This grouping consists of Model 1917 steel helmet, OD green wool tunic and trousers, shirt, sweater, leggings, overcoat and shoes.

American made Model 1917 steel helmet is in excellent condition. The exterior has 100% of the OD green paint over a sand finish. Interior liner is like new. Chinstrap is complete and marked “BLACK HAWK DIV” which was the nickname for the U.S. 86^th Infantry Division.

OD Green wool five-button, four-pocket tunic is also in very nice condition. Both the exterior and the interior are very good and free of rips or tears or moth action. All buttons are present. Infantry collar disc is present but the “US” disc is missing. Left sleeve has the red discharge stripe while the right has corporal chevrons. Underside of the interior lining has a maker’s label for Morris Busch of Philadelphia with a Philadelphia Quartermaster Depot mark. Inside breast pocket bears the name “M. B. GREEN” however this looks to be modern.

Matching OD green wool trousers are also in excellent condition. There are no moth holes but there is one small 1.00 inch wide stain on the back of the left leg. There is also a small seam separation in the lower crotch area. Trousers have one of the four fly buttons present and are fastened at the waist by a hook and eye arrangement. At the back of the waistband is an adjustable size strap with buckle and around the waist are several beltloops. Bottom openings of the legs are complete with string ties. Interior waist lining has a Philadelphia Quartermaster Depot tag. Both the tunic and the trousers match in color and will really display well.

Leggings are of a fine khaki canvas and have a row of eight brass studs with corresponding eyes and string to fasten them to the legs. The bottom of each legging has an adjustable leather strap for placing under the heel of the shoe or boot. The inside of the leggings have a strip of leather running behind the brass studs on one side and the eyes on the other to provide some reinforcement. Both leggings are clearly marked “ROSENWASSER BROS., N. Y. CONTRACT OF AUGUST 17^th 1900.” Exterior surfaces show light surface dirt.

Also present is an Army issue shirt. It is made of a course OD green wool with reinforcement patches on the elbows. It is of the pull-over type with a three-button placket and a fold down collar. There are also two breast pockets. There is a small wear hole in the top layer of cloth in the back center of the neck and the left breast pocket button is missing, otherwise all is correct and in good condition. There is no maker’s label.

The group also contains a coarsely knit sweater vest like those supplied by the American Red Cross during the war. It is made of a heavy brown wool and is sleeveless. There are some scattered pulls and minor runs but nothing that really hurts it.

There is also a heavy OD green wool Model 1917 overcoat that matches the tunic and trousers in condition. Both the interior and the exterior are excellent. The overcoat also matches the tunic with corporal chevrons on the right sleeve. Interior has a maker’s label for “TRIMOUNT COAT CO., BOSTON MASSACHUSETTS” with a March 1918 contract date and a “BOSTON DEPOT” inspector’s mark. Coat has all its buttons and is free of any moth action. The inside is marked twice with “W. H. FOGG.”

The last item in the group is a pair of brown leather cap-toe shoes. The shoes are ankle high and are complete with the original laces. Heels are marked “GOODYEAR WINGED FOOT” while inside each shoe is an insert marked “DR. SCHOLL’S FOOT=EASER, PAT’D JULY 11, 05 & FEB 2, 08.” Shoes show wear from use and are no doubt of the period.

As mentioned earlier, the inside breast pocket of the tunic bore the name “M. B. GREEN” while the overcoat has the name “W. H. FOGG.” It is not uncommon for two names to appear in a uniform group as soldiers were constantly trading garments for a better fit or selling extra pieces of uniform. However, the name M. B. Green appears to have been written in the pocket later than the period and may have been done by a modern collector, while the name Fogg looks to be a period marking. Also, a search of the Veterans Administration master index does not show any soldier named M. B. GREEN but does reveal a WILLIAM H. FOGG who served from 1917 to 1919 and when discharged was a corporal which matches the rank on the tunic and overcoat.

William Henry “Bill” Fogg was born in Gilford, New Hampshire on March 26, 1889 but was a lifelong resident of Belmont.

His obituary tells us that he served in the US Navy from 1912 to 1916 and then in the US Army during World War One from 1917 to 1919. He was employed as a machinist by the Scott and Williams Co. retiring in 1955. He was active in his church as well as a past commander of the Charles Kilborn Post of the American Legion in Belmont.

Mr. Fogg died in Belmont on February 21, 1983 and is buried in Saint Johns Cemetery, Tilton, New Hampshire. [ad] [ph:L]

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