Picked this up at flee market over the weekend can't find any info on it . All I know is that it's wwi would like to hear your thoughts on it .also found this pin .
Picked this up at flee market over the weekend can't find any info on it . All I know is that it's wwi would like to hear your thoughts on it .also found this pin .
Here are some better photos
Hello
probably, US 1st Army, but which unit ????
nice patch
cordially
Didier
Would be 1st army maybe US Army 81st Infantry Division ?
It is 1st Army, but the center device would represent a speciality, not a unit. No idea would that critter would mean.
The 81st infantry AEF was also known as Wildcat Division, soldiers were mostly drafted from around North Carolina where the wildcat was indigenous.....my best guess on the patch.
The 81st was attached to the 1st Army just before the Muse Argonne offensive and went into action on November 9th and was engaged in combat until November 11th.
I believe it is an 81st also. But the cat looks more like a dog.
Hi guys
I mentioned to a very good friend of mine about a similar WWI First Army patch "whats a rat doing on a First Army patch?"
"The rat" was infact a bear .The bear represents a Californian unit ,attached to the First Army.
Now several questions arise:
"what unit?" more likely a unit attached to First Army Artillery pack , I think it is missing an embellishment ,the red and white insert in the lower A.
"But it looks more like a wildcat?"- WWI era wild cats had a steep hunched arch and long tail pointing up wards , this doesn't , has a stomach and 3 of the 4 legs (3rd leg not complete) also short tail and look at the face although it has long mouth/snout , this was probably individuals interpretation.
There is a a First Army artillery pack with same type of stylized Bear in Organization Insignia of the AEF by Delasandro and Knapp pg 42.
Also The Kellers US Army patches Army Groups , Armies and Corps has several patches pertaining to First Army Artillery pack with a more Bear appearance.
So I believe we could be looking at one of the units of the 65th FA Brigade (40th Div.) -143rd,144th ,145th FA , which were detached from the 40th Sep to Dec. 1918 , however i do stress its missing the red and white insert.
But as to which actual unit wore this patch not sure , like i mentioned its probably not finished?
Phill
Add Californian "Grizzly" Bear
Phill
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