Memorabilia

Canadian WWI Field Artillery Lance Corporal's Service Jacket

Canadian Model 1913 seven-button service dress jacket has flaming bomb collar devices, "C.F.A." and "CANADA" shoulder titles, Lance Corporal chevron, and Canadian general service buttons.  Interior has dark khaki facings and lower pockets, with uninscribed (or faded away) name tag on the interior button stand.  Marked with C-Broadarrow stamp on one of the facings, and has stenciled numerals in the skirt.  Shows wear, stains, and fading with several small scattered holes and a dime size hole in the back under the collar. 

$200 - $300

WWI Canadian Five-Button Service Dress Jacket

Canadian made British 1907 Pattern service jacket of dark khaki wool has flaming grenade collar devices, "GG CANADA" shoulder titles of the 87th Battalion, Canadian Grenadier Guards, pre-1918 style 'double dart' feature under the collar, and Canadian general service buttons.  Interior has olive cotton lower pockets and facings, with a good portion of the paper label remaining, with date "1917" and a Montreal maker.  Shows little wear - a very nice example! 

$300 - $500

Canadian WWI Soldier's Service Dress Jacket

Khaki wool service dress jacket has the five-button closure and 'rifle patches' of the British (and Canadian Produced) Pattern 07 coat, with the short standing collar of the Canadian Model 1913 coat.  The collar has been further altered to include a cotton pattern cloth interior lining.  Coat has Canadian maple leaf collar insignias, "CANADA" shoulder titles, two blue service chevrons, and a War Medal ribbon sewn above the upper left pocket.  Interior has drab white cotton facings and pockets, with purple laundry pen name inscription "J.B. ELLIOT".  Nice condition overall, but it does have a large seam separation at the right armscye. 

$300-$400

Includes examples of both the earlier seven-button and later five-button overcoats.  Seven-button khaki wool greatcoat has Canadian general service buttons; interior has off-white flannel partial lining, white cotton facings, sleeve linings, and pockets.  Lining is inscribed with a soldier's name.  Nice coat - just a few small inconspicuous holes.

The five-button example is also of khaki wool with Canadian general service buttons.  Interior has off-white flannel partial lining, white cotton facings, sleeve linings, and pockets.  Flannel has a tear near the collar, and is marked with a C-BroadArrow stamp in the body.  Exterior khaki wool has some moth tracking and holes, primarily around the collar and on the center back.  $300 - $500

Canadian WWI Service Dress Jacket With Piped Shoulder Straps

Khaki wool five-button service dress jacket has "CANADA" shoulder titles on Infantry blue piped shoulder straps sewn into the shoulder seams in the style of the Model 1913 seven-button service dress jacket.  Interior has white cotton pockets and facings, and is complete with a Toronto, Ontario maker's paper label with soldier's name "G.G. Brigden" inscribed.  I located a "G. Brigden" who is on the rolls of the 62nd Regiment, St. John Fusiliers in 1913, listed as "George Brigden" on the 1914 rolls.  

The branch piping has faded, otherwise nice condition with no readily apparent mothing. 

$400-$500

An interesting Model 1913 Canadian seven-button service dress jacket updated to include British Pattern 07 style 'rifle patches' at the time of manufacture, as they are of matching wool material.  Standing collar has "CANADA" maple leaf insignias, "CANADA" shoulder titles on the epaulettes, and left and right shoulders have Canadian 3rd Division HQ & HQ elements formation patches.  Right sleeve has four blue service chevrons, and the left has a single metal wound bar.  Interior has issue markings stenciled on the center lower skirt, initials "N.A.C. / 18" on the bandage pocket, and a soldier's name "Gr. R. Keigan" with service number on the name tag on the interior button stand.  This matches the same surname and service number of Robert Keigan whose 1916 attestation papers are digitized in the Canadian archives.  Keigan served as a gunner in 36th Battery, 11th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery, which was a part of 3rd Canadian Divisional Artillery.  He was wounded on September 12, 1918. 

Coat shows wear and stains with a few scattered holes, but nice overall.  Nicely identified, and well-substantiated by research.  $600 - $900

Canadian 23rd Reserve Battalion Soldier's Extensive Uniform Group

An exceptionally nice and complete grouping which includes a letter written by a former owner to the (very well-known and well-respected) collector who acquired it in 1993.  Includes the P07 uniform coat, trench cap, overcoat, issue shirt, and other assorted items from Private Donat Fontaine who enlisted July 22, 1918, arrived in Liverpool on September 30, 1918 and was transferred to the 23rd Reserve Battalion, CEF on November 8.  He sailed home in June 1919.

His late production Pattern 07 service coat has single collar darts and dark khaki interior pockets and facings with a portion of the paper label remaining.  Facings are inscribed in purple laundry pen with his service number which matches his records in the archives.  Exterior has 23rd Reserve Battalion collar insignias, "C/23" and "CANADA" shoulder titles along with a Welcome Home badge on the pocket.  His issue regulation trousers have doubled suspender buttons with a mix of the issue utility buttons, riveted replacements, and some that are missing entirely; shows slight remnants of a paper label.  Canadian issue overcoat has another soldier's name and service number inked in the lining which is inconvenient, but also understood to be quite commonly observed in solidly identified groups.  Olive wool flannel issue shirt is nicely marked with 1916 dated maker stamp in the collar lining.  His 1916 pattern trench cap, like the rest of the group is soiled but remains in good condition, with 23rd Canadian Reserve Battalion badge.  

