world war I nerd Posted May 23, 2014 #1 Posted May 23, 2014 A.E.F. & U.S. Army Brassards & Armbands Part 1 1917 to 1918 Military brassards and armbands as used by the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) and to a lesser extent by the U.S. Army for home service during WW I have been explored in a handful of separate postings here on the forum. Most have primarily dealt with the Geneva or Red Cross brassards, as well as those worn by the Military Police (MP). Miscellaneous brassards and other narrower ‘armbands’ also turn up on the forum from time to time, often with the question, “what is it?” attached. Therefore, I thought it may be useful to create a single reference containing as much information as I could obtain on the brassards and armbands that were used by the AEF and the U.S. Army that served stateside during WW I. Like the similar post on War Service Chevrons*, I’ve once again gone “off topic”, in respect to AEF shoulder sleeve insignia (SSI). I’ve also taken the liberty of including a number of foreign made brassards. Some of which, I know for a fact were used by the AEF, and others that I suspect were worn by members of the AEF. I included the brassards of foreign armies, primarily because prior to 1917, the U.S. Army employed just two or three brassards. There may have been more, but thus far, my research indicates that there were very few. The majority of the brassards used by the AEF ‘Over There’ between 1917 and 1919 were inspired, copied or borrowed from either the British or the French Armies. As was the case with aeroplanes, artillery and automatic weapons, it is my belief that when there were no brassards of U.S. manufacture to be had or if the U.S had yet to devise a brassard for a specific purpose, the brassards used by America’s Allies were pressed into service. I also submit that AEF troops that were seconded to the French and British Armies would have been issued brassards from the respective army with which they served. This would have been done so that the foreign troops, be they British, Canadian, Australian or French that were adjacent to the Yanks, Sammies, Doughboys and Leathernecks would instantly identify, and recognize the authority that a brassard or armband borrowed from their own Army represented. As always, everyone is welcome to post any relevant comments, questions, corrections or theories, and especially photographs that may improve our knowledge or otherwise advance or improve the topic. More importantly, this post is almost certainly incomplete. If I’ve overlooked any brassard that you know of, or think you know about, please post whatever relevant information you may have and if possible a photograph. Likewise, if you see any factual mistakes, errors or omissions, please don’t hesitate to set the record straight. PS, because this post as planned currently runs to almost 120 photos or groups of photos, I’m splitting it up into two or possibly three parts. This first part deals with early U.S. Army brassards and those used by the Hospital Corps and Medical Department. … World War I Nerd *If anyone’s interested, here a link to the War Service Chevron post: http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/202900-world-war-i-war-service-chevrons/ Photo No 01: This illustration was painted by Private C. Leroy Baldridge who served for a year as a camion (truck) driver with the French Army, and another year as an infantry private in the AEF on special duty with the Stars and Stripes newspaper. The image depicts an American Military Policeman and his Gallic or French Gendarme counterpart patrolling the streets of Paris. Each, ever vigilant for even the slightest lapse in military courtesy or the smallest breach of military discipline made by the war weary Piolu and the high spirited Doughboy. The note written on the illustration in Baldridge’s own hand reads: One of the Agent-de-villes – M.P. teams of Paris patrolling the boulevard. They have authority over both Yank and Piolu; Paris 1919, If the artwork of C. Leroy Baldridge looks vaguely familiar to you, it’s probably because a number of his drawings and paintings were featured on the pages of the official newspaper of the AEF … the Stars and Stripes. A book containing Baldridge’s artwork, from which this illustration was taken, was also published after the war. The book titled I was There: with the Yanks in France can be viewed online or downloaded free of charge at: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/15937/15937-h/15937-h.htm
world war I nerd Posted May 23, 2014 Author #2 Posted May 23, 2014 A Brief History of the Brassard In strictly anatomical terms, the word “Brassard” stems from the Latin word “Brachium” and the French word “Bras”, both of which mean “Arm” (as in that body part to which the hand is attached). Militarily speaking, by the Middle Ages, the word “Brassard” or “Brassart” was what a French knight would call the two pieces of plate armor that encased and protected his upper and lower arm. In later centuries, the advent of gun powder led to the demise of plate armor as a means of protection on the battlefield. As firearms proliferated between the 15th and mid-17th centuries, the use of heavy and cumbersome plate armor declined steeply. By the end of the Thirty Years war in 1648, the wearing of plate armor had been rendered practically obsolete. However, the word “brassard” was retained and bestowed upon the decorative cloth ribbons and sashes that were worn by commanders as early symbols of military rank and office. Photo No. 02: Here both ends of the spectrum, in respect to the brassard’s use in the military are shown. The left hand photo shows the brassard in its infancy. The two pieces of armor strapped onto each arm between the gauntlet, elbow and shoulder guards were both commonly known as a brassard by French knights. On the left, the black armband bearing the initials ‘M’ and ‘P’, which were used to identify the American and British Military Police, is the progeny of the aforementioned medieval brassard.
