WWI American Field Service Drivers Cap

**Croix de Guerre** · 06-06-2010, 04:59 PM

I've been collecting WWI American Field Service artifacts for a while now and I have been fortunate to have found some really nice AFS groups. The one thing that has eluded me for what ever reason was a classic "Old England" style drivers hat; until now.

This is an American Field Service drivers hat ID'd to a man from Section 1 as can be seen from the French numeral attached to the front of the cap above the AFS eagle. The practice of identifying one's section affiliation with the use of French numbers was not "standard" practice, but was not entirely uncommon either. Although there are no tailors labels or markings present on the hat, it is of the style commonly associated with hats manufactured by a Parisian tailor named "Old England" which was a favorite amongst the American volunteers.

**Croix de Guerre** · 06-06-2010, 05:03 PM

A close up of the American Field Service hat badge emblazoned with the French motto, "Service Aux Armee"; (Service With the Army). Note how the tips of the wings on the badge are tacked down to prevent them from snagging or as a result of the attachement wires on the back having become broken.

**Croix de Guerre** · 06-06-2010, 05:11 PM

A trio of drivers caps. The first hat to the left is identified to a man named "Burkhart" who worked out of the American Hospital at Neuilly, France. Burkhart still remains a mystery to me as I have been unable to find any information about him. This style of hat and hat badge roughly reflects the time period of 1916. The cap in the middle is the SSU 1 hat above. The hat to the right illustrates the final version as it was owned by a late war volunteer name Vail who purchased this hat in the US from a tailor in New York City. It is essentially a US Army enlisted man’s cap put to use as an AFS drivers cap. Vail never served in the AFS as the Field Service was federalized by the US Army while he was aboard ship enroute to France.

**Croix de Guerre** · 06-06-2010, 05:14 PM

To put these hats in perspective; there were only around 2000 American Field Service volunteers during WWI. Comparatively, these make SS Officers Visor Caps as common as US M1 Helmets!