This sale is for one (1)very nice early U.S. Army issue “Garrison Belt” complete with an early canvas first aid pouchand Bauer & Black 1916 contract First Aid dressing and a nice early M1911Colt Pistol leather magazine pouch with EAGLE SNAP. This belt and the items on it are ID’d to Dr.John Hickey Winter, DVM who as a Commissioned Officer in the VETERINARY CORPSduring World War I and who served in the Reserve Officer Corps in theVeterinary Corps after the war. See details about Dr. John Hickey Winter, DVM - Veterinary Corps below.
Thissale includes:
Item A: Very early leather “Garrison Belt” with anice dark bronze square buckle. Theleather is very pliable and the belt is in very good condition. On the inside of the belt on the sewn “foldover” which holds the buckle, it is stamped “RIA” (Rock Isand Arsenal), “1908”and has the stamped Inspector’s initials “TC”.This belt measures approximately 1 ¾ inches in width and has a “slidingkeeper” for the belt tongue when buckled. Buckle holes allow for adjustment from approximately a 32 inch waist to a 42 inch waist.
Item B: On the belt is one “sliding Garrison Belt adapter” for use with the M1910 wire bail holder. This leather sliding adapter is stamped “RockIsland Arsenal”, the date “1913” and has the Inspector’s initials of“T.O.C.”. Suspended on this adapter witha M1910 wire bail is a very early canvas “first aid pouch”. This is a two snap pouch and on the face ofthe “pocket” it is stenciled “R.I.A.” (Rock Island Arsenal) and the date“1905”. Inside the pouch is one “Bauer& Black” first aid dressing in the original sealed container marked with“Contract Date Oct 13 – 1916”. The pouchis in very nice shape with no tears, fraying, wear, etc.
Item C: On original U.S. Army issue early leatherColt 1911 Service Pistol “double magazine pouch. On the front flap, near the fold, it isstamped “4C L 38”. This pouch has one ofthe early and quite RARE and HARD TO FIND “Eagle snap” closure. The snap functions perfectly and the leatheris pliable. I can find no otherInspection or Arsenal markings on this pouch.
This sale includes theGarrison Belt, the leather M1910 adapter, the First Aid Pouch with First AidDressing and the early Eagle snap M1911 Colt double magazine pouch. What is shown in the photos is what the buyerwill receive.
Dr. Winter served 18 monthsin France with the VETERINARY CORPS during World War I and this belt withfittings/accouterments was worn by him during his time in the States prior togoing to France and then while in France.Items like this do not come along every day and what makes it even morerare is that it is ID’d to an officer who served in the Veterinary Corps. This is without a doubt, the nicest “GarrisonBelt Set” that I have seen in my over 50 years of collecting and it willdisplay very well in a WWI and military collection. All of it is over 100 years old and in verynice shape. The first aid pouch is avery early one that is in excellent condition with strong markings and an earlydate of 1905. Please see my othersales for items I am selling this week that are iD’d to Dr. John HickeyWinter. Please see photos for condition andask all questions prior to offerding. U.S.Sales only. Thank you.
Dr. John Hickey Winter, DVM
Dr. John Winter lived in theDevils Lake, Michigan area for many years.He practiced Veterinary Medicine in that area until World War I when hereceived a Commission on November 28, 1917 appointing him as a “Second Lieutenantin the Vetinary Section” (U.S. Army Veterinary Corps). {Information taken from his WWI Commissionthat will be sold in a separate sale).Dr. Winter served not only in the United States, but eighteen months inFrance as well – earning him three “overseas stripes” for his uniform.
After returning from France,it is believed that he remained in the Veterinary Corps as the United States“demobilized” and brought men and equipment home from France. On November3, 1923, he received a Commission as a “First Lieutenant, Veterinary” inthe “Officers Reserve Corps of the Army of the United States”. (Information taken from his 1923 Commissionthat will be sold in a separate sale).
Dr. Winter and his wife hadthree children; two sons and one daughter.His eldest son graduated from the Naval Academy at Annapolis in1932. His daughter and son-in-lawpurchased my grandmother’s house after she passed away and both of them havebeen deceased for a few years. All ofthe items I am listing that belonged and were used by Dr. Winter when he was inthe Veterinary Corps during World War I and later as a Reserve Officer, Iobtained from his daughter.
In later years, Dr. Wintermoved to Brooklyn, Michigan where he lived until his death around 1970. As a youngster, I remember him verywell. He was what was known as a true“Horse Doctor” and justly so as he had extensive experience with the large fourlegged creatures as well as other livestock.I remember him as a very “frugal” man.He lived a very modest lifestyle, drove an old beat up car with the backseat roof cut off to make it in to somewhat of a “pick-up” and Stop signs weresomething that you just “slowed down for”.Brooklyn, Michigan, being a “small town”; when you saw him coming downthe street in his old car you just stopped and gave him the right of way. I’m sure he would have been much morecomfortable with a set of reins in his hands rather than a steering wheel. I remember him as a very kind person,somewhat of a “character” but a very likeable man once you got to knowhim. He was also a very intelligent man,who, when faced with a problem, could come up with a solution to solve it.
I have had the items I amputting up for sale for many years in my collection and now it is time tolet them go for others to enjoy. All ofthe World War I Veterans that I knew were very special people and very proud oftheir service during “The War To End AllWars”. Dr. Winter was a prime example of“The Lost Generation” who proudly stepped up when needed and he certainly hadduties associated with the Veterinary Corps that the average soldier didnot. It took thousands of horses to pullwagons, cannons and equipment during a time when motorized trucks were juststarting to be used. And, like others ofhis generation, they are now gone as are the horses . . . only a memory now. The items I will be listing this week thatare ID’d to Dr. John Hickey Winter all came from the same house where he liveduntil his death.
Continental U.S. Salesonly. Payment by Pay Pal please. I will be happy to combine shipping whenpossible. We are a smoke freeenvironment.
Thank you for looking. Please look at my “other sales” for moreinteresting items. Please ask allquestions prior to offerding.