world war I nerd Posted May 23, 2014 Author #3 Posted May 23, 2014 The second generation of the military brassards was comprised of brightly colored pieces of cloth or sashes that were sometimes braided or tasseled to further increase their visibility. Since these brassards were designed to be easily recognized in combat, they frequently acted much like a standard during the confusion of battle. As such they became a rallying point, as well as a source of inspiration for friendly troops. Unfortunately, they also became a target to be captured or destroyed by enemy forces. By the late 19th century, a new style of military brassard had been born. While still made from various colors of cloth, the third generation of brassard had lost much of its ornamentation. Military brassards had also been reduced in size and were no longer being worn exclusively by officers and high ranking officials. Brassards were now commonly worn around the upper arm by both officers and enlisted military personnel as a distinguishing mark. Their purpose was to make the appearance of the soldier wearing it noticeably different than that of the rank and file. In the early 20th century, at the outbreak of World War I (WWI), brassards or what many refer to as ‘armbands’ and occasionally ‘armlets’ were no longer decorative. They had become strictly utilitarian. They had also been adopted by virtually every modern army as a universal mark of instant recognition. The military brassard was now chiefly used to signify a particular contingent, regiment or brigade or to denote that certain troops were temporally or permanently appointed to a specific military duty or task. Photo No. 03: After the disappearance of armor, the brassard soldiered on well into the 19th century in the form of colorful ribbons and sashes that were used to identify military rank. Two centuries later, amidst the carnage of WW I, the brassard still served proudly in the shape of a humble armband fixed onto the upper arm. Brassards of all descriptions, were worn by immaculately clad staff officers, and by the mud caked and blood stained runners, wire stringers, stretcher bearers, and other specialists; most of whom plied their trade in the front line filth that became synonymous with the Great War. Here three branches from the military brassards family tree are shown. At left is the brassard worn as a ribbon of red cloth on the left upper arm of a 17th century captain. The center brassard is in the shape of an ornate silk sash slung from the right shoulder, symbolizing the high rank of an early 19th century senior Russian official. The brassard at right is a simple armband, attached to the sleeve of a WW I Italian Alpini or mountain trooper.
