{"product_id":"original-wwi-u-s-trench-art-named-engraved-13th-engineer-regiment-decorated-m1910-mess-kit-railway-engineers","title":"Original WWI U.S. Trench Art Named Engraved 13th Engineer Regiment Decorated M1910 Mess Kit - Railway Engineers","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Kit Available. The 1909 Infantry Board recommended a new “meat can” mess kit that became standard issue in 1910. The 1910 mess kit was similar to previous models but larger, 8 ½” long by 6 ¾” wide by approximately 1 ½” deep and was made of aluminum. Like the earlier covers, which doubled as a plate, it fit into the top of the “frying pan” portion and was secured by a folding galvanized iron handle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEarly in 1918 the American Expeditionary Force reported that the 1910 pattern top plate was too shallow and recommended a deeper configuration. A new mess kit with a lid one half inch deeper, and an appropriately corresponding folding handle quickly went into production as the model 1918.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a fantastic M1910 mess kit named to Valmah H. Lange, Company C, 13th Engineer Regiment, AEF. The 13th Engineers were one of the very first units sent to France, leaving New York City on July 23rd, 1917, arriving a few days later. This makes sense, as the mess kit is dated \u003cstrong\u003e1916 \u003c\/strong\u003eand was manufactured by the Rock Island Arsenal, or \u003cstrong\u003eRIA\u003c\/strong\u003e. The middle of the lid and the middle of the bowl are largely stamped with \u003cstrong\u003e3C45\u003c\/strong\u003e, which we can discern as C for his company, and 45 for his roster number.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 13th remained in the Verdun sector, building railways under heavy artillery fire from September 12th, 1917 until September 1918, when they were chosen to participate in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive from September 26th-November 11th, 1918.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe mess kit is engraved on the lid:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eV. H. LANGE\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCo. C. 13th Engrs (Ry)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e#45 U.S.A.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLe Havre\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChalons\/Marne\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLemmes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVerdun\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFRANCE\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe interior of the lid has his initials, \u003cstrong\u003eV.H.L\u003c\/strong\u003e., and \u003cstrong\u003eVerdun \u003c\/strong\u003ecrudely engraved, which are likely the first of the engravings he did. Lange was from Byron, Illinois.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is an incredibly scarce mess kit named to a soldier who saw over a year of combat in France during World War I. For comparison, the majority of U.S. troops didn’t arrive until mid-to-late 1918, only seeing a small bit of combat in comparison. It doesn’t get much better than this! Comes ready for further research and display!\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!----\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41836899729477,"sku":"ONSV23WHS263","price":195.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONSV23WHS263__04.jpg?v=1728182315","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-wwi-u-s-trench-art-named-engraved-13th-engineer-regiment-decorated-m1910-mess-kit-railway-engineers","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}