Item Description
Original Item: One-of-a-Kind. This is the greatest example of a wool covered Model 1877 French 2-liter canteen we have ever offered, complete with its original cork, leather carrying strap, and the American 26th “Yankee” Division insignia painted on both sides. American troops arriving in France often utilized both British and French equipment such as gas masks, mess kits, and even canteens.
The Bidon (Can) is either a 2-liter or 1-liter canteen, covered with horizon blue or later khaki wool cloth. Both types had two spouts, a large and small, that were stopped with either wood or cork which was secured to the canteen itself with string. Often two bidons were worn; in the assault, one bottle typically contained wine (pinard) mixed with water, the other coffee and tafia spirit. Many Americans chose to carry a french canteen due to their capacity.
The wool on this example is in fair shape with some loss of material at the bottom and both sides. The leather carrying strap is still supple and works as intended. The top of the smaller stopper has broken off as is often seen, but the larger cork is still fully intact. Both sides of the canteen have the YD insignia of the 26th Division painted in white, the first of its kind we have ever seen.
The 26th Division arrived overseas in September 1917, and was the second division of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) to arrive on the Western Front at the time, and the first division wholly organized in the United States, joining the 1st Division, which had arrived in June. The Division saw some of the heaviest combat of the war, earning Campaign bars for Champagne-Marne, Aisne-Marne, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, and the Lorraine Defensive Sector. This canteen certainly saw a great deal of that combat.
This is a fantastic example of a WWI French canteen used by an American in one of the most sought-after divisions, ready for further research and display.
- This product is available for international shipping.
- Eligible for all payments - Visa, Mastercard, Discover, AMEX, Paypal & Sezzle
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