world war I nerd Posted May 23, 2014 Author #4 Posted May 23, 2014 U.S. Army Geneva Cross Brassard Adopted in 1882 At the very first Geneva Convention which was held in 1864, the design of a white armband or brassard bearing a Greek cross that was red in color was adopted as a symbol of protection for those who gave care to the sick and wounded on the battlefield, as defined by Article 7, Chapter VII* of the newly penned Geneva Convention. The design for the insignia that was initially known as the ‘Geneva Cross’ is credited to two of the founding members of the international committee: Dr. Louis Appia and General Henri Dufour. Today the Geneva Cross is universally known as the ‘Red Cross’, after both the color and the international relief organization by the same name that was founded in 1863. It wasn’t until the Second Geneva Convention** in 1882, that the U.S. Army officially adopted the brassard bearing a red cross for all privates in the Hospital Corps. During the Spanish American War of 1898, the U.S. Army expanded the use of the red or Geneva cross brassard to include additional medical personnel who qualified under the terms agreed upon by the signatories of the second convention. According to both the Geneva Convention and U.S. Army regulations, American personnel authorized to wear a red cross brassard were: Chaplains attached to armies, all personnel charged exclusively with the removal, transportation and treatment of the sick and wounded and those charged with the administration of sanitary formations and establishments such as surgeons, nurses and members of the Hospital Corps. Between 1882 and 1917, the U.S. Army employed but a few brassards to denote a handful of specific military duties and occupations. The first of the Army’s regulation brassards, and by far the most widely issued and the best known, was the Geneva or Red Cross Brassard. It wasn’t until America entered into WW I, that the use of the brassard as an insignia multiplied at an unheard of rate in the AEF. *Note: Article 7, Chapter VII of the first Geneva Convention held in1864, provided protection for all medical facilities, their personnel and any civilians that aided the wounded during a time of war. The first convention also gave the Red Cross organization international recognition as a neutral international medical group. **The United States did not become a signatory of the Geneva Convention until 1882, when the second convention extended protection to wounded combatants at sea, as well as shipwrecked sailors. Photo No. 04: The earliest photograph of a Geneva cross brassard being worn by a member of the U.S. Army that I was able to locate, shows a private of the Army Hospital Corps circa 1882 – 1898. Note the relatively small size of the red cross on the brassard, the early Hospital Corps pouch and the 1887 Hospital Corps Bolo.
world war I nerd Posted May 23, 2014 Author #5 Posted May 23, 2014 Photo No. 05: Here a similar Geneva cross brassard is worn by an Army Hospital Corps orderly assisting a surgeon attending wounded soldiers somewhere in Cuba during the Spanish American War in 1898. Again note the relatively small size of the red cross on the white brassard.
world war I nerd Posted May 23, 2014 Author #6 Posted May 23, 2014 Photo No 06: Each of the five medical men in these pre 1900 photos, all appear to be wearing Geneva cross brassards of a similar style. According to period sources, at the turn of the century, U.S. Army first aid men were referred to as ‘corpsmen’, not ‘medics’*. *Official Army publications from the late 19th and early 20th centuries refer to Army enlisted medical personnel as “corpsmen”. This probably reflected the branch of service to which they belonged, i.e. the Hospital Corps. I suspect the more familiar term of “medic” did not come into common use until after the Hospital Corps was renamed the Medical Department, which I believe took place in 1917.
world war I nerd Posted May 23, 2014 Author #7 Posted May 23, 2014 Photo No. 07: This photo taken in Manila, Philippines, circa 1900 shows an infantryman wearing another early Red Cross brassard with the smaller Geneva cross. The soldier also appears to have improvised a cross strap from an 1898 Canteen or Haversack shoulder strap to support the weight of the cartridge belt. It has also been suggested that the Krag carbine, cartridge belt with cross-strap and the brassard were all props provided by the photographer to give the soldier a more martial appearance.
world war I nerd Posted May 23, 2014 Author #8 Posted May 23, 2014 Photo No. 08: One of these men from Company D, 20th Kansas Volunteer Infantry circa 1898 is wearing the Geneva cross brassard. It too, closely resembles the style of brassards shown in all of the previous photographs.