Other items include a water bottle with 1913 dated Ottowa maker stamp on the leather harness, Canadian soldier's hold-all (empty of contents), a pair of wool wrap puttees, knit toque, and an interesting web waistbelt with snake buckle that the previous owner suggests was made from a Lewis Gun sling.  A unit photo of Co. G, 23rd Reserve Battalion taken in May 1919 measures 14-1/2" x 17-5/8" (framed dimensions).  The previous owner's note suggests that Donat is "believed to be the seventh soldier from the left, 2nd row from the top."

$2000 - $3000

French Pre-War Infantry Officer's Tunic & Kepi: 62nd Infantry Regiment

M1893 black wool tunic for a Sous-Lieutenant, has nine-button front indicating manufacture after January 1911, with flaming bomb Infantry buttons, madder red cuff patches and standing collar, with bullion embroidered unit designation "62".  No readily apparent mothing or damage.  Interior has padded black silk lining and interior chest pockets.  Includes the correct black and red wool officer's kepi that has not fared as well; exhibits some minor mothing and deformity of the visor.  Interior has a shattered black silk lining and brown leather sweatband.  Glue spots are visible along the seam of the visor indicating a functional (if inelegant) collector's repair.  Obverse has brass false bullion unit numerals "62".  

$200 - $300

French Pre-War Infantry Sergeant Major's M1897 Tunic

Enlisted black wool M1897 tunic has madder red wool cuff patches and standing collar with red embroidered unit designation "12" on black patches.  Sleeves have Sergeant Major rank bullion insignia, and the coat closes with seven flaming bomb Infantry buttons.  Interior has white cotton quilted partial lining, with damaged stitching along the interior lower edge of the collar.  Complete with epaulettes.  Has a few small holes, but very nice overall.

Before World War I, the 12th Infantry Regiment was stationed at Reims, forming part of the 6th Infantry Brigade within the 3rd Infantry Division of the 6th Army Corps. As one of France’s historic line regiments with roots tracing back to the ancien régime, it maintained a long tradition of discipline and professionalism in peacetime training and garrison life. Mobilized in August 1914, the regiment advanced into Belgium with the 6th Army and engaged in the early battles of the Sambre and Guise before participating in the First Battle of the Marne. After the front stabilized, the 12th held positions along the Aisne during the first winter of trench warfare. In 1915, it fought in the Champagne offensive, suffering heavy casualties in assaults near Perthes and Beauséjour. The regiment later saw service at Verdun in 1916, notably around the Mort-Homme sector, and endured continuous action on the Chemin des Dames and in the Ailette valley through 1917. During the Allied counteroffensives of 1918, the 12th Infantry Regiment advanced through the Soissons and Oise sectors, taking part in the pursuit operations that carried the French armies to victory by November. Its wartime record reflected steadfast endurance across some of the Western Front’s most demanding engagements.

$200 - $300

French Pre-War Black Wool Overcoat with Captain Rank Sleeve Insignia

Black wool overcoat has bullion embroidered "2" unit numeral collar patches, Captain rank trim on the turned cuffs, and flaming bomb buttons throughout.  Front has two inset waist pockets with exterior flaps and an inset upper breast pocket.  Interior has a Versailles tailor's label in the lining, and a name label in an interior pocket with "1904" or "1906" date.  Reverse has vented skirt and back adjustment belt.  Shows normal light wear; no readily apparent mothing.  

$200 - $300

French WWI Uniform & Equipment: A Nearly Complete Mannequin-Ready Infantry Poilu Display

Our consignor had this nicely displayed on a mannequin in his collection room, and it was indeed impressive!  French horizon blue wool service coat and unpiped blue-gray breeches, with horizon blue wool wrap puttees, shoes, and a nice Infantry Adrian helmet.  The The shoes have been resoled and are marked with US size "7-1/2EE" on the soles, with heel rims attached by modern screws, and smooth soles.  Several of the grommets are loose due to verdigris development.  The coat has several different issue stamps and committee of reception stamp that is faint but appears to be dated 1918.  Wool has a few small holes but is in very good overall condition, displayed with a wound medal.  The breeches appear to be private purchase and are unmarked.  His M1915 Adrian has an Infantry badge, second pattern brown leather liner and a broken chinstrap.  Equipment includes a brown leather combat waistbelt with roller buckle and 'Y' strap; 1893/14 box frame knapsack has leather fittings that are dry and have cracks in the surface, holding together for the moment but care and caution will need to be exercised in handling them.  Pack is currently mounted by the mess kit, and blanket roll with (a simple US WWI blanket) wrapped in a very scruffy, battered, ripped and torn up French shelter section with visible 1918 dated committee of reception stamp, secured by a combination of the French long equipment strap and two incorrect replacement Italian straps.  Lot further includes a chau-chat ammunition bag which contained a speciality badge and an issue sewing kit spool.  There is also a worn, period correct (though not military) scarf that the consignor had around his neck on the mannequin, and an ARS gas mask in the normal 'crispy' condition that describes 99.9% of these that we find.  

$500 - $800