Item: ONJR21VD412
Original U.S. WWI M1917 7th Infantry Division Doughboy Helmet with Textured Camouflage Paint
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Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice example of a U.S. M1917 "Doughboy" helmet, with original liner and chinstrap, that also features original period camouflage paint on the top side. The shell is maker marked with a stamping on the underside of the rim that reads ZC 176. The solid rivets and heat lot number indicate that this helmet shell was produced in the United States by the Columbian Enameling and Stamping Company in Terre Haute, Indiana.
The paint is in excellent condition both inside and outside the helmet. The liner is intact, with a complete intact leather chin strap. The felt top pad is somewhat worn due to age and use, however the original tag is still fully intact. The oil cloth is very nice, with the underlying netting in very good condition.
The best feature of this helmet is definitely the original hand painted camouflage paint job, which has an American Shield in the center, with a 7th Infantry Division - Hourglass Division emblem in the center of the shield. The camouflage paint is a lovely brown and black design, and the Division Insignia maintains almost all of the original paint and remains bold and easy to see.
A great example of an authentic WWI "Doughboy" helmet from the 7th Infantry Division, with hand-painted camouflage, ready to display!
The 7th Infantry Division was activated on 6 December 1917, exactly eight months after the American entry into World War I, as the 7th Division of the Regular Army at Camp Wheeler, Georgia. On 18 July, the division moved to ports of embarkation as it prepared to deploy to Europe as a part of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF). The unit arrived at Hoboken, New Jersey and in New York, via Camp Merritt, where additional replacements joined the unit. The majority of the unit sailed to Brest, France. The 7th Support Trains and the 7th Training Headquarters along with the military police sailed for Bordeaux, France. The units began to arrive in France on 26 July with the last units arriving on 3 September 1918. Most of the division sailed to Europe aboard the SS Leviathan.
From the period of 17 August to October 9th, the division conducted final training and preparation to enter the line in the Ancy-le-Franc Training Area. Some soldiers from the unit were sent to the 4th and 26th Divisions as replacements for losses. From the period of 2 September through the 14th the unit was under the administrative control of the VI Corps.
While on the Western Front, the 7th Division did not see action at full divisional strength, though its infantry and reconnaissance elements did engage German forces. On 11 October 1918, it first came under shell fire and later, at Saint-Mihiel, came under chemical attack. Elements of the 7th probed up toward Prény near the Moselle River, capturing positions and driving German forces out of the region. It was at this time that the division first received its shoulder sleeve insignia.
From the period of 10 October until the end of the war on 11 November, the division, minus their artillery, occupied and conducted local engagements in the Puvenelle Sector (Lorraine). On 10 October 1918, the division relieved the 90th Division on the front with a front line from Sablière, Vandières (incl), Côte 327, north edge of Bois des Rappes, la Souleuvre Fme, 1½ km south of Rembercourt-sur-Mad. The 92nd Division was on the right and the 37th Division was on the left. On 16 October, the 28th Division moved in on the left of the 7th Division. Several days later, on 23 October, the 92nd Division (VI Corps) occupied the sector on the. Three days later on 26 October the sector was reduced by moving the east boundary to a line between Villers-sous-Prény and Prény (both incl). Elements of the 92nd Division relieved the 56th Infantry Regiment. On 29 October, the sector was extended west to a line from Xammes to Charey, with the 64th Infantry relieving elements of the 28th Division, on a front along the eastern edge of Bois de Blainchamp, northern edge of Bois de Hailbat, eastern edge of Bois du Rupt, northern edge of Bois de la Montagne.
During this period in early November, the 7th Division began preparing for an assault on the Hindenburg Line as part of the Second Army. The division launched a reconnaissance in force on the Voëvre plain, but the main assault was never conducted as hostilities ended on 11 November 1918 with the signing of the Armistice with Germany.
On 1 November the division conducted local attacks and established outposts at Bois de Trou-de-la-Haie and Bois de Grand-Fontaine. From 9 November through 11th the division executed local attacks and made gains along the front. On 9 November the division assumed temporary occupation of a hill west of Prény. On 10 November, Hill 323 (1 km southeast of Rembercourt) was occupied. On 11 November, the line was established from 310.2 to 287.1 in the Bois de Grand-Fontaine, the quarry near 278.7, west of Rembercourt, and the small woods ¼ km south of Mon Plaisir Fme.
During its 33 days on the front line, the 7th Division suffered 1,709 casualties, including 204 killed in action and 1,505 wounded in action and was awarded a campaign streamer for Lorraine. The division then served on occupation duties as it began preparations to return to the United States.
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