WWI or Early WWII US Overseas Cap #3

After WWI, the “Overseas Cap” ceased to be worn by the US Army. Then in the 1930s it made a comeback as the “Garrison Cap.”

This example may be one of several styles of private purchase overseas caps of WWI. For this post, I’ve attached a WWI era, French made, crossed sabers pin-back disk of the U.S. cavalry. The cap matches the olive color of the 1918 issue cap. The gabardine material and dark green liner match some of the British made caps of the time. The cap continues to have the rounded top and center split of the WWI caps. Also, not only does this cap not have any WWII enlisted style branch colored piping around the side edges, there is no provision to add piping because the side curtains are FALSE. It’s just a tuck and seam added to simulate the turned up material.

On the other hand, this could be an early private purchase cap from the 1930s or 40s. WWII is not my focus, and I don’t have nearly as many reference books for it. Earlier caps of this era do have rounded corners and a split top, and the side curtains of this cap generally follow the shape of this era. There are plenty of examples of un-piped caps from this time. The interior gives nothing away. There is no sweat band, and the small tag in the back gives only the size, a blank space for the date, and another blank space for the price.

Whichever it is, I do believe this was an “in-country” made cap due to the false side curtains, lack of sweat band or any manufacturer tags. I think a “Big PX” purchase would have been truer to the official pattern.

The top split is pinned together with a black safety pin, which is as I found it. I think in both eras, soldiers pinned or stitched the split closed as a matter of fashion.

The final photo is for comparison with the other caps I’m posting today. This cap is at the top.