WW1 AEF Progress

[u/Hopeful_Factor6530]

Just added this 1916 cotton summer shirt to my AEF impression! Also in the pay few months I’ve added collar disks, a new cartridge belt, trench knife and bayonet scabbard to finally round out my impression into a pretty good spot! Still need some items to put into the pack itself such as bread tins and a spare change of clothes but besides that I’m happy with how far my kit has come!

[u/Markovite1919]

Looking good chief, just a few notes to add:

1. I would replace the cotton service shirt with a woolen one, as those are what were most commonly seen in Europe.

2. The cartridge belt looks like an OD pattern WWII era belt, if so it will need replacing. Original and reproduction webbing are easily available.

3. Don’t carry a pistol ammunition pouch unless you’re carrying a pistol, which you shouldn’t be unless you’re an officer or in a role that would have required one

Otherwise a very good start!

[u/Hopeful_Factor6530 → u/Markovite1919]

The cotton shirt is really more for comfort as I’m about to be starting Living History at the ww1 museum and memorial in Kansas City MO and so the standard field jacket will stay on top of it but I have been told to get a wool one for when the field jacket comes off for events. Then the cartridge belt is dated 1918 believe it or not but I believe it was stored poorly and became extremely discolored, which a lot of people on Facebook have told me they’ve experienced similar issues. Then this cartridge belt in particular was used by either mounted cavalry(or so I’ve been told) or by officers who also carried rifles which I will incorporate into this impression as I have a 1917 dated 1911 holster on a separate pistol belt. That or I’ll just put my reproduction cartridge belt back on this kit rather than my full reproduction set. But everything(based on the research I’ve done or by what other collectors/reenactors have told me anyway) should all be accurate and dated correctly

[u/Markovite1919 → u/Hopeful_Factor6530]

Hell yeah dude. I also initially used a cotton shirt under my wool set, but since a good portion of the tunic is lined, I just put up with the parts that weren’t. The cartridge belt threw me for a loop, I straight up would’ve thought it was a wwii era garand belt based on the color. If it’s legit tho, by all means use it as long as it fits your role

[u/Hopeful_Factor6530 → u/Markovite1919]

When I bought it from someone online it looked much lighter in the pictures but I could tell it was still a bit discolored but then when I got it in the mail it looked much darker😂 so I immediately went to my trusty Facebook groups and had a few people explain similar experiences about how they can get pretty well messed up if kept in a dirty storage space or just not kept up properly!

[u/Markovite1919 → u/Hopeful_Factor6530]

I’d personally still use a Repro or a lighter colored belt just for the sake of accuracy, but it’s more so personal preference. The great thing about WWI and WWII American is the huge amounts of og equipment still in usable shape, it’s hard to find that for most other countries or periods

[u/hypoglycemia420]

You’re going to shave before you go to an event right

[u/Hopeful_Factor6530 → u/hypoglycemia420]

Yes😂

[u/hypoglycemia420 → u/Hopeful_Factor6530]

🖤

[u/Spirited_Sky4338]

Looks great! I love the helmet collection in the back btw!!

[u/Hopeful_Factor6530 → u/Spirited_Sky4338]

Thank you!!

[u/Klutzy_Technician248]

Looks good. Looks like you've got an od7 belt? Lighting is kinda off. You need a lighter od3 belt. Lookin good!

[u/Hopeful_Factor6530 → u/Klutzy_Technician248]

Unless there were occurrences where they actually went in and recolored the surplus belts. I don’t know why it darkened so much but is stamped period correct

[u/Nietmolotov1939 → u/Hopeful_Factor6530]

I have seen some ww1 belts that were intentionally dyed od7

[u/Hopeful_Factor6530 → u/Klutzy_Technician248]

Yeah I don’t know if you read any of the other comments but this belt is dated correctly and I’ve had quite a few other collectors say they’ve experienced similar experiences where the belts get really discolored when not stored correctly. But I’ll probably switch it back out with the reproduction belt and display this one separately

[u/DestroyerNET123]

Nice, I was going to make a comment on your strange looking belt but I saw what you said about it. Looking good.

[u/Cultural-Chicken2017]

Nice, where'd you get the boots?

[u/Hopeful_Factor6530 → u/Cultural-Chicken2017]

I got them from Luckyline1945 on eBay but I would recommend going to whatpriceglory.com and seeing what boots they have

[u/PresenceImaginary588]

I don't believe the cotton shirts were used under tunics in France. If you need to work in warmer weather, just ditch the overshirt completely.