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MODEL 1908 HAVERSACK – w/ US ARMY MEDICAL
DEPARTMENT CADUCEUS IDENTIFICATION – VERY NICE SPECIMEN
WITH RARE MARKING:
The front of this haversack
is stenciled with the standard “US”, and below that is
stamped “US ARMY MED DEPT” surrounding the Medical
Department caduceus insignia. The Medical Department
identified haversack is a very rare specimen, the first
of its kind that has been noted by several US Army
medical equipment collectors. Given the low number of
hospital corpsmen in the context of the standing army at
the time these haversacks were in use, the number which
were identified with this marking must have been very
limited, and those which survived even more so.
The use of the word “Department” is helpful in dating
this piece as the name of the medical branch was changed
from “Medical Department” to “Medical Corps” in 1908
through an act of the US Congress, indicating that this
haversack was issued during a very narrow window framed
by the first issues of the Model 1908 Haversack and the
changing of the medical branch’s name that same year.
This haversack has all of the features of the standard
Model 1908, to include the mess utensil pockets, and the
bronze hooks for attaching the haversack to the rear
bottom edge of the web waist belt or suspended from a
shoulder strap.
This haversack was in
service prior to the development and introduction of the
Model 1910 Hospital Corpsman’s Pocketed Belt, at a time
when the corpsmen were equipped with the Hospital Corps
Shoulder Pouch in which they carried their bandages and
other medical supplies and equipment. This haversack
could well have been used to carry additional medical
supplies as the corpsman moved with the troops into the
line and forward of their base of supply.
This Model 1908 Haversack is in very good condition,
showing only minimal evidence of having been issued or
used. The canvas is generally clean overall with some
small stains along the right side of the front cover.
The internal surfaces and pockets are very clean and the
back panel has some minor stains at the bottom. The
stenciled marking on the front cover is distinct and
legible, all of the seams are intact, all the pockets on
the interior of the bag are intact, the closing billet
is full length and intact, both brass suspension hooks
are present on the reverse as is the buckle on the
bottom seam. Both elk hide thongs for closing the
interior pocket on the cover flap are present and in
very good, supple condition. The interior surface of
the cover flap is lightly, but legibly stenciled “ROCK
ISLAND ARSENAL” with a faint date which is probably
1908.
This is a very nice example of a
scarce piece of early US Army Medical Department
equipment which would be a unique addition to your
collection.
(0407) $250
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