Need a World War 1 and war medal history buff to look at this please...

[BGCarrera32]

My great grandmother's brother served in the American Expeditionary force in France in World War 1 and was gassed in the trenches. He survived and came back to live many more years, albeit with chronic nosebleeds and respiratory issues, but he passed away when I was very young in the early 1980's. Many of my relatives are getting on in years and have been sending photos to me as I attempt to link them to my cousin's extensive genealogical research of my family. Many of the photos are unmarked, so it has been my little version of "History Detectives" to positively identify who is who. I have been at this for 3+ years now.

I received this photo today, unmarked of course, and nobody is certain who this is. My great grandmother died in 1948. The scan color is a little misleading; the original image is on a thicker paperboard and is sephia tone in color (very tan hues- not black and white which is a function of my scanner), which places the image in the 1905-1920ish time frame. I know this from similar images I have.

What I am unable to do is know for certain who exactly this is- I am hopeful it is the individual I am referring to, possibly before his service in Europe.

Does anyone recognize any of the medals / pins that are on his jacket, and what they might be?

[M.D. Holloway]

Well I searched a whole host of photos and sites trying to ID the one on the far left - nothing. The other two are pretty obvious - a sharpshooter and a music pin. the lapel pin is a mystery as well.

The uniform doesn't seem to look like the uniforms of that time. Is it possible he was a Boy Scout? Maybe one of Baden Powells first scouts?

[GWN7]

Can you get a close up of the metal buttons on his jacket?

None of the badges look like any that are from WW1. The ribbon one looks like a guy carrying a rifle but the ribbon isn't anything like of the official ones of the era.

[M.D. Holloway]

I have never seen a solid ribbon on a medal before - least not of that era. The uniform still gets me - also, a sharpershooter musician....interesting.

[scottbombedout]

Is it possible that the medal is for some kind of parachute jump?

It looks like the figure on the medal is holding something on his chest with his arms slightly raised and his legs/knees are close together as if parachuting.

Maybe a member of the balloon squadron or something similar?

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by M.D. Holloway

I have never seen a solid ribbon on a medal before - least not of that era. The uniform still gets me - also, a sharpershooter musician....interesting.

The Victoria Cross has a solid ribbon colour. (UK, Australia etc)

[Seahawk]

I spent a cup of coffee trying to get any info on the medal.

I came up empty but found some interesting sites.

Really good links on this page: Wartime Collectables Militaria, Medals & Military Antiques

Good luck!

[BGCarrera32]

You guys are great. And it is certainly possible this person has nothing to do with WW1, that's very possible. I do indeed believe after Mike's comment that the worded pin says "Sharpshooter, Short Range".

Here is the best color scan I can get at 1200 dpi with the clearest image of the buttons.

[ossiblue]

I think the key to this will be in the buttons on the uniform. As mentioned, the uniform does not look like a US military issue of the time but the buttons, though unrecognizable in the photo, do resemble buttons on state militia uniforms of the period--notice the words (letters?) around the perimeter and what appears to be a crest or shield in the center. Couple that with the pins for sharpshooter, the medal with the man carrying a rifle, the musician pin, and the shoulder braids, and this may point to a man in a state militia/national guard unit. Just a theory but may help narrow the search.

[herr_oberst]

Sharpened the photos up a bit.

[ossiblue]

Found this on line through Google images:


Went to the website but it was not there (etsy.com) so couldn't get any background information. Found it also on whitemountaintrader.net, but no information. Still hunting.

[Seahawk]

I agree. I found a bunch of state militia/NGU ribbons this morning but not medals.

Interesting problem, which I like a lot. I've got to get back to outside work, but this is fun.

Originally Posted by ossiblue

I think the key to this will be in the buttons on the uniform. As mentioned, the uniform does not look like a US military issue of the time but the buttons, though unrecognizable in the photo, do resemble buttons on state militia uniforms of the period--notice the words (letters?) around the perimeter and what appears to be a crest or shield in the center. Couple that with the pins for sharpshooter, the medal with the man carrying a rifle, the musician pin, and the shoulder braids, and this may point to a man in a state militia/national guard unit. Just a theory but may help narrow the search.

[MRM]

My son says he doesn't think it is a US uniform; it appears to be a Commonwealth uniform. He thinks the medal is a WWI service ribbon. Could it be someone from one of the Commonwealth countries? Maybe Canada? He says it was common in the era for Americans to go north to serve.

[daepp]

My grandfather was similarly in Paris with the expeditionary forces. I will dig up his photos, but I remember the buttons were clear and only said U.S.

[gsmith660]

I wouldn't trust what white mountain trader says they say that the US Navy first class petty officer pin is an air force chevron pin. i don't think this uniform is american but could be mistaken and it may be prior to WWI

[gsmith660]

I did not find this pin specifically but found similar pins from the late 19th century that were given to militia units from the rock island armory still looking

[daepp]

My grandfather circa 1915-1919:






Hope that helps.

And just for fun, his dog tags:

[Rot 911]

As others have said that is no U.S. military uniform. And based on the cut of the uniform, including the shirt and tie, I would place it post 1930.

[M.D. Holloway]

The medal looks like it is a drummer, which would go with the one on the far right. Is it possible he was in a military school?

[ossiblue]

Originally Posted by M.D. Holloway

The medal looks like it is a drummer, which would go with the one on the far right. Is it possible he was in a military school?

Good call on the drummer and military school. It does look more like an academy uniform than military or militia.