MODEL 1917 MOUNTED CANTEEN – UNIT ID’d – 314TH
CAVALRY REGIMENT:
This very nice, complete
Model 1917 Mounted Canteen bears a unit applied stencil
identifying it as having been issued to a soldier in
Company L of the 314TH Cavalry Regiment.
On the eve of the United States entering World War I,
the 314TH Cavalry Regiment was constituted in
the National Army on May 18, 1917 and organized on April
6, 1918 at Camp Owen Bierne, El Paso, Texas, commanded
by Colonel Cornelius C. Smith. In order to meet the
needs of army, the regiment was reorganized on October
16, 1918 into the 62ND and 63RD
Field Artillery Regiments and the 21ST Trench
Mortar Battery. All three of the artillery units were
demobilized at Camp Jackson, South Carolina in 1919.
On October 15, 1921, the 62ND and 63RD
Field Artillery Regiments and the 21ST Trench
Mortar Battery were reconstituted in the Organized
Reserve as the 314TH Cavalry Regiment,
assigned to the 64TH Cavalry Division, Fifth
Corps. The 314TH Cavalry was activated in
January of 1922 with regimental headquarters and 2ND
Squadron posted at Lexington, Kentucky, and 1ST
Squadron at Middletown, Kentucky, and assigned to the
division's 157TH Cavalry Brigade.
In 1925, the regimental headquarters was relocated
to Cynthiana, Kentucky, and was reorganized as a
three-squadron regiment on July 1, 1929. The entire 314TH
was moved to Lexington in 1931, then to Columbus,
Ohio in 1937, and finally to Dayton, Ohio, in 1939.
The regiment conducted summer training at Camp Knox
and Fort Oglethorpe with the 6TH Cavalry
Regiment, hosting ROTC cadets from the Culver Military
Academy. After the United States entered World War II,
the regiment was converted into the 545TH
Signal Aircraft Warning Regiment on January 30, 1942.
The regiment was disbanded on November 11, 1944.
This Model 1917 Mounted Canteen presents in very nice
condition showing only minimal signs of use. The cover
is in very clean condition with no tears, wear or other
damage. The front of the cover bears a very strong
“US”, as well as the unit applied stencil – crossed
sabres with “314” above the intersection and “L” below,
indicating the troop. The inside of both of the flaps
bear the legible maker’s and inspector’s ink stamps –
“Brauer Bro.s MFG. CO.; 1917” on the right, and “N.V.”
on the left.
The lift the dot snaps still
retain their original blackened finish, and both are
complete, function well and show no signs of tearing
around the snaps as is often the case. The reverse of
the cover has two handwritten sets of initials, both
“JWN” – likely the name of the soldier who was issued
this canteen. Combined with the unit identification,
this might be sufficient information to identify the
soldier and fully research his service record.
The matching canteen and cup - L. F. & C.; 1918 - are
both full form with no significant dents and no cracks
or other defects and the handle on the cup functions
properly. The handle of the cup is stamped with what
appears to be a unit inventory number and a soldier’s
initials.
The original leather suspension strap is full length and
is complete with all the hardware. The strap has some
surface flexing, but no crazing or flaking, is still
strong and supple, and still retains a nice medium
russet color. An added value normally missing from
these mounted canteens, the original elk leather tie
down thong is still present, full length, and intact.
These thongs were once available on the loose for
completing these canteens, but that supply was
apparently exhausted years ago.
This is a very nice example of the Model 1917 Mounted
Canteen which has the added value of being unit
identified and complete with all the components. (0804)
$175
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