Item Description
Original Item. Only One Available. This is a really great-looking WWI Army uniform issued to a Marine in the 1st Battalion, 5th Regiment (USMC). That includes Companies A, B, C, and D of the 5th Regiment, which saw extensive combat attached to the 2nd Division during World War I. When Marines arrived in France, they were issued Army olive drab uniforms with Army buttons. Some marines replaced their buttons with Marine Corps buttons, but the majority of them didn’t. When the fighting ended, they were finally issued their P1917 Forest Green uniforms, and the vast majority of these Army uniforms were discarded. This is a very scarce example of one that was not.
On 25 May 1917, the 1st Battalion, 5th Regiment was activated and deployed to France on 1 June 1917. 1/5 participated in the following World War I campaigns: Aisne, Aisne-Marne, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, Toulon-Troyon, Chateau-Thierry, Marabache, and Limey. 1/5 made its most notable contribution at the Battle of Belleau Wood on 6 June 1918, when it conducted the first offensive actions of the battle in seizing Hill 142. The battalion, at first with only two companies due to the other companies not being relieved in time, assaulted the open wheat fields of the hill with bayonets fixed under the fire of German machine gun and artillery fire. In a battle that claimed 325 1/5 lives, Gunnery Sergeant Ernest A. Janson became the first Marine to earn the Medal of Honor in World War I. From December 1918 to July 1919, the battalion participated in the occupation of the German Rhineland. It then re-deployed to Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia and deactivated in August 1919.
In July 1920 the battalion reactivated to provide security for the U.S. Mail. In March 1927, the Battalion deployed to help stabilize the government of Nicaragua against overthrow attempts by rebel forces. For the next six years, they aided the Nicaraguan government until peace was finally restored. 1/5 was deactivated in January 1933. Shortly thereafter the battalion was re-activated in September 1934 in Quantico, Virginia and served in the Caribbean theater until the outbreak of World War II.
The jacket is in very rough condition with a heavy amount of mothing across, most heavily on the bottom pockets and sleeve seams, which is to be expected of one of the very few Marine Army uniforms to survive. The uniform has two overseas chevrons on the left cuff, and US & Infantry collar discs on the collar. There are Sergeant stripes on the right sleeve. This jacket features a beautiful “Indian Head” patch, a chief's head embroidered on a white star and stitched to a beautiful felt maroon square.
The breeches are in fair shape and have a name on the interior waist, P. WARD. We are unsure if this pair of breeches were paired with this jacket at a later date, but this could possibly lead to an ID if someone with the name is found within the four Companies of the 1st Battalion.
This is a fantastic uniform set with some damage, but a lot of character. Comes ready for further research and display.
Approximate Measurements:
Collar to shoulder: 9.5"
Shoulder to sleeve: 23.5”
Shoulder to shoulder: 12.5”
Chest width: 18”
Waist width: 17"
Hip width: 21”
Front length: 29.5"
- This product is available for international shipping.
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