Army Engineers in the Great War - Artifacts

 
 

Return to:

    Exhibit Home
    Overview
    Roads
    Facilities
    Combat
    Mapping
    Forestry
    Railroads
    New Missions
    Credits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cloth unit insignia patches were initially used to mark equipment or luggage, but at the end of the war they began to spontaneously appear on uniforms. This occurred largely, though not exclusively, after the armistice. Some Engineer unit insignia examples here are (left to right): Rail and Bridge Engineers; 40th Engineer Regiment (Camouflage); 14th Engineer Regiment (Railroads).
To enforce the provisions of the Versailles Treaty, the United States supplied a contingent of troops to occupy the Rhineland area of Germany, along with French, Belgian, and British soldiers. This force, which initially numbered over 100,000, was rapidly reduced until their departure in 1923. This medal was awarded to those who served in this occupation force.
This is the standard Model 1910 mess kit (referred to as a “meat can”) with the accompanying knife and fork. The spoon is missing. Though replaced with a new design in 1938, this World War I model was still issued to soldiers during World War II.
When the United States entered World War I, enlisted sleeve rank insignia contained the branch symbol. Private First Class was represented by simply the Engineer castle on a circle, while an Engineer Senior Master Sergeant wore a castle with a star above and a wreath below. Also displayed are the stripes of an Engineer Corporal. In September of 1918 the Army ended the use of branch insignia...
This simple compass, marked “Engineer Department 1918,” was issued to Engineer soldiers during the war. It was intended mainly for navigation and not for specialized or sophisticated tasks.
This is thought to be a private-purchase officer’s haversack or dispatch bag, though they were usually made of canvas with leather reinforcements rather than all leather. The Army did not issue haversacks to officers, so it was a very popular purchase item. Alternatively many officers “found” an Army-issued enlisted haversack.
Leather lace-up boots were extremely popular with American officers in World War I. There was wide variation among the Army-issued and private-purchase boots seen throughout the war, of which this is just one example.
The officer’s M1910 garrison belt was designed for non-combat situations, such as training and guard duties behind the front lines. It was therefore not a common item in Europe but did see some used behind the lines. The two pouches on this example were removable and held two clips of rifle ammunition.
In the U.S. Army, pistols tended to be issued to officers and NCOs and to soldiers who had specialized duties that prevented them from carrying a rifle, such as runners or machine gunners. This pouch held two magazines for the M1911 .45 caliber pistol. This example has an equipment tag attached, which noted the branch, unit, and inventory number of the item. Tags were discontinued after the war.
Leggings of various designs have been issued to American soldiers since the Revolutionary War. This Model 1917 example was for Cavalry and other mounted soldiers and had a reinforced leather inseam. In 1918 the Army directed that leggings be replaced by cumbersome but more effective spiral puttees, a directive that was widely ignored by soldiers who preferred leggings.
This pouch held the soldier’s mess kit and was attached to the outside of the M1910 haversack.
As with the Civil War, the life-changing shared experience of the hardships of war led to postwar unit associations and reunions. These examples are a selection of postwar pins and ribbons from Engineer soldier veterans’ groups of the 12th, 101st, and 319th Engineer Regiments.
Soldiers were issued a first-aid bandage and a carrier for it that fastened to the belt. Early versions of the bandage were packaged in a brass container, such as the example here. Later bandages came in a waterproof wrap. The pouch is a 1918 variant of the design introduced in 1910. The size of this pouch indicates it held the later style bandage without the metal case.
As with the Civil War, the life-changing shared experience of the hardships of war led to postwar unit associations and reunions. These examples are a selection of postwar pins and ribbons from Engineer soldier veterans’ groups of the 12th, 101st, and 319th Engineer Regiments.
This intricately decorated trench coat belonged to 2LT Howard K. Dyer, Company F, 302nd Engineers, attached to the 77th Infantry Division. The use of unit insignia arose spontaneously near the end of the war, and many solders created elaborate artwork on their uniforms. The 77th was formed from soldiers drafted from the greater New York region, as suggested by the Statue of Liberty insignia.
