WWI IDd VETERINARY CORPS Officers Uniform Tunic Pants Leggings Hat Transition
Army Officers Uniform that is IDd to Dr. John Hickey Winter, DVM who served in World War I as a Commissioned Officer in the VETERINARY CORPS. Winter was commissioned in 1917 and served not only in the U. S but was in France for 18 months. This uniform does not have the WW I era dark bronze buttons or cap insignia but rather the brass buttons and cap badge adopted by the U. Army in the transition period just after the war. HOWEVER, while I can not prove it, I feel this may have been Dr. Winteers WW I uniform that was altered to the new brass that was adopted following the war when he was commissioned as a Reserve Officer in the Veterinary Corps in 1923. Winter and he was an extremely fragile man who wasted nothing. While the tunic has a depot tag, there is no date so I cannot verify my thinking. Thus, I would consider this a transitional uniform. On the left sleeve are three service stripes denoting his 18 months spent overseas during the war. The tunic is in great condition and I could see no mothing. A depot tag is sewn in on the inside of the inside of the left breast inside pocket. There are no rank or branch insignia present on this tunic. At the time of Dr. Winters death and the settling of his estate, none were found in the house and it is presumed that he gave these away at some point. There was a complete set of WWI dark bronze buttons that his daughter kept as a keepsake which is another clue that leads me to believe that he converted this particular uniform to the new regulations when he got his Reserve Officer Commission in 1923. Item 2: One (1) pair of uniform trousers. These are the tpical jodpur style trousers and the match the tunic. The trousers have button flap front side pockets, button fly, etc. The bottom of the legs button rather than lace for under the leather leggings that is very typical of officers uniforms of this period. I could find no mothing and like the tunic, they are in really nice condition. Item 3: M1912 (Model 1912) Officers Garrison Cap. This cap is a prime example of the caps worn by officers prior to, during and after World War I before they were transitioned in to a new design that was adopted in the 1930s. This cap does have several small moth holes. Several on the top near the edge and several at the circumference of the top. Please see photos as I have tried to show these. Brim and chinstrap are brown leather. Overall, with the exception of the several small moth holes, this cap is in extremely nice condition and one of the best I have run across in my years of collection. Officers front eagle is brass colored as seen in the photos as are the side buttons. Item 4: One (1) pair of officers leather leggings. One legging has some damage and a small amount of leather missing near the ankle but overall, they are not in bad shape. They need a good cleaning and oiling and they will display with the uniform very well. These leggings were the pair that he wore during the war so they would be samost 100 years old so they have survived the years very well. This complete officers uniform is IDd to Dr. John Hickey Winter and I obtained it from his daughter shortly after Dr. Winter, his daughter and I removed from his house. Items associated with the VETERINARY CORPS are extremely hard to find so dont miss the opportunity to add this to your collection. I will be listing other items IDd to Dr. Winter this week including his WWI Commission and his 1923 Reserve Officer Commission. Please see my other auctions. PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON DR. John Hickey Winter, DVM. John Winter lived in the Devils Lake, Michigan area for many years. He practiced Veterinary Medicine in that area until World War I when he received a Commission on November 28, 1917 appointing him as a Second Lieutenant in the Vetinary Section U. Winter served not only in the United States, but eighteen months in France as well earning him three overseas stripes for his uniform. After returning from France, it is believed that he remained in the Veterinary Corps as the United States demobilized and brought men and equipment home from France. 3, 1923, he received a Commission as a First Lieutenant, Veterinary in the Officers Reserve Corps of the Army of the United States. Winter and his wife had three children; two sons and one daughter. His eldest son graduated from the Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1932. Winter when he was in the Veterinary Corps during World War I and later as a Reserve Officer, I obtained from his daughter. In later years, Dr. Winter moved to Brooklyn, Michigan where he lived until his death around 1970. As a youngster, I remember him very well. He was what was known as a true Horse Doctor and justly so as he had extensive experience with the large four legged creatures as well as other livestock. I remember him as a very frugal man. He lived a very modest lifestyle, drove an old beat up car with the back seat roof cut off to make it in to somewhat of a pick-up and Stop signs were something that you just slowed down for. Brooklyn, Michigan, being a small town; when you saw him coming down the street in his old car you just stopped and gave him the right of way. Im sure he would have been much more comfortable with a set of reins in his hands rather than a steering wheel. I remember him as a very kind person, somewhat of a character but a very likeable man once you got to know him. He was also a very intelligent man, who, when faced with a problem, could come up with a solution to solve it. All of the World War I Veterans that I knew were very special people and very proud of their service during. The War To End All Wars. It took thousands of horses to pull wagons, cannons and equipment during a time when motorized trucks were just starting to be used. And, like others of his generation, they are now gone as are the horses. Only a memory now. The items I will be listing this week that are IDd to Dr. John Hickey Winter all came from the same house where he lived unti. We are a smoke free environment. Thank you for looking. Please look at my other auctions for more interesting items. The item “WWI IDd VETERINARY CORPS Officers Uniform Tunic Pants Leggings Hat Transition” is in sale since Tuesday, August 23, 2016. This item is in the category “Collectibles\Militaria\WW I (1914-18)\Original Period Items\United States\Uniforms”. The seller is “bedbugbilly” and is located in Brooklyn, Michigan. This item can be shipped to United States.
