Sam's battle-scarred helmet
“TO THE LAST MAN”
During the 26th Division’s organization in August of 1917, First Sergeant Sam Avery was moved from old 8th Massachusetts Infantry (National Guard) in which he had served for the past 5 years. While most of the men from the “Dashing 8th” were assigned to the new 104th Infantry Regiment, Sam was issued a new serial number (#69762) and assigned to Headquarters Company of the 103rd Infantry Regiment under the command of Col. Frank M. Hume.
The 103rd Regiment was primarily composed of National Guard troops from the 2nd Maine Infantry and the 1st New Hampshire Infantry. Additional troops from Massachusetts were included from detachments of the old 6th and 8th Mass. Infantry following their arrival at Camp Bartlett from Lynnfield (the majority of Massachusetts troops were organized into the 104th Regiment).
When painted helmet markings became widely adopted in the AEF to help identify different organizations, the 26th Division was the only one to select distinctly different insignia for each unit. The helmet mark chosen for the 103rd was a green pine tree on a white diamond in honor of the “Pine Tree State” (Maine). This heraldry clearly represe
nted the Northern New England contingent of the “Yankee” Division, combining the Maine state military crest with the YD diamond insignia on a white field (for infantry). [Today the "Colors" of the 103rd Infantry can be viewed at the Hall of Flags in the Maine State House].
In his writings, Sam affectionately refers to the men of his new unit as a bunch of hayseeds from the sticks of New England’s North Country rather than sophisticates from the Big City. Parting from his brothers-in-arms of the “Old 8th” was a bitter thing for Sam to endure, even costing him a reduction in grade when he and other Sergeants refused to be separated from their Captain. But Sam soldiered on, for it was just one of many sacrifices made for Readiness.
The 103rd and 104th Infantry Regiments together made up the 52nd Infantry Brigade under the command of Brig. Gen. Charles H. Cole and acquitted themselves well in battle (or as Sam would say, “we gave a good account of ourselves”): The 104th Infantry recieved a unit citation on 4/16/1918 and was also the first American regiment to receive the Croix de Guerre (French Medal of Honor) on 4/28/1918; The 103rd Infantry received a unit commendation on 6/20/1918 and also included a Medal of Honor winner in its ranks: Privt. First Class George Dilboy of H Co. who was posthumously awarded the Medal for “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity, above and beyond the call of duty, in action with the enemy on July 18, 1918.”
As First Sergeant of Headquarters Company, Sam made notation in his pocket diary of the roster of men originally assigned to the Hdq. Co., 103rd Infantry who made passage to France. It fell to him to ensure they continued on together through each part of the long journey “Over There.”
ROSTER OF HDQ. CO., 103RD INFANTRY REGIMENT
BAND SECTION (strength 26 men)
Band Leader H.G. Cobb
Ass. Band Leader H.N. Carrier
Sergeants
J.L. Barnes
G.C. Dole
Corporals
W.E. Beckler
M.C. Barker
E.L. Coolbroth
Musicians 1st Class
H.E. Blakney
F.B. Holden
Musicians 2nd Class
F.A. Haseltine
H.K. Farbanks
C.E. Fellows
M.D. Haskell
Musicians 3rd Class
E.A. Bradley
E.W. Bunker
N.B. Cobb
C.M. Ferguson
H.G. Hall
V.D. Harkness
F.F. Smiley
J.A. Sowell
S.E. Thompson
C.L. Woodsman
A.B. Trundy
E.O. Hobbs
A.J. Lambert
MOUNTED ORDERLIES (strength 14 men)
Sergeant
L.J. Jobin
Privates 1st Class
E.A. Boynton
W.E. Day
W.F. Beck
O.B. Ingraham
Privates
W.J. Michaud
