WWI US Model 1917 Tunic 2nd Division Headquarters Patch
Item #: WR822
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This is a US Model 1917 tunic from World War I. The 1917 tunic is made from high quality wool material. It features the four pocket design with epaulets. The five button coat has the subdued US eagle buttons, with six smaller buttons of the same type for the pockets and epaulets. The coat buttons are all back marked "AM BUTTON CO. NEWARK, N.J.". The smaller buttons are all back marked "BUTTON WORKS NEW YORK". The coat is fully lined and has an inner pocket on the left side. There is a quartermaster's label found on the inside of the lining on this tunic. The maker is shown as J. Kirschbaum CO., and the contract year is 1917. The rest of the tag is not legible, at least not to me! The left sleeve has a 2nd Infantry Division patch sewn on it. This variant of the 2nd Division patches indicates the soldier was assigned to the division Headquarters section. The patch is made of a black felt backing with a highly detailed embroidered Indian head on a five point star. This patch was probably made in England. Above the left sleeve cuff are two gold chevrons, indicating one year of overseas service. The collar disc are the WWI versions, from 1908. The left disc is the crossed rifles of the Infantry, with the company letter K below. The right collar disc is the standard US. There are two small moth holes in the tunic, a small section of repaired stitching on the back, a torn area on the inner liner near the left sleeve opening and the button for the lower left pocket is missing. Unfortunately there is no id anywhere in the tunic, but it is a soldier's tunic and not a Marine. WWI saw several first's pertaining to the 2nd Division. It was the only time that Marine units fell under the command of the Army, and it was the only time that an Army division was commanded by a Marine officer. The 2nd Division is the only US Army Division that was formed on foreign soil, being organized on 26 October, 1917 at Bourmont, Haute Marne, France. It was composed of Army and Marine personnel. It trained with the French Army during the winter of 1917 and the early months of 1918. The 2nd Division earned campaign streamers for Aisne, Belleau Woods, Aisne-Marne, St. Mihiel and the Meuse-Argonne campaigns. During seven months of combat the 2nd Division sustained 4478 killed in action and 17752 wounded, both soldiers and Marines. This is a very fine example of a WWI 2nd Division tunic worn by a member of the US army who was assigned to the division's headquarters section. It will stand out in any WWI uniform collection.
Your Price $675.00 USD
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