Finally ID’d! 6th ID 318th Sappers Co. E Grouping

[Gear Fanatic]

Hey all, I have had this uniform for A LONG time and never really been able to identify it till mid last year and even then I wasn’t sure as the name was practically gone, from but with the help of a black light and being able to study the uniform and narrow it down I came upon the Conclusion that this uniform belonged to Raymond Clarence Franklin of Co. “E” 318th Sappers apart of the 6th infantry division in France. He enlisted on March 8th 1918 in Portland Oregon and was sent to Vancouver Barracks an at the to the 318th where they trained for a total of 3 months brute departing to the New Jersey to be shipped overseas with the 6th. They departed from Hoboken NJ on May 8 and arrived at breast in June and soon started working building Barracks and water supply systems behind the lines near Chatteu Thierry and in that general vicinity where they nearly participated as an infantry unit because of lack of troops. After working  for a Few months they later transferred to the Vosges sector around late August early September, they remained here manning the line even though it was a rarely quiet sector. Here Co. E and Co. F worked continuously on building better trails and road for artillery and supply purposes. Here  they worked under frequent shell fire and suffered a few minor wounds. Towards the end there they were transferred off the line for a bit but later joined the 6th infantry division the Meuse Argonne Offensive for the last week or two. Here they worked more as a frontline Engineer unit working right in the wake of the German retreat and even rebuilding a crucial bridge near the town of Stonne. This helped the allied pursuit of the retreating Germans. While doing this they were attacked multiple times by enemy machine guns and aircraft as well as booby traps that were left behind by retreating Germans. For example when laying low In a German trench a group from Co. E was cooking In a German stove unbeknownst to them there were a handful of grenades up the stove pipe which cooked off and instantly killed two of the sappers and wounded the surrounding group. Soon the armistice was announced and the unit stayed as an occupying force in the Alsace region. Soon in June-July the 318th was sent back to the states including Pvt. Franklin who arrived back and went back to Oregon where he spent the rest of his life living peacefully on the river. He never married or had any family. Pvt. Franklin may not have had the most interesting service or life in general, but I think his story is very simple in the best way possible. He served his country even at the age of 40 when he enlisted having been born in 1879. Hope someone here enjoyed my very basic write up and the uniform which came with a nice little bit of pocket litter including some business cards to a man in the 88th, some German coins he probably picked up in the Alsace region, his footlocker key, And a spoon dated 1916. The spoon and coins were both found inside the lining of uniform as they had fallen through a rip in the pocket. Hope ya’ll enjoyed and a big thanks to @stratasfan for doing the basic research that helped me put this together. 

[Gear Fanatic]

I am still missing some things for this though, such as a victory medal, some Collar brass, a good picture of him. He’s like a ghost, you just can’t find him!

[atb]

A very nice pattern 1918 service coat, and with composition buttons, too.

[Gear Fanatic]

Thank you very much, I believe this coat was issued while overseas as the contract date if I remember dates it to June of 1918. It also has some small field repairs so I’m guessing this was a coat he wore pretty late war and during the occupation. Also my first ID’d uniform. I really like this set.

[Gear Fanatic]

Also, if anyone has some engineers Co. E collar brass and a victory medal with a defensive sector or Meuse Argon clasp let me know!

[atb]

1 hour ago, Gear Fanatic said:

Also, if anyone has some engineers Co. E collar brass and a victory medal with a defensive sector or Meuse Argon clasp let me know!

The 318th Engineers earned both clasps.

[Gear Fanatic]

I know, but I don’t have enough resources to afford one with both. I just want the uniform to be back together in a mostly accurate state. I was really disappointed that it didn’t have the collar brass.

[gunnarthefeisty]

Very nice hard to find M1918 tunic.

[Gear Fanatic]

Yes, and actually issued, see that these were very uncommon late war.

[Gear Fanatic]

This will likely be put in the for sale section soon if anyones interested.