As with the Civil War, the life-changing shared experience of the hardships of war led to postwar unit associations and reunions. These examples are a selection of postwar pins and ribbons from Engineer soldier veterans’ groups of the 12th, 101st, and 319th Engineer Regiments.
The standard issue solders’ equipment was the Model 1910, the year of introduction, but the colossal mobilization for war meant that superseded earlier designs were issued, such as this 1908 version of a haversack whose design predates the Spanish-American War.
American soldiers had no helmet design upon entry into the war, so the British Mark I helmet was copied and issued. The American version differed in that, among other features, it had a leather lining band and a coat of sawdust under the paint to dull the olive drab finish, visible in this example.
Upon arrival in France, American soldiers were issued British, and then American copies of the Small Box Respirator, an effective gas mask. It was normally worn on the chest in its carrier using the strap and string to tie it close to the body, with the flap facing the chest for quick access.
The Army issued identification tags (“dog tags”) to all solders during World War I, like these carried by Louis Guildner. Design varied, with the circular ones here the most common but they also appeared with scalloped edges or square. If the soldier were to die in battle, one tag would stay with the soldier and the other forwarded to headquarters for recording and identification.
Cloth unit insignia patches were initially used to mark equipment or luggage, but at the end of the war they began to spontaneously appear on uniforms. This occurred largely, though not exclusively, after the armistice. Some Engineer unit insignia examples here are (left to right): Occupation Engineer; 56th Engineer Regiment (Searchlight).
This example of the primary component of the Model 1910 Haversack was issued to an unknown soldier of C Company, 52nd Engineer Regiment. This personal equipment system was the result of scientific study and well designed in theory, and perfect for the parade ground, but on the battlefield it was found to be too specialized and inflexible. Nevertheless, it is what went to war in 1917.
The U.S. Army entered the war with the M1911 “Montana Peak” hat as its standard headgear, reflecting decades of slouch hat designs influenced by service in the American West. The M1911 was not suitable for trench warfare and was replaced by the helmet on the front line and the side cap or “overseas cap” behind the lines, like this enlisted example. A copy of the French Army issue cap, American...
The saying goes ““War is long periods of boredom punctuated by moments of sheer terror.” In this sense, World War I was no different. Trench Art is the name given to things created by solders seeking to pass the time, in this case an artillery shell with an ornate pattern and Engineer castle, with the words “Co L 23rd / Argonne,” carved by an anonymous Engineer soldier.
This set of puttees is an American copy of a similar item used by every European army of World War I. The long wool strips were wrapped around the leg from top of boot to under knee, to keep dirt and mud out and provide warmth in cold weather.
"An Army Marches on its Stomach” is the phrase attributed to Napoleon, and in World War I American soldiers were issued a meat ration, usually cured bacon or salt pork that would not spoil soon, which was carried in this Model 1916 Bacon Can.
Modern warfare required precise timing, not just for battle but also transportation and troop movement. The U.S. Army procured significant numbers of highly accurate Swiss pocket watches such as this one, marked on reverse as Corps of Engineers property.
The blue star flag became an unofficial symbol of families who had sons serving in Europe during the war. The design was not standardized until after World War II, so there were many variations, such as this banner incorporating the blue star flag and Engineer castle.
This army issue M1917 trench knife is noteworthy that it is designed largely as a weapon with little other practical use. Note the “knuckle duster” handle.
Two souvenirs brought home by Louis Guildner, who served in the 23rd Engineer Regiment. The barbed wire and grenade fragments represent the new technology and weapons facing the Americans arriving in the trenches of France.
In cold, wet trenches, foot ailments were a serious problem. In addition to instruction and inspections, solders were issued foot powder like this example for use to help keep feet clean, warm, and dry to prevent conditions such as Trench Foot.