Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. During tough combat in France in World War I, the 32nd Division soon acquired from the French the nickname Les Terribles, referring to its fortitude in advancing over terrain others could not. It was the first allied division to pierce the German Hindenburg Line of defense, and the 32nd then adopted its shoulder patch; a line shot through with a red arrow, to signify its tenacity in piercing the enemy line. It then became known as the Red Arrow Division.

This is a very nice U.S. WWI Issue Military Bugle, complete with its original mouthpiece. The bugle has been engraved above the maker’s mark with an arrow with a line shot through the middle, with the interior being painted or colored red. This indicates it was utilized by a regiment or company of the 32nd Division, one of the most combat-torn divisions of the American Expeditionary Forces. The bugle is made completely of brass, and is most likely in Eb, the usual key that bugles of the time were pitched in. The bell shows a brazing seam around the flare spout, which is easier to see on the inside of the bell. It still has the complete maker marking and date:

WURLITZER
CHICAGO DEPOT
SPEC. 1132
8-28-17

The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, usually referred to as simply Wurlitzer, is an American company started in Cincinnati in 1853 by German immigrant (Franz) Rudolph Wurlitzer. The company initially imported stringed, woodwind and brass instruments from Germany for resale in the United States. Wurlitzer enjoyed initial success, largely due to defense contracts to provide musical instruments to the U.S. military. In 1880, the company began manufacturing pianos and eventually relocated to North Tonawanda, New York. It quickly expanded to make band organs, orchestras, player pianos and pipe or theatre organs popular in theatres during the days of silent movies.

The bugle definitely does have a fair amount of dents and bending, as expected from one that saw long service.

A great piece of WWI militaria which saw use with one of the most well-known divisions of the AEF, ready to display!

The 32nd Division

The 32nd Division was activated in July 1917 at Camp MacArthur, Waco, Texas of National Guard units from Wisconsin and Michigan. Wisconsin furnished approximately 15,000 men, and another 8,000 troops came from Michigan. The division was made up of the 125th and 126th Infantry Regiments (63rd Infantry Brigade) and the 127th and 128th Infantry Regiments (64th Infantry Brigade), as well as three artillery regiments within the 57th Field Artillery Brigade. On 4 August 1917, Battery F, 121st Field Artillery regiment was the first unit to arrive at Camp MacArthur. The remainder arrived as soon as trains could be mustered for transportation.

After arriving in France, the Division took part in the following major campaigns:

Battle of Marne
Battle of Oise
Meuse-Argonne Offensive

It was during these actions that the Division gained the nickname "Les Terribles". The division fought in three major offensives, engaging and defeating 23 German divisions. They took 2,153 prisoners and gained 32 kilometers (20 mi), pushing back every German counterattack. During the drive to capture Fismes, they successfully attacked over open ground at great cost. The unit suffered 13,261 total casualties: KIA-2,250; WIA-11,011.

General de Mondesir, the 38th French Corps Commander, which the 32nd served under, went to the front to observe the fighting. When he saw how the 32nd cleared the Germans out of their reinforced positions with unrelenting and successful attacks, he exclaimed, Oui, Oui, Les soldats terribles, tres bien, tres bien! General Charles Mangin heard of it and referred to the 32nd Division as Les Terribles when he asked for the division to join his 10th French Army north of Soissons. He later made the nickname official when he incorporated it in his citation for their attack at Juvigny.