Identified Harvard Surgical Unit jacket which belonged to Jean McDowell

[albatrosdva]

The auction didn't show any names so I'm very excited that I was very easily able to identify the owner of this outfit. Even found a magazine article from July 5, 1917 talking about her joining Harvard Surgical Unit. Anyone else ever seen one? It was a small unit so I think it is likely pretty rare. I don't know the British stuff as well as American and since the Harvard Unit was part of the BEF I don't know the stripes. Are these overseas stripes or some sort of rank? If it is consistent with other British uniforms I would think each stripe was a year overseas but since it is a voluntary unit and non-combatant I didn't know how that would affect it. Love the British made tunic and shoulder titles. What do y'all think?

[manayunkman]

Very impressive find.

[Longbranch]

Nice!!!! Super cool uniform. I love the uncommon WW1 uniforms like this from small groups in the US that served overseas during the war.

 

Thanks for posting!

[Croix de Guerre]

 I found her but unfortunately her passport photo is terrible.  Miss Jean Ida McDowell of Needham, MA 

[albatrosdva]

Thank you Croix de Guerre it's great to have that paperwork to add to the tunic

[Croix de Guerre]

 

[Croix de Guerre]

[bertmedals]

Fantastic find and research/ID.  Nice to see it -- thanks for posting it.