Description
An authentic late 1910s or WW1-era US Army cotton service uniform, this set includes an M1911/M1912 khaki cotton drill tunic and 2 pairs of more-or-less matching breeches. The 2 pairs of breeches include one with lacing and one with buttons on their jodhpur-style tapered legs. Both have a button fly. The tunic jacket has a stand collar and bellows pockets. It closes with brass metal eagle buttons. There are 2 brass collar discs: one with “US” and one with “13” over crossed rifles with “K” below, specifying service in the 13th Infantry Regiment, Company K. (See below the measurements for more details about the regiment, if you are interested.)
Early 1900s and WWI-era Army cotton service uniforms were intended for hot weather/tropical climates and/or training camp/garrison duty, stateside. During WW1, shade variations were common, due to supply shortages and dye variations. Cotton uniform, colors included both khaki tan, like this one, and dark olive drab. While woolen uniforms were standard for the European front, cotton uniforms like this one were heavily used in WW1 training camps due to wool shortages. Cotton service uniforms were also worn post-war by soldiers returning from the front to warmer climates. The heavy cotton fabric is unlined.
The earlier-style, bellows pockets on this tunic, plus the lack of back pockets and the front lacing (rather than side lacing) on the lower legs of one of the breeches make me suspect that at least part of this uniform was worn in training camp, possibly pre-WW1, rather than during/after 1918. Interestingly, while the metal fly buttons are marked “Best Ring Edge” and are fairly common in US-made 1900s-1910s workwear, the 4 suspender buttons inside the waistband of the lace-up breeches are marked “N. T. Hashim & Co.”, from a manufacturer in the Philippines. So, perhaps our soldier was stationed with the US Army in the Philippines, pre-WW1.
The uniform is quite small, shown here on my female mannequin, since it was too tiny to fit on my male form. It would fit a very small/short man, or a large child/small lady, for costume, cosplay, or re-enacting purposes! It is also somewhat distressed, with many signs of wear and use, some of it perhaps post-war.
The jacket is in very good condition, with some fraying to the collar edge, and tiny stains on the back left shoulder. The 2 pairs of breeches are both in good to fair, sturdy and wearable condition.
The (probably older) laced-leg pair of breeches have rust marks on their buckled back waist straps, and front waistband, 1 lace missing from the lower leg, and few scattered tiny spots, a tiny hole at the back left hip, and wear to the inner edge of the fly. The laced pair has diagonal front pockets, no back pockets, a right side fob pocket, and suspender buttons inside the waistband.
The (probably newer) pair of buttoned-leg breeches have various small stains, a small hole in the lower left calf, and 1 broken and 1 missing button on the flaps of its back pockets. They are also missing some buttons on the lower legs and on the fly. They have deep side seam pockets, and a right fob pocket. They do not have a buckle back waist, and have belt loops, rather than suspender buttons.
SIZE: XS.
TUNIC/JACKET
- Neck/collar: 13.75 inches flat.
- Chest: 36.5 inches flat, to fit 34.5 max.
- Waist: 32 inches flat.
- Width at hem: 37 inches flat.
- Sleeve length: 32 (22.5 inches from shoulder seam).
- Sleeve width at bicep: 15 inches flat.
- Shoulder to shoulder: 15 inches.
- Length: 25 inches from back of neck to hem.
- Underarm to hem:17.5 inches.
BREECHES
- Waist: both pairs are 30 inches flat, to fit 29 max.
- Outseam length: laced pant is 35 inches and buttoned pant is 33, from waist to hem.
- Inseam: laced pant is 24 inches and buttoned pant is 22.
- Hip (oversize/loose fit): laced pant is 46 inches flat and buttoned pant is 44 flat.
- Rise: approx. 27 inches for both.
- Width at fitted calf: 13 inches flat for both.
LABEL: none
More details about this specific regiment, for those interested. I am no expert, but this was as much info as I was able to find and feel somewhat confident about. Military experts, feel free to contact me with any corrections!
- The 13th Infantry is a long-standing Regular Army unit (organized in 1861), nicknamed “First at Vicksburg”.
- During WW1, the 13th Infantry Regiment was based at Camp Lewis in Washington state, where it conducted training to prepare for overseas service.
- A long-standing Regular Army unit first organized in 1861, the 13th Infantry was part of the rapid expansion of the US military during WWI, assigned to the newly formed 13th Division, which was activated on July 16, 1918.
- The US Army’s 13th Division was formed to fill the need for trained troops on the Western Front. However, due to its late activation in 1918, it did not see combat before the Armistice.
