, but it could be the 1905 Campaign Hat. It could also be the first pattern 1911 Campaign Hat (it had a shorter crown and a smaller brim without any stitching on its outer edge) worn with a 'fore and aft' crease. Wearing the 1911 style hats in that fashion was fairly popular when the 1911 hats were first issued because that's how the soldiers thought they were to be worn .

 

His shirt does not have elbow patches, which suggests that the photo was taken before 1916 ... the year that the shirt with elbow patches was adopted.

 

The breeches look more like the 1912 pattern than those of the 1908, because the seat and thighs on the early pattern breeches were noticeably much more roomier. The two rear pockets are indeed curious (I didn't notice then when I posted the photo). The only possible options are that the breeches are a privately tailored or commercially made copy of the 1911 Mounted Breeches ... If not that, then they must be a transitional pair of 1911 mounted breeches that were upgraded to the 1917 specification by the addition of the two rear pockets during the manufacturing process.

 

The Army experimented with woolen puttees between 1902 and 1912, and a board of officer's actually recommended that they be adopted as an article of equipment in (I think) 1910, but the War Department never signed off on them until America entered into WW I. However, wrap puttees were worn on a limited basis by both officers and enlisted men up to 1916 and during the Punitive Expedition into Mexico.

 

In my opinion, the photo could date anywhere from 1911 to 1916 or possibly even early 1917. Nevertheless, despite the lack of photographic proof, 1911 Mounted Breeches were in fact made, issued and authorized for wear by all U.S. Army mounted troops. This included the cavalry, light artillery, and all other mounted personnel including those of the Medical Department until they were replaced by 1917 Service Breeches which were made in only one style - dismounted.

 

The first photo compares the voluminous 1908 breeches with less loose breeches worn in the posted photo. Note the excess material on the outer thighs of the 1908 breeches.

 

The second photo shows two 1911 Campaign Hats circa 1915, one with the 'Montana Peak' and the other with a 'Fore & Aft' crease.

 

Next to the hats id Captain Bonneycastle of the 6th Infantry Regiment, Punitive Expedition in Mexico wearing woolen puttees.

 

 

[world war I nerd]

Here are the actual War Department specifications for the 1911 Cotton service Breeches Foot & Mounted - Specification No. 1058, adopted on March 17, 1910.

 

Surprisingly, they don't provide a great deal of information on how the mounted breeches were reinforced. Nor do the poor quality photocopies showing engravings of the foot & mounted breeches.

 

Page 01 of 03 pages:

[world war I nerd]

Page 02 of 03 pages:

[world war I nerd]

Page 03 of 03 pages:

[world war I nerd]

Poor quality photocopy of the Specification No. 1058 Cotton Mounted Breeches that accompanied the above specifications.

[world war I nerd]

Poor quality photocopy of the Specification No. 1058 Cotton Foot Breeches that accompanied the above specifications.

[world war I nerd]

On August 11, 1911, a new specification for the 1911 Cotton Service Breeches was adopted. Specification No. 1127 was identical in every way to the Specification No. 1058 cotton foot and mounted breeches except for the ink stamp containing the contractor's name and the date of the contract stamped onto the right hand side pocket was replaced by a piece of "standard label cloth" containing the contractor's name, date of the contract, specification number and the depot was sewn onto the right hand pocket instead.

 

Here is the equally poor quality photocopy of the Specification No. 1127 cotton mounted breeches.

[world war I nerd]

Here is the equally poor quality photocopy of the Specification No. 1127 cotton foot breeches.

 

The specification 1058 and 1127 cotton breeches were replaced by Specification No. 1162, of which I have no information, on July 26, 1912.

 

 

Variations of the above mounted and foot specifications were issued and worn until all supplies were exhausted after they were replaced by Specification No. 1164 on August 6, 1917. The Specification No. 1164 cotton breeches were only available in the foot version as mounted breeches were abolished as an article of equipment by the U.S. Army at the time the Specification No. 1164 breeches were adopted.