world war I nerd Posted May 23, 2014 Author #9 Posted May 23, 2014 U.S. Army Stretcher Bearer’s Brassard Photo No. 09: On the right is a close up of the brassard from the above photo. Note that he is the only soldier who is not armed and is not wearing a cartridge belt. The illustration beside it, painted by H. Charles McBarren, depicts a Hospital Corps Surgeon wearing the Geneva cross brassard. Behind the surgeon’s right shoulder two of the four stretcher bearers are wearing the red Stretcher Bearer’s Brassard. According to the 1898 uniform regulations, all company litter (stretcher) bearers were to wear a red brassard on the left sleeve above the elbow. The Quartermaster Department (QTMD) issued four such brassards to each company, battery and troop to be handed out as necessary to the enlisted men who were selected for that duty. When transferred to another duty, each soldier was to return the red Litter Bearer’s Brassard to Company HQ. Also of interest is what looks to be an early Hospital Corps Pouch slung from the left shoulder of the forward litter bearer. One of the four stretcher bearers is a member of the Hospital Corps, as indicated by the red cross brassard.
world war I nerd Posted May 23, 2014 Author #10 Posted May 23, 2014 U.S. Navy & USMC Geneva Cross Brassards Photo No. 10: The year in which the U.S. Navy adopted the Geneva cross brassard is not known. Presumably, it was done in 1882, the same year as the Army. This early photo shows a Hospital Steward (Chief Petty Officer) and two hospital apprentices from a ships landing party circa 1905. This particular Geneva cross brassard differs from the Army issued red cross brassard, in that the white armband is noticeably wider/taller. The Hospital Steward on the right looks to be carrying the larger Hospital Corps Orderly’s Pouch. The canvas strap slung from the center Hospital Apprentice’s right shoulder is likely connected to the smaller version of the pouch, which was known as the Hospital Corps Pouch.
world war I nerd Posted May 23, 2014 Author #11 Posted May 23, 2014 Photo No. 11: The sailors who make up this Navy ambulance party circa 1910, are all wearing identical red cross brassards. Note how the white backing cloth of the brassards is much taller than those issued by the Army. The 1916 Landing Force Manual explained what personnel were to be selected to be Navy stretcher bearers, 9. During an engagement, in order to reduce the number of ineffective men to a minimum, the pioneers, messmen, signalmen, servants, and others who are not actually engaged in their own legitimate duties shall be employed to re-inforce the stretchermen, or ammunition-passers, as the case may be. They should recover the arms and ammunition of disabled men, and perform such other duties as the bt. c. [battalion commander] may direct. Those who assist the stretchermen should remove their arms and wear the red cross. The Landing-force and Small-arm Instructions, United States Navy, 1916
world war I nerd Posted May 23, 2014 Author #12 Posted May 23, 2014 Photo No. 12: It’s difficult to determine whether or not if the sailor leaning on the stretcher in Vera Cruz, Mexico, 1914, is a Pharmacist Mate or merely a stretcher bearer. Nevertheless, the Geneva cross brassard he’s wearing is worn on the right arm, not the left arm, which was prescribed by Navy regulations. In addition, this brassard is far thinner than the other Navy issued Geneva cross brassards shown above. Navy landing force regulations, paragraph 925 clearly states that: The ambulance party and Hospital Corps men, will …wear the Geneva cross on the left arm. Later in the same manual, paragraph 1846 detailed the special equipment that was to be carried by members of the ambulance party: The special equipment of the ambulance party is as follows: One litter for each two stretcher men. Brassard on each arm for each man. Hospital pouch for each Hospital Corpsman (large for chief pharmacist’s mate: small for others). Hospital Corps flag for each detachment. (If acting singly, the National flag will be displayed with the red cross flag.) The Landing-force and Small-arm Instructions, United States Navy, 1916 If I interpret paragraph 1846 correctly, the Navy Pharmacist’s Mates and Chief Pharmacist’s Mates were to wear one Geneva cross brassard on the left arm. However, Navy stretcher men were apparently distinguished from the Navy medical men by the fact that they wore two, not one Geneva cross brassards, one on each arm. This might account for why the Geneva cross brassard is worn on the right arm by this Navy litter bearer.
world war I nerd Posted May 23, 2014 Author #13 Posted May 23, 2014 Photo No. 13: The Geneva cross brassard worn by this Marine at Vera Cruz, Mexico in 1914, is of a completely different style that either the Army or Navy issued red cross brassards shown above. The width of the band is slimmer than the Navy brassards, but it’s approximately the same size as the Army brassard. However the red cross is much larger than any of those shown on the Army and Navy brassards pictured above.
