M1917 77th Division. I'D question would like to hear your thoughts.

[CWG]

Hello all I purchased this helmet and gas mask from a well known and reputable seller of helmets. In the ad he stated that the set was I'D to a W. Jenkins and that two possible matches come up when you search the 77th division, transportation, and incoming troops records. I had a friend of mine help me with searching the internet for files on both guys but he was able to find a third possible match. I'm going to be listing out all of the information about all three soldiers and then I'll share my opinion on who I believe it is at the end.

 

 

 

Pvt. William (Will) Frank Jenkins

Will Frank Jenkins was born August 26th, 1895 in Litchfield, Minnesota

Will left for France on August 8th, 1918 and was assigned to Company K, 306th infantry, 77th Division but was sent home on November 25th, 1918

before the war was over Will would be transferred and muster out with Company I, 160th Infantry, 40th Division.

I do not believe that Will was at all the owner of the helmet and gas mask as he mustered out with another regiment and division thus he wouldn't have participated in the parade on 5th avenue in May of 1919 with the rest of the 77th Division. I'm also pretty sure soldiers didn't start painting their helmets in November of 1918 only a couple weeks after the armistice. I have also searched through the Company K, 306th roster and didn't find a Will Jenkins. Bottom line I believe it's highly UNLIKELY that Will Frank Jenkins was the owner of the helmet and gas mask. 

 

 

 

Pvt. Walter Lee Jenkins 

Walter Lee Jenkins was born October 27th, 1892 in Montgomery, Alabama.

Walter arrived in France on October 5th, 1918 and was assigned to Company I, 152nd Infantry, 38th Division and on October 31st, 1918 was transferred to Company B, 307th Infantry, 77th Division. He would muster out with Company B, 307th and would leave France on April 28th, 1919. He would be discharged May 9th, 1919. I believe Walter has a strong case for possibly being the owner of the helmet and gas mask. However he was only with the 307th, 77th for a week or so before the armistice was called and he spent the rest of his time overseas in occupation with the regiment. It's entirely possible that Walter painted the helmet and gas mask either during occupation or right before the parade on 5th avenue in 1919. However when searching the roster of Company B, 307th infantry his name is not listed. It's strange that his name would be missing from the roster seeing that he was apart of the division towards the very end and occupation. I'm not so sure how proud he would have been being a liberty warrior seeming he was only apart of the division in war time for a week or so. But during occupation he defenitley would have grown a bond with the men of Company B, 307th. 

 

 

 

Major eventual Col. Weston C. Jenkins

Weston C. Jenkins was born February 20th, 1881 in New York City, New York. 

Weston arrived in France on April 7th, 1918 with Company C, 307th Infantry. Later that day he was transferred to Company B, 307th where he would stay for the rest of the war. Weston would fight in intense combat from the moment he arrived in France all the way to the very end. Detailed accounts of the work Company B, 307th infantry did canoe found in their book that was written when they got home. On October 7th, 1918 1st Lieutenant Weston C. Jenkins would lead his platoon through the German machine gun fire and be one first if not the first man to break through to Major Charles Whittlesey and the "Lost Battalion" for his brave and heroic actions he would be awarded The Distinguished Service Cross. The following is his citation.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Captain (Infantry) Weston C. Jenkins, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 307th Infantry Regiment, 77th Division, A.E.F., in the forest of Argonne, France, 5 October 1918. Captain Jenkins commanded the second battalion of his regiment with conspicuous gallantry. With utter disregard for his own safety, he continued throughput the action to direct his troops personally, moving about from place to place under heavy artillery and machine-gun fire. Exposing himself to the hostile fire, he encouraged his men in their efforts to break through the enemy's line and succeeded in maintaining their aggressive spirit by his personal example of fearlessness. Weston would promoted to a Captain for his actions in relieving Whittlesey and his men on October 20th, 1918. He would continue to serve heroically and for actions on November 5th, 1918 would later be promoted to Major on February 24th, 1919. Weston would leave France on April 21st, 1918 and be discharged on May 10th, 1919. Weston would have had amble time to paint his helmet and bag during occupation or before the 5th avenue parade. In researching Weston Jenkins I was able to find his sons WW2 draft card which interestingly his handwriting has strong similarities to what is written on the gas mask. On the bag the name is spelled "W. JENKiNS" on his sons WW2 draft card he prints his name with similarities in certain letters but most notably also writes "JENKiNS" with a lowercase i. Upon searching the roster of Company B, 307th infantry Weston C. Jenkins undoubtedly shows up and is the first name on the roster as he was Major of the Company. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Opinion