E.W. Thyng
G. Albee
R.H. Farnham
R.L. Giroux
Hering
R.C. Moody
H.S. Stetham
Prescott
MOTORCYCLE CORPS (strength 13 men)
Privates 1st Class
J.R. Moore
Franjoy
Privates
D.W. Johnson
Boutelier
Foster
S.P. Kelly
Shepard
Booth
Gillen
McVerty
Ward
Jamison
Brizzell
SIGNAL PLATOON 1ST SECTION (strength 51 men)
Sergeants
L.J. Day
K.C. McCauley
P.F. Meader
Corporals
H.R. Goodwin
L.H. Linton
G.O. Stevens
P.M. Whitefield
A. Aguere
J.F. Corr
S.F. Sullivan
C.H. Balcomb
Privates 1st Class
R.H. Keith
J.J. Palmer
E.Q. Dee
M.S. Vonsteen
R.B. Lapham
L.H. Gilpatrick
G.D. Coons
A.J. Jones
W.H. Robinson
C.C. Sanderson
L.F.Forrestall
R.E. Cowler
E.A. Clear
C.B. Healy
Privates
H.A. Landry
P. Arbo
A.J. Smith
J.B. Porrier
P.X. Wright
J.R. Lange
R.A. Piers
H.A. Worcester
R.O. Fischer
W.A. Savage
J.S. Tighe
N.L. Taylor
H.F. Stone
R.C. Kelly
C.C. Badger
C.R. Blanchard
N.E. Clark
K.S. Parker
C.E. Johnson
C.E. Snyder
J.M. Burke
P. Bonner
J.L. Pickett
H. I. Hunt
R.C. White
P.S. Stowe
SIGNAL PLATOON 2ND SECTION (strength 10 men)
Sergeant
H.S. Ryan
Corporal
P.V. Shedd
Privates 1st Class
I.A. Jenson
E.D. Bowers
J.R. McPhee
Privates
L.J. Lizotte
G.D. Clark
V.F. Carlson
A.F. Major
E.Hartford
SIGNAL PLATOON 3RD SECTION (strength 15 men)
Corporals
J.R. Jarvis
D.S. Farnum
S.B. Young
Privates 1st Class
A.C. Pearl
V. Kozell
J.A. Wood
S.P. Kielly
Privates
J. St Charles
W.H. Crosban
G.F. Watson
E.V. Nickerson
F.W. Ericson
F. VanGreenhowen
R.P. Durkee
D.F. Callahan
GUN PLATOON (strength 32 men)
Sergeants
W.H. Doyle
H.F. Durant
W.R. Niles
Corporals
E.B. Gould
R. Alberts
P. Gibson
Privates 1st Class
J.G. Stall
D.V. Henry
W. Mills
D.L. Smart
A.M. Clark
E.J. Sheaff
A. Logan
R. Philbrook
Privates
C. Ayotte
E. Ayotte
C.E. Bellis
P. Berry
J.A. Cormier
A.E. Cousins
J. Ferguson
J. Harper
J. Marnell
L.L. Pray
L.P. Parent
C.H. Turner
L.C. Trail
W. Wynters
L.N. Magee
R.M. Sullivan
H.L. Fisher
P. Burns
SAPPERS (strength 9 men)
Corporal
M.R. Golaken
Privates
A.J. Trombley
C. Campbell
H.J. Gaudette
L.J. Lyons
D. Brinn
W.L. Davison
W. Kelly
A.A. Gilmore
BOMBERS (strength 32 men)
Sergeants
G.E. Hazeltine
F.S. Hyde
Corporals
H.A. Parlee
E.N. Hibbard
E.J.Casey
Privates 1st Class
K. Johnson
J.E. Gallagher
G.E. Lonitot
A.Lerpiloskie
N.J. Corcoran
G. Farrell
J.H. Harrison
L.J. Finn
W.A. Wells
E.J. Brado
D.F. Rice
Privates
J.N. Hislop
R.J. Conroy
S. Lane
N.L. Powers
C.V. Debury
C.H. Leizer
E.J. Nolan
R. Larizza
H.J. Bedard
J.J. Potter
M. Mallock
T. O’Maro
G.E. Roscoe
A.A. Dowling
E. Pellerin
A.S. Fuller
PIONEERS (strenth 57 men)
Sergeants
B.S. Lipsett
E.Q. Banks
W.W. Bean
Corporals
L.C. Pitcher
R. Sprowle
C.B. Tibbitts
J.L. Quirk
Privates 1st Class
E.E. Anderson
J. Chapman
C.A. Cushing
J. Dort
J.H. Jennings
H.J. McMillan
A.J. O’Reilly
E.L. Smith
T. St Jean
L. Chamberlain
E. St Pierre
C.F. Green
S.A. Mott
C.C. Chandler
F.F. Dickenson
R. Edwards
Privates
O.B. Begin
G. Capen
H.W. Campbell
R.W. Cheverette
H.A. Corburn
W. Garo
G.F. Harris
P. Laliberty
C.J. LaBlanc
C.N. Matheson
E.R. Mellon
J.H. Stuart
S. Sullivan
T. Sweeney
H. Thuline
H. Quill
L.G. Valiente
R.N. Vantine
J.F. Wentworth
L. Stickney
G.A. Green
H.H. Parker
T.J. McLaughlin
H. St Charles
H.E. Lufkin
J.A. Hutchinson
A.M. Lynch
F.J. Strangeman
E. May
V.E. Rich
C. Alfsen
D.A. Phippard
W.J. Gorey
R.B. Evers
The 103rd Infantry distinctive unit insignia (DUI or Crest) pictured above was originally approved on July 14, 1924. The shield’s background is white for Infantry, the blue saltire represents Northern Civil War service (as the 2nd Maine Infantry), and the 8 fleurs-de-lis symbolize the campaign participation of the 26th “Yankee” Division during the Great War in France.
