A recent eBay purchase will add yet another mascot dog photo to my collection. The 28th Division keystone is clearly visible on the mascot’s vest, as well as two overseas chevrons. Very cool.
WWI
The University of Vermont at War – Draftees in 1918 – Williams Hall at UVM
UVM SATC (Photo Courtesy of UVM Special Collections)
My search for WWI Vermont photography continued this week at the University of Vermont’s Special Collections Annex. Utilizing the Louis McAllister Collection database, I was able to track down two panoramic photographs taken at UVM in 1918. This particular shot was taken in front of Williams Science Hall located on the UVM green. I spent much of my time as an undergraduate studying in this building, so this photograph is particularly close to my heart.
This first photo was taken by McAllister on October 31st, 1918. The new class of the S.A.T.C. was just inducted on October 23rd, just a week before this photo was taken. Although the quality of the image is lacking, the content speaks volumes.
The second photo was taken a few months earlier, in July of 1918, and shows the first round of students from UVM to be drafted. McAllister enjoyed using the Williams Hall entrance as a backdrop for his photographs; this is a panoramic style we see until the early 1960s.
While searching for reference material, I came across this advertisement from the 1918 Ariel yearbook of UVM. It looks like Louis McAllister was a supporter of UVM!
Courtesy of UVM Special Collections
Special thanks to the UVM Special Collections crew for helping me with my search. All photos in this post are courtesy of UVM Special Collections.
WWI 2nd Army Engineer – Immaculate Portrait Photo
2nd Army Engineer
The crisp details of this photo make it the best 2nd Army portrait in my collection. Although we can’t know which Engineering unit he served with (there were many in the 2nd Army), we can deduce a few things from the elements present in the photo. The crisp focus on his collar discs allow us to see that he was in Company E of an engineering 
unit of the 2nd Army. Note that the disc on his cap lacks the E designation. His 2nd Army SSI patch is well stitched and placed perfectly below the shoulder line. His WWI victory ribbon has one campaign star. A super example of a 2nd Army photo!
2nd Army Patch
WWI 107th Infantry Regiment, 27th Division NY KIA Portrait Photo – Harold E. Manners – Meuse-Argonne Offensive
I picked up this little gem in a Palmer Massachusetts antique store a few months back and never took the time to look at the photo closely until this past week. The frame was intricately created; something not often seen in run of the mill WWI photos. The gold stars on the corners and bottom of the image should have been a dead giveaway. Once I decided to look at the photo a little closer, I took the frame apart from the back and began to uncover the identity of the soldier depicted in the image. I knew he was a member of the 7th Infantry Regiment; this was evidenced in the collar disc. The 7th New York eventually became the 107th Infantry Regiment of the 27th Division. Harold was in Company H.
The reverse of the photo was beautifully inscribed with everything I needed to know to track this fellow down.
Harold Edward Manners
Killed in France in the
Great War, Sept. 29th 1918
aged 23 years
After extensive research I’ve learned that Harold was killed during the operations before the Hindeburg Line east of Ronssoy, September 29th, 2918. His citation for the day reads:
“This soldier, with great gallantry and determination, advanced against unusually difficult enemy positions composed of strongly fortified machine gun nests until killed.”
I found an auction result online that showed his medals which were sold in 2008 at an auction in NY. A beautifully inscribed NY veterans medal for a KIA was included. I wish I had that grouping!
Harold E. Manners – KIA Meuse-Argonne 1918
WWI 78th Division Portrait Photo – Wounded
Today’s post comes from my growing collection of 78th Division portrait photos. Although we don’t know his specific unit designation, we do have his name and company. Taken in a French studio, Alex Lindell was posed in a manner which allows the viewer to see his maimed hand. The fact that he was wounded is evidenced by a visible wound chevron on his right hand sleeve. The stitching is barely visible.
Alex Lindell of the 78th Division
WWI 79th Division Veteran w/ Purple Heart and Uniform in the 1940s – IDENTIFICATION UPDATE
A wonderful set of negatives from a family in Pennsylvania shows the lighthearted side of aging WWI veterans. An elderly member of the 316th Infantry Regiment of the 79th Division pals around with friends and family while showing off his war medals. A Purple Heart medal was awarded to our subject for wounds received in battle, and was likely delivered to him in the early 1930s when the current medal was officially created. Enjoy the images!
