WWI Overcoats

[New Romantic]

This topic covers all WWI overcoats, from the issue models to private purchase variations. Feel free to add to this post especially short overcoats, trench coats, and the USMC overcoat.

 

The first overcoat seen here is the M1904 which is identified by the rolled cuffs. Many of these saw service with the first soldiers of the AEF to arrive in France. There are many photos of 1st Division doughboys wearing this coat.

 

This overcoat is fully lined with a cotton liner that extends to the bottom of the coat. Large rimmed eagle buttons adorn it's front and rear waist strap. The buttons inside the coat to close the hand pockets are the pre 1914 rimless eagle variation.

 

This overcoat was issued to a Quartermaster Sergeant of the 36th Machine Gun Battalion. Three silver chevrons indicate that the sergeant served at least 18 months in the U.S. The lining of the coat bears the machine gun unit's stencil. A second unit stencil also indicates that it was also once issued to a soldier of the 26th Infantry, a regular Army unit that saw service on the Mexican Border. The 26th Infantry was among the first four infantry regiments( 16th, 18th, 26th, and 28th) sent to France in the summer of 1917. Those four regiments would form the 1st Division of the AEF.

[New Romantic]

This overcoat is the exact same model as the one pictured above. However it was worn by an officer, indicated by the captains' French braiding embroidered on both sleeves. Though officers were required to purachse their own uniforms, this overcoat is standard issue as issued to enlisted soldiers. The coat bears a tag with a contract date of 1913. In typical officer style, this coat has large white, semi-transparent buttons on it's front and rear waist strap. The coat's original large Army buttons were replaced by the plastic ones currently on the coat. The regulation buttons still present on the coat are the hand pocket buttons and rear skirt flap buttons. Three gold service chevrons indicate that the coat's orginal owner served 18 months overseas.

[New Romantic]

Following the M1904 overcoat in the evolution of Army uniforms was the M1917 Overcoat. This differed from the M1904 by having only a half length cotton liner and straps on the cuffs. The straps served no purpose and were to be eliminated from later overcoat patterns. This overcoat with a contract tag dated April 1917 is a later pattern that was shortened versus the original longer pattern that extended well below the knees.

 

The coat's liner stops at the waist vs. the bottom of the coat as found on later earlier patterns.

[New Romantic]

The final overcoat pattern worn by the AEF is known to collectors as the M1918. The straps on the cuffs of the M1917 were eliminated and the result was an overcoat with plain cuffs. This overcoat has a contract tag dated October 1917. With the exception of the two bottom buttons which are made from brass, the other buttons are made from vegetable ivory.

[eaglerunner88]

Lovely examples!