world war I nerd Posted May 23, 2014 Author #14 Posted May 23, 2014 U.S. Army Mounted Orderly Brassard By 1912 the red Stretcher Bearer’s Brassard was no longer in service, as only two brassards were mentioned under the heading of “Brassards” in the 1912 uniform regulations. Exactly when this particular brassard was abolished as an article of equipment is not known. Besides the Geneva Cross Brassard, which was now being called a Red Cross Brassard, the only other brassard mentioned in 1912, was a red Mounted Orderlies Brassard. The date this brassard was adopted is also not known. However its function was explained as follows: 61 Red. – The authorized mounted orderlies of infantry and cavalry regiments, the mounted men assigned as orderlies to brigade and higher commands, and agents of communication of the Field Artillery will, while on duty in that capacity at drill or in the field, wear a red brassard: on the right forearm. The brassards will be furnished by the Quartermaster Department. Regulations for the Uniform of the United States Army, 1912, Government Printing Office, page 22 The red orderly brassard continued in service as it was again mentioned in 1917: 63. BRASSARDS, Red. The authorized mounted orderlies of Infantry and Cavalry regiments, the mounted men assigned as orderlies to brigade and higher commanders, and agents of communication of the Field Artillery and machine-gun companies will, while on duty in that capacity at drill or in the field, wear a red brassard on the right forearm. The brassards will be furnished by the Quartermaster Corps. Special Regulations No. 41, Regulations for the Uniform of the United States Army, 1917, page 29 The orderly’s brassard was mentioned yet again in 1918, along with the other two brassards that were in use at the time the document was printed: Mounted orderlies wear a red brassard on the right forearm. The “Red Cross” brassard is worn on the left arm is of white with a red Geneva cross on it. Overseas telephone operators have a telephone mouthpiece on a white brassard worn on the left arm. Regulations for the Uniform of the United States Army, 1918 Photo No. 14: This red brassard recently offered for sale by Bay State Militaria was listed as a “runners” armband. Bases on the width (which looks to be wider than a runners armband) and means of closure, I believe it to be a Mounted Orderlies Brassard.
world war I nerd Posted May 23, 2014 Author #15 Posted May 23, 2014 Red Cross Brassard: Unnumbered In 1912, Army regulations pertaining to wearing the Geneva/Red Cross Brassard were explained thusly in that year’s uniform regulations: Red Cross. – In time of war with a signatory of the Geneva convention, all persons in the military service rendered neutral by the terms of said convention will wear a brassard of white cloth, with a Geneva cross of red cloth in the center, on the left arm above the elbow while on duty in the field of operations. These persons are entitled to wear the brassards: Chaplains attached to armies; the personnel charged exclusively with the removal, transportation, and treatment of the sick and wounded, and those charged with the administration of sanitary formations and establishments, – e.g., surgeons, members of the Hospital Corps, and nurses… Red Cross brassards will be worn by those entitled to wear them, when equipped for field duty… They will be furnished by the Medical Department. Regulations for the United States Army, 1912, Washington Government Printing Office, page 22 The same regulations were explained in more detail to all U.S. Army ‘sanitary troops’, which was the Army’s generic term used to describe all members of the Hospital Corps/Medical Department, in that branches’ handbook: In campaign, all persons belonging to the sanitary service and chaplains attached to the Army wear on the left arm a brassard bearing a red cross on a white ground, the emblem of the sanitary service of armies. The brassard is issued and stamped with a number by competent authority, and in case of persons who do not have military uniforms it is accompanied by a certificate of identity. Brassards will be issued to the uniformed personnel of the sanitary service and to chaplains by the senior medical officer of the organization with which they are on duty. To other individuals entitled thereto under the provisions of the Geneva Convention brassards and certificates of identity (Form61) will be issued by the division surgeon, surgeon, base group, the department surgeon or the Surgeon General, as the case may require. The certificate of identity will bear the same number as the brassard. The person to whom a certificate of identity