I believe the helmet and gas mask either belonged to Weston C. Jenkins or Walter Jenkins. I lean strongly towards it being Weston's as it just make sense. A guy from New York who is prideful in his division that he served with the whole entirety of the war. Thus he painted not only his helmet for the parade but his gas mask bag as well. My second thought is how Weston Jenkins son (Weston Jenkins Jr) perhaps could have been the one who wrote his name on the bag as his father died in the mid 30s. Another thought is that the spelling of JENKiNS is a family way of spelling their last name. How Weston showed his son that its W. JENKiNS and thats how his son always wrote it. I know my father who is a SR told me that our name is C.W.G even though I'm a JR. Sadly I can't confirm this thought with Weston Jenkins own handwriting as there is no record of his handwriting in print. Of course this is a long shot but I believe it has a better chance of being correct than Will or Walter and heres why. Will left the 306th in November of 1918 and mustered out with an entire different division so he wouldn't have painted the 77th insignia on his helmet. Walter very well could have, however my only question is why doesn't he show up on the roster for Company B, 307th the was made in late 1919-early 1920. By then they would have had full accurate rosters of everyman that was in the company. It also doesn't make complete sense for it being Walter a guy from Alabama seeming how he was only a liberty warrior for a week or so during the war and had very very little fighting time with Company B. He most likely bonded with the regiment and division during occupation but the strong connections in the last name on the bag and Weston Jenkins son draft card lead me to believe it was Westons. Lastly the person I bought it from asked the guy he bought it from if he remembered where he bought the set or how he got it and he said he didn't remember as it had been in his collection for so long. I don't think I'll truly ever know who it belonged to 100% but if I had to guess it would be Weston. Any thoughts on this from anyone would be helpful in correctly I'Dng the set.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[CWG]

Forgot to add roster images

Screenshot from Company K, 306th infantry rosters note there is no Will Frank Jenkins meaning he didn't paint his helmet with the 77th division insignia

http://longwood.k12.ny.us/cms/One.aspx?portalId=2549374&pageId=7374704

 

 

 

Walter Lee Jenkins missing from Company B, 307th roster.

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/33932/33932-h/33932-h.htm  history of Company B, 307th scroll down to see full roster

 

 

 

Weston C. Jenkins on Company B, 307th roster

 

[aef1917]

In the case of many divisions, the 77th among them, pride in service didn't have anything to do with painting helmets.  They were ordered to be painted. 

 

The history of Co. E, 308th Infantry notes that various units in the division had painted their helmets by the time of a review before Gen. Alexander on April 9, 1918, shortly before they embarked for the US.

[Oregon1911]

2 hours ago, aef1917 said:

They were ordered to be painted. The history of Co. E, 308th Infantry notes that various units in the division had painted their helmets by the time of a review before Gen. Alexander on April 9, 1918, shortly before they embarked for the US.

 

Stands to reason other units experienced similar circumstances.

 

Thanks,

Cody

[CWG]

In the case of many divisions, the 77th among them, pride in service didn't have anything to do with painting helmets.  They were ordered to be painted. 
 
The history of Co. E, 308th Infantry notes that various units in the division had painted their helmets by the time of a review before Gen. Alexander on April 9, 1918, shortly before they embarked for the US.

You’re correct they were painted and used for the upcoming parade on May 6th, 1919. I was talking about the fact that the gas mask bag was painted I’m pretty sure that wasn’t direct order to be painted that’s where my point on the pride in being apart of the 77th stems from.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[aef1917]

There are enough painted 77th Division gas mask bags out there that it's pretty clear that the practice was fairly widespread, and possibly done under orders.  There's certainly precedent for bags being painted unit-wide, as with the 102nd and 103rd MG Bns of the 26th Division.

[ottodog8]

Just a theory, but in my experience an officer, especially a Major, would include his rank while identifying himself in writing.

 

Steve

[CWG]

Just a theory, but in my experience an officer, especially a Major, would include his rank while identifying himself in writing.
 
Steve

Good point ottodog8 it’s interesting too because they were both in the same company, Walter would have for sure known about Weston but I’m not sure the other way around. Which is why it’s possible his son wrote the name and didn’t know what to put. It’s definitely confusing theres evidence supporting both.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[CWG]

I just find it very odd that Walter Lee Jenkins isn’t included in the Company B, 307th roster at the end of the book. It was published May of 1919 and I would assume have accurate rosters of the company.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[MAW]

I don't have a copy of the Company E history mentioned above, but I can verify that the rosters in unit histories often are snapshots in time.  They list men who were with the company when the request for a roster was made, and their accuracy and level of detail vary proportionally to the enthusiasm of the clerk who was compiling the information.

 

For example, one of the 166th Infantry WW1 vets I used to speak with was always somewhat irritated that his last name was misspelled in the unit history roster.  And those rosters, done by individual companies, vary in format and detail in that regimental.

 

There are a few unit histories I have found that go out of their way to specify that "this is a roster of men who were with the company when it was formed at Camp -----", or "this is a roster of men with the company on January 1, 1919", etc.  But these are definitely the exception to the rule.

[Marchville1918]

I agree with what has been said about unit history rosters. They are not always reliable for name spelling and what appeared in the unit history was what was on the roster when they put the book together. your enlisted man clearly was in the 77th as shown on his statement of service card. I lean toward the enlisted man as being the owner. I say that mainly because I think that a major would have more distinctive marking on his gasmask bag and possibly his helmet. your helmet looks like the typical 77th insignia. I also agree that he would probably have his rank shown. the helmet is in fairly typical condition but may have suffered some from poor storage over the years and I suspect that the major and later his children would have taken better care of his military things. Who knows. The good thing is that they are genuine WW1 items and you know within 2 soldiers who owned them. If you had any idea of where they were found that might help too.

[CWG]

UPDATE:

I have made contact with the original owner of the helmet and gas mask bag who the person I bought it from purchased it from him. He told me he purchased the group from eBay in 2017 from a seller in New Hartford New York. Weston C Jenkins was from Rome New York and lived there his whole life up until his passing. New Hartford and Rome New York are located in the same county Oneida County, New York. The distance between the two cities is 16 miles 12 as the crow flys. I will now be messaging the seller to ask where he originally got the group to put the final nail in the coffin on this mystery.





Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk