Croix de Guerre Posted June 18, 2008 Share #1 Posted June 18, 2008 Hi, First time posting here. I've enjoyed looking at all the other groups I thought I might share one of mine. These are a few photos of a two trunk group in my collection identified to a man who served as a volunteer ambulance driver in the American Field Service Section 69. He served through the spring/summer/fall of 1917 and then returned home to join the U.S. Army. He was assigned to the Motor Transport Corp and served out the majority of his time in Jacksonville, Fla and never made it back overseas, (hence the baby blue overseas stripe). The group consisits of his AFS cotton uniform, converted US Army overcoat, french helmet, shoes, french made leather leggings, sewing kit, eating utensils, coin purses, letters, photos, Wilson Sporting Goods sleeping mattress, ect. ect. All in his AFS footlocker. The second trunk has all of his US Army gear; Officers campaign hat, visor cap, helmet, overcoat, Five diferent uniforms, leather leggings, puttees, Sam Browne belt, etc., etc. I just thought you all might enjoy seeing this stuff. There were only around 2000 or so men who served in the AFS so as you can imagine this stuff is pretty hard to come by. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croix de Guerre Posted June 18, 2008 Author Share #2 Posted June 18, 2008 More Pics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croix de Guerre Posted June 18, 2008 Author Share #3 Posted June 18, 2008 and more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croix de Guerre Posted June 18, 2008 Author Share #4 Posted June 18, 2008 more still Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croix de Guerre Posted June 18, 2008 Author Share #5 Posted June 18, 2008 more US uniforms Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croix de Guerre Posted June 18, 2008 Author Share #6 Posted June 18, 2008 the end Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchbuff Posted June 18, 2008 Share #7 Posted June 18, 2008 Fantastic group!!! Thanks for the post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr-X Posted June 18, 2008 Share #8 Posted June 18, 2008 Wow, really comprehensive grouping. Thanks for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Keith Posted June 18, 2008 Share #9 Posted June 18, 2008 Excellent! BKW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croix de Guerre Posted June 18, 2008 Author Share #10 Posted June 18, 2008 Some Close-ups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croix de Guerre Posted June 18, 2008 Author Share #11 Posted June 18, 2008 Some Close-ups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croix de Guerre Posted June 18, 2008 Author Share #12 Posted June 18, 2008 Close-up of the collar insignia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEAST Posted June 18, 2008 Share #13 Posted June 18, 2008 Outstanding! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted June 18, 2008 Share #14 Posted June 18, 2008 Sir,OUTSTANDING ITEMS!!!!!!! Thanks for sharing these pictures of items from a unit seldom encountered. RON Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croix de Guerre Posted June 18, 2008 Author Share #15 Posted June 18, 2008 Sir,OUTSTANDING ITEMS!!!!!!!Thanks for sharing these pictures of items from a unit seldom encountered. RON Your very welcome! Thanks for the compliment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croix de Guerre Posted June 18, 2008 Author Share #16 Posted June 18, 2008 The AFS rocker. This patch shows up on both the right and left arms and can be found as low as just above the elbow. Remember, these guys were volunteers and there were no "uniform regulations" per se. This uniform is known as a "camion" style to some AFS collectors (all ten of us!) as it is similar to uniforms worn by some of the late AFS volunteers who ended driving supply trucks for the French. (Some of these guys became members of the "Reserve Mallett"). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croix de Guerre Posted June 18, 2008 Author Share #17 Posted June 18, 2008 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugme Posted June 18, 2008 Share #18 Posted June 18, 2008 Very Very Nice! Thanks for showing us a bit of your collection! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croix de Guerre Posted June 19, 2008 Author Share #19 Posted June 19, 2008 Here is a closer look at some of his gear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croix de Guerre Posted June 19, 2008 Author Share #20 Posted June 19, 2008 The shoes are maker marked "Hermann's U.S. Army Shoe". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croix de Guerre Posted June 19, 2008 Author Share #21 Posted June 19, 2008 The shoes again, lost 'em on the last post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croix de Guerre Posted June 19, 2008 Author Share #22 Posted June 19, 2008 The labels Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croix de Guerre Posted June 19, 2008 Author Share #23 Posted June 19, 2008 Here is a photo of the man. His name was Lewis Chapman Gilger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croix de Guerre Posted June 20, 2008 Author Share #24 Posted June 20, 2008 Gilger's housewife, french haversack, french cup and M2 gas mask can Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamski Posted June 20, 2008 Share #25 Posted June 20, 2008 Wow, I am just speechless. What a cool collection! I really need to get a WWI uniform for once! -Ski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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