is issued will retain it in his personal possession and exhibit it when called upon by competent authority to do so. Care will be taken to prevent the certificate of identity or its container from coming into the hands of another person. The loss of a brassard or certificate will be investigated and reported by the immediate commander to the office which issued the lost article. All sanitary formations display during daylight (reveille to retreat) the Red Cross flag accompanied by the National flag. If a sanitary formation falls into the hands of the enemy it displays while in such situation the Red Cross flag only. At night the positions of sanitary formations are marked by green lanterns – a camp infirmary by one green lantern; a field hospital by two green lanterns, one above the other; and an ambulance company or its dressing station by one green lantern above one white lantern. All material pertaining to the sanitary service is also marked with the Red Cross emblem, a red cross on a white ground. A Complete Handbook for the Sanitary Troops of the U.S. Army and Navy and National Guard and Naval Militia, 1917, page 14, 15 Photo No. 15: Sometime between the Vera Cruz campaign in 1914 and the time America entered into WW I in 1917, a different style of Geneva cross brassard began to be worn by the Army. The new brassard featured a larger red cross that literally ran from the top to the bottom of the white backing cloth. These medical men training in 1917 are wearing the Army’s new pattern Red Cross Brassard.
world war I nerd Posted May 23, 2014 Author #16 Posted May 23, 2014 Photo No. 16: The two different sizes of the red cross can clearly be seen in this comparison between the early Geneva Cross Brassard and later Red Cross Brassard.
world war I nerd Posted May 23, 2014 Author #17 Posted May 23, 2014 Photo No. 17: This truck is full of men from the 30th and 38th Infantry Regiments of the 3rd Division who were gassed on 15 July 1918, are destined for the gas ward of an evacuation hospital. Note the pristine condition of the Red Cross Brassard worn by the medical orderly on the left, compared to the rumpled condition of the Red Cross Brassard on the arm of the combat first aid man to the right. Also of interest are the square toed, British hobnailed, field shoes worn by the right hand seated men. Beneath the photo is an example of a WW I era Red Cross Brassard. These were typically made from a lightweight, white cotton material with a red wool cross spanning the entire height of the brassard. It should also be said that most WW I era brassards were typically in the neighborhood of 2 ¾ inches wide/tall. Note: WW II era Red Cross Brassards were approximately 4 inches in height.
world war I nerd Posted May 23, 2014 Author #18 Posted May 23, 2014 Photo No. 18: This section of AEF medical men are all wearing similar, if not identical Red Cross Brassards. Note that only one of the men has earned overseas service chevrons, and the camouflage painted helmet perched atop the head of the captain standing in the back. Unnumbered brassards, such as the one shown below, seem to have been issued in far greater numbers in the AEF, than the brassards that featured a control number.
world war I nerd Posted May 23, 2014 Author #19 Posted May 23, 2014 Photo No. 19: Judging by the following photos, the size and style of the Red Cross Brassard issued by the U.S. Army remained relatively consistent in both size and style throughout the Great War.
world war I nerd Posted May 23, 2014 Author #20 Posted May 23, 2014 Photo No. 20: The shoulder sleeve insignia (SSI) adopted by the 1st Army in October 1918 was comprised of the capital letter ‘A’ in black. That letter was chosen because it was the first letter in both the English alphabet and in the word “Army”. Many AEF organizations that were not attached to a combat division adopted a unit insignia of their own. Many of those that formed part of the 1st American Army placed their emblem between the legs of the 1st Army insignia. Here, two examples bearing medical related emblems are shown. The upper SSI features a Caduceus, which became the official symbol of the U.S. Army Hospital Corps in 1902. SSI such as this one could have been worn by any medical, ambulance, hospital or sanitation unit assigned to the 1st Army. Beneath that is the specific insignia of an unknown 1st Army medical unit. The illustration opposite the SSI was painted by official AEF war artist, Captain George Matthews Harding. It depicts American wounded, assisted by German prisoners making their way to the first aid station that was located in the village of the Marne during the spring of 1918.