worldwar1letters
This is very interesting. I am busy transcribing my grandfather’s war diary. He was in the 101 Regiment US Eng American Expedition Force and I can almost go page for page with your letters. His name was Elliot Richards of Masachusetts.I will finish reading the letters you have and my grandfathers. Thanks for a great website.
Barbara Richards Salmon
Greetings
I should mention that I don’t believe it was a practice to paint the helmets while in France, and especially during combat conditions. These insignia would have been painted on after the Armistice, perhaps in France but more probably back in the US.
I came across your site when I was looking for more information about the 103 Infantry.
My Grandfather is listed here as Corporal S.F. Sullivan for Samuel Francis Sullivan.
SIGNAL PLATOON 1ST SECTION
How exciting!
According to the official 103rd Regimental History by Col. Frank Hume (which is generously on loan to me by Shawn Pease), Samuel F. Sullivan #69893 became the Mess Sergeant for Headquarters Company (he is listed as such on the 1919 Camp Devens Roster). This would have clearly made him one of the more popular Sergeants in the Company, and I am quite sure that he and Sam must have known each other and gotten along well.
Please continue to visit and explore the site as there is much information which you will enjoy. Both Sams were in the same place at the same time and very probably had similar experiences. Keep reading as there is much more to come!
Regards,
REL
hello im don waterman my grandfarther
roy waterman was PFC MG CO
103 inf. 26 divition yankee divition he was a machine gunner
from maine born in vermont
Hi Don:
Welcome! Please explore the site as there is much to learn about what your grandfather must certainly have experienced as part of the 103rd Infantry.
Best Regards on this Memorial Day,
Rich
I have a WW1 Helmet that I believe to be american and it has a pine tree painted on the front barely visible and on the side are what I believe to be initials. I am not sure if it is of the 91st american division because it does not have the white 91 on the tree its just a pine tree and nothing else.
To anyone with any information on this insignia or the unit please contact me at brandon.kerth@yahoo.com
Hi Brandon:
Thanks for your question. My first question is whether the pine tree is superimposed on a white diamond or not. If it is, then it was from the 103rd Infantry, 26th Division. Otherwise, not sure without possibly seeing a picture of it. If you have one, please send it along. I can refer you to two books by Chris Arnold which may give you more information: Steel Pots Vol. 1 and Painted Steel: Steel Pots Vol. 2.
Regards,
Rich
do you know of anyone in the 103d division with the last name Blank he was in the 103d infantry division and his name was Victor Blank?
Hi Kyle:
I have roster information for the 103rd Infantry Regiment of the 26th Division during World War I but not the 103rd Infantry “Cactus” Division which was formed in 1942 and fought in the European Theater during World War II as part of the Seventh Army. Just on the chance you meant the 103rd Regiment I checked the rosters and do not have a Victor Blank listed in 1919 at Camp Devens, although that only means that at the time of the 26th Division’s demobilization he was not among the rank and file. You actually should find information about the 103rd Division more easily since unit histories during World War II were much more thoroughly documented. Hope this helps and Good Luck!
Regards,
Rich
Kennt jemand Frank Lynch von der 103 Infanterie Division “Kaktusdivision” 2.Weltkrieg
Die Division kam Mai 1945 über Garmisch, Zirl nach Innsbruck.
The 103rd “Cactus Division” was formed in 1942 and operated in the European Theater during World War II including the Battle of the Bulge. That was a different unit from the 103rd Infantry Regiment which is honored here and was part of the 26th “Yankee” Division.