Jump to content

Discussion of Service Caps


jasonm
 Share

Recommended Posts

Quick question. Is there a reference thread on WWI visors on the forum. I've seen examples in posts but no reference guide for makes, models, etc.

Thanks in advance. jason

Link to comment
Share on other sites

world war I nerd

Here's a list of the U.S. Army's Dress and Service Caps (each of which has a visor) that were worn between 1903 and 1918 that I am aware of:

 

Cap, Service, Dress (wool):

 

1903 Dress Service Cap, Specification No. 593, adopted on January 21, 1903

1906 Dress Service Cap, Specification No. 797, adopted on February 19, 1906

1907 Dress Service Cap, Specification No. 884, adopted on July 23, 1907

1911 Dress Service Cap, Specification No. 1133, adopted on October 5, 1911

1914 Dress Service Cap, Specification No. 1215, adopted on September 1, 1914

1917 Dress Service Cap, Specification No. 1272, adopted on October 12, 1917

 

Cap, Service, Olive Drab (wool):

 

1905 Olive Drab Service Cap, Specification No. 776, adopted on October 6, 1905

1906 Olive Drab Service Cap, Specification No. 798, adopted on February 19, 1906

1907 Olive Drab Service Cap, Specification No. 920, adopted on December 21, 1907

1911 Olive Drab Service Cap, Specification No. 1134, adopted on October 5, 1911

1914 Olive Drab Service Cap, Specification No. 1215, adopted on September 1, 1914

1917 Olive Drab Service Cap, Specification No, 1272, adopted on October 12, 1917

 

Cap, Service Khaki (cotton):

 

1906 Khaki Service Cap, Specification No. 799, adopted on February 19, 1906

 

Cap, Service, White (cotton duck):

 

1906 White Service Cap, Specification No. 800, adopted on February 19, 1906

1911 White Service Cap, Specification No. 1135, adopted on October 5, 1917

 

Khaki cotton service caps were abolished as an article of equipment in the U.S. Army in 1910. However, after the Army's supply of khaki service caps was exhausted, both officers and enlisted men serving in the tropics acquired commercially made 1911 style service caps made from khaki cotton.

 

With the exception of formal functions at the White House, the wearing of the dress blue uniform and service cap was suspended by the Army for the duration of the war. Thus, recruits, volunteers and draftees who entered the army shortly after war was declared in April of 1917, were not issued either a dress uniform or a dress service cap.

 

The 1911 pattern Service Caps in olive drab wool were the caps that were primarily worn during 1917 & 1918.

 

So when all is said and done the only visored service caps used by the Army during WW I would have likely been the 1914 and 1917 pattern Service Caps made from olive drab wool in either the enlisted man's pattern or the officer's pattern.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

world war I nerd

Here are a few photos to help ID some of the various patterns of olive drab wool and khaki cotton service caps:

 

Photo No.01: This style of Officers Olive Drab Woolen Service Cap, with minor changes made along the way, was worn between 1903 and 1907.

post-5143-0-60415200-1543797592_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

world war I nerd

Photo No.03: This style of enlisted man's olive drab, woolen service cap, with minor changes made along the way, was worn between 1903 and 1907.

post-5143-0-58552400-1543797826_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

world war I nerd

Photo No. 04: This style of officers' olive drab, woolen service cap, with a higher peaked front and a more relaxed crown, with minor changes made along the way was worn between 1907 and 1911.

post-5143-0-87649800-1543797987_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

world war I nerd

Photo No. 05: This style of enlisted man's olive drab, woolen service cap, with minor changes made along the way, was worn between 1907 and 1911.

post-5143-0-88286200-1543798078_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

world war I nerd

Photo No. 07: These enlisted men hoisting a few cold ones in Hawaii are all wearing the khaki cotton service cap that was adopted by the Army in February of 1906.