world war I nerd Posted May 23, 2014 Author #21 Posted May 23, 2014 Red Cross Brassard: Numbered In 1918, it had come to the attention of General Headquarters, AEF (GHQ) that the unnumbered Red Cross Brassard was being used by certain front line soldiers as a means to avoid combat. This was able to be done because it was assumed that any soldier wearing a Red Cross Brassard behind the lines during an attack was involved in the transport or care of the troops who were wounded. To prevent unauthorized soldiers or “slackers” from avoiding combat by impersonating medical personnel, Red Cross Brassards were issued with a control number stamped next to the red cross. In addition, an identification card, bearing the same number as the brassard was issued and carried by all authorized medical personnel. The ID card had to be presented upon request to Military Police (MP) and to the surgeon commanding first aid stations, field hospitals and evacuation hospitals. Photo No. 21: It’s doubtful that any of these men are wearing numbered Red Cross Brassards, as the control number was typically stamped close enough to the red cross to make it visible. The Red Cross Brassard below shows the approximate location of the control number. Note that all three of these men are wearing their shirt collars over the collar of the woolen service coat with the collar discs skewering and securing both garments.
world war I nerd Posted May 23, 2014 Author #22 Posted May 23, 2014 Photo No. 22: This 6th Division enlisted medical man is wearing a numbered Red Cross Brassard. To the left is a close up of his brassard, and a closer view of another Red Cross Brassard with a control number.
world war I nerd Posted May 23, 2014 Author #23 Posted May 23, 2014 Photo No. 23: This selection of miscellaneous AEF medical insignia is comprised of a helmet painted with a Geneva/Red Cross. The opposite side of the helmet is painted with the ‘Rolling ‘W’ insignia of the 89th Infantry Division. It’s doubtful that AEF medical personnel wore helmets painted with a Red Cross emblem, but it is possible. Next to the helmet is a SOS or Service of Supply SSI that has been embellished with the initial ‘B’, the numeral ‘5’, and an arrow to represent Base Hospital No. 5. Underneath, from left to right is the SSI for the Hospital Center Kerhuon, Base Hospital No. 65, and the SSI of the 55 man medical detachment that was part of the 82nd Infantry Division’s HQ Company.
world war I nerd Posted May 23, 2014 Author #24 Posted May 23, 2014 French Infirmier Brassard It was common for French made brassards to be worn by members of the AEF, especially by those troops who were either temporarily or permanently attached to a French Army or Corps. The most common French brassard worn by the Americans during the Great War was hands down, the Infirmier Brassard. This French brassard is easily identified by its oval shape, which tapers down to a narrow strap that is approximately 1 inch in width. The strap is secured by an integral white metal friction buckle. During the war, French Red Cross Brassards were made with a number of markings, some of which included a date stamp. However, by the time the Americans arrived in France the most common marking was that of the Ministerie de la Guerre. Unfortunately that particular stamp was used during WWI and well beyond WW II without a date. Photo No. 24: It’s unlikely that early versions of the Infirmier Brassard, such as this were used by the AEF, but it’s being shown, just in case. The brassard is marked on the obverse: “F VII, No. 00005” and bears an illegible Ministry of War stamp. The reverse is marked: “Commission de Reception Paris” and is dated February 13, 1897.
world war I nerd Posted May 23, 2014 Author #25 Posted May 23, 2014 Photo No.25: On the right is a close up of the brassard’s date, and the acceptance stamp, along with a detail of the red wool cross. Opposite is a reconstruction of a Navy Corpsman wearing a later version of the French Infirmier Brassard. Note that the red cross on the French made brassard does not span the entire width of the oval shaped backing cloth like the cross used on the American made brassard does.
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