Legs Wraps and All!
June 22nd, 2022 UPDATE
Incredibly, an ancestry geek like myself whose husband is related to the WWI veteran above was able to positively identify the veteran after searching online and finding this site. Special thanks to Amanda who provided me with the name of Elmer Brandt Sweigart to pin to the name of the elderly WWI vet.
WWI Photo – Wounded Doughboys Rest w/ Mascot Dog and Pretty French Girl
A fabulous shot of a group of doughboys taking some much needed R&R in a French city. A busty French girl stands in the doorway as the men pose for a photo. Just read the back! A superb WWI dog mascot photo with great content. Note the two wounded soldiers – one with a face wound, the other with a broken hand.
The details of the image pop out once the casual observer steps back from noting the obvious and begins to look for subtle details. Notice the reflection in the window? How about the stone gutter along the street? The hastily buttoned blouse of the facially wounded soldier? Enjoy!
WWI 26th Yankee Division Medic Studio Portrait
Straight from the bowels of my studio portrait collection comes this well-composed studio image of a Yankee Division medic. Judging by his discharge stripe on the left sleeve of his tunic, I would say that this photo was taken upon his return to the States in 1919. Other visible insignia include an OS chevron and a Yankee Division pin on his cap. Another great 26th Division shot!
WWI Female Service Studio Photography – Women in WWI
One of the hardest and most desirable WWI portrait photos to acquire has to be the female service member. Whether it be a nurse, hello girl, liberty loan officer, YMCA worker, or welfare worker, they are hard to find and always fetch a high price. Check out my “better” examples of these photos.
WWI 26th Division / 32nd Division Mystery Photo -103rd Infantry Regiment Officer
Today’s photo post is a real head-scratcher! I purchased the image thinking it was a nice studio portrait of a 32nd Division officer, which is evident from the SSI patch of the red arrow with a line through it. When the photo arrived I noticed instantly that the officer was wearing the collar insignia of the 103rd Infantry Regiment of the 26th Division. Causal readers of this blog will know that I actively seek out 26th Division photos due to my New Englander roots.
32nd Division or 26th?
Back Reads:
Selters Germany
12 January 1919
From Captain
Guy Swett (Hard to read writing)
Co. H 127th U.S Inf
32nd Div
“Army of Occupation”
Sent to a Miss Flora Murch
South Paris, ME USA
I am assuming the fellow was originally from the South Paris area in Maine, which would point towards a Yankee Division identification. The 32nd Division was made up of guys from the Michigan area. Looking at his other insignia also may point to his unit identity. Is that a DSC ribbon on his chest? It’s hard to tell, but it possibly may help in identifying the last name and original unit.
Any help from readers would be greatly appreciated!
Special thanks to our friends over at Soldier’s Mail for this wonderful interpretation! Don’t forget to check out their website for a super collection of WWII related information.
“After the end of hostilities with the signing of the Armistice, inducements were offered to encourage veteran combat troops to extend their enlistments and remain with the Army of Occupation in Europe rather than returning directly home on the Bridge of Ships. (Sam Avery speaks of these inducements in this letter: http://worldwar1letters.wordpress.com/2010/01/13/sarrey-france-1131919/)
After the Armistice, the 26th Division was in such bad shape from combat losses that it was assigned to the rear rather than the Army of Occupation. However, a number of its members chose to extend their deployments and were reassigned to different units in other Divisions stationed in Germany.
The officer in this photo clearly originated with the 103rd Infantry as indicated by the Regimental device on his collar. However, he is also apparently a newly-minted Captain in the 32nd Division as indicated by his sporting of the double 1st Lt bars on his shoulder along with the 32nd Division shoulder patch. I believe he was originally a 1st Lt in the 103rd Infantry, and then accepted a promotion in rank to extend his service in Army of Occupation with the 32nd Division.
Based on the writing on the reverse of this photo card, the 127th was one of the four infantry regiments in the 32nd. This man’s rank as Captain also indicates he would have been appointed the Company commander.”
Thanks again to Soldier’s Mail!
Portraits of War 