 

To my knowledge, this pattern was the only regulation khaki cotton service cap that was issued to officers and enlisted men.

post-5143-0-54285600-1543798446_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

world war I nerd

Photo No. 08: The new pattern service cap that was adopted in 1911 featured a wider crown with a steeper front to back slope when viewed from the side. In addition, all of the cap's leather components were now made from russet-tan leather. This style of service cap, with minor changes made along the way, remained in service all the way through to the early 1920's. The caps depicted in this image both bear the cap badge of the infantry branch of service.

post-5143-0-30590700-1543798692_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

world war I nerd

Photo No. 09: Cap badges prescribed for the enlisted man's olive drab, woolen service caps that were issued between 1911 and 1917, each featured the branch of service symbol in which the wearer served. The branch of service device when surrounded by a wreath, like the examples shown here (Signal Corps (left) & Recruiting Service (right), indicated that the wearer was a NCO.

post-5143-0-12805800-1543798747_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

world war I nerd

Photo No. 10: This khaki cotton 1911 to 1917 style enlisted man's service cap was commercially manufactured. As far as it is known to me, this style of cap, made from khaki cotton, was never adopted by the Army. Personnel serving in warm climates, or in the tropics, were allowed to privately purchased service caps made from cotton material provided that they mirrored the design of the regulation woolen cap, and that their commanding officer permitted them to do so.

post-5143-0-62635500-1543799217_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

world war I nerd

Photo No. 11: This style of officers' olive drab, woolen service cap, with minor changes made along the way, was worn from 1911 through to the early 1920's.

 

post-5143-0-33757200-1543799660_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

world war I nerd

Photo No. 13: This officers' khaki cotton service cap was acquired outside of the Army's normal supply channels. The cap's somewhat relaxed crown is the result of the cap's stiffening wire being removed. Although this practice was not common, period photo do prove that a handful of officers wore their caps in this fashion.

post-5143-0-52857900-1543799855_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

world war I nerd

Photo No. 14: Brigadier General Douglas MacArthur was perhaps the most notable First World War AEF officer to habitually wear a service cap without its stiffener.

post-5143-0-57545200-1543800018_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

world war I nerd

Photo No. 15: Along with the adoption of the 1917 Service Cap, the Army ceased using the various branch of service cap badges. Instead, all enlisted men wore the same circular cap badge bearing the eagle seal of the United States. This swap allowed the Quartermaster at each Army post to stock just one cap badge, instead of a dozen or more branch of service cap badges.

post-5143-0-62622300-1543800157_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

world war I nerd

Photo No. 16: An enlisted recruit wearing a 1917 Enlisted Man's Olive Drab Woolen Service Cap with the recently adopted Cap Badge for Enlisted Men. Officers', however, continued to wear the cut-out eagle cap badge design that had been in use since 1903.

post-5143-0-47018800-1543800499_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

world war I nerd

Photo No. 17: Both of the 1917 Enlisted Man's Olive Drab Woolen Service Cap's depicted here are without cap badges. Since 1911, both the branch of service and round cap badges had been affixed to the caps by means of a threaded post, which fitted through the grommet on the front of the cap.

post-5143-0-14529700-1543800706_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

world war I nerd

Photo No. 18: An enlisted man wearing a service cap that has not yet been fitted with a cap badge. Caps without cap badges were a common sight in the training camps throughout 1917 and in to early 1918 because there simply weren't enough cap badges to go around early in the war.

post-5143-0-85455200-1543800919_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

world war I nerd

Photo No 19: The National Guard from most states had their own distinctive cap badges. The state identified cap badges were often worn well into WW I, and sometimes all the way through to the end of hostilities. The examples shown here are from Georgia, on an officers' cap (left), and from Massachusetts, on an enlisted man's cap (right).

post-5143-0-27939700-1543801049_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

world war I nerd

Photo No. 20: For wear in inclement weather a waterproof "storm cover" was available, The cover was secured to the cap by means of an elastic band that was sewn into the cover's hem.

post-5143-0-25809000-1543801288_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

world war I nerd

Photo No. 21: One of these 3rd Army beer drinkers is wearing a storm cover on his 1917 pattern service cap during the occupation of Germany in 1919.

 

End of photos - Thanks for looking ...

post-5143-0-58308800-1543801417_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...