AEF Vehicle insignia

[brad k]

there was a YD veteran in my town that had one over his garage door, it didn't have the aef or regt. numbers though.  I have one like the one I remember, I think mine might be a piece of trench art. 

[binthere]

On 3/17/2018 at 8:59 AM, world war I nerd said:

Another 2nd Division "Star & Indian Head" motorcycle with sidecar ...

 

Note the secondary insignia painted below the star & Indian head.

 

Anybody know what it represents?

 

I believe that symbol represented the divisional headquarters troop.  As far as I can determine, all of the WWI divisions' headquarters troops were formed from cavalry troops (MP units were another common unit to convert excess cavalry units into).  Since the units retained the 'troop' designation when incorporated into the infantry divisions (instead of the traditional infantry 'company' designation), I'm assuming they retained the cavalry symbol as well.  And I'm assuming the number is the unit vehicle number.

 

At least that's best guess.

 

Chuck (the other Chuck)

[JDR]

Greetings,

 

Figure I would throw these photos here. Part of the collection of Sergeant Ezra Post, Battery D 146th Field Artillery Regiment, currently in the collections of the Fort Walla Walla Museum in Walla Walla Washington. The namesake of Sergeant Post's wife, Pansy, was chosen to be painted on the Sergeant's Puteaux-Manufactured GPF No. 740. "Pansy" the cannon is one of the two original 155mm GPFs currently on display at the Fort Walla Walla Museum's park grounds that were souvenired by Battery D in 1920:

 

Note the marking under Sergeant Ezra's arm and the 146th FA Battery D insignia next to his legs

 

A wider shot of the same cannon

 

A photo from Sergeant Post's collection with "my gun" pointing to, presumably, "Pansy"

Note the same barrel and unit markings on all four cannons

 

The two remaining 155mm GPFs of Battery D in Walla Walla

Gun No. 740, "Pansy," is the GPF on the right.

 

Hope this contributes to this thread a bit! There is talk at the museum of re-applying the gun tube names and unit insignia to the cannons sometime in the near future. If this happens I will ensure photos of the final product are shared here.

 

Best Regards,

-J.D.