Original Item: Only One Available: On October 17th, 1918, during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, Private Daniel Barden Allen suffered five flesh wounds after going “over the top”. This is his uniform, his gear, and his story.

This is the uniform, helmet, and field gear grouping of Daniel Barden Allen, Serial #:2724999, Company , 128th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Division. The grouping includes:

-Allen’s uniform jacket in great condition, with rare vegetable ivory buttons, a great style 32nd Division patch, US & Infantry collar discs, a discharge chevron, one overseas chevron denoting 6-11 months overseas, and one wound chevron.
-Allen’s breeches, which are in great condition as well.
-Allen’s helmet, an M1917 US-made helmet with a full liner and chinstrap, albeit very worn. Size marked 7⅛. The chinstrap is complete but has torn off at one point and fits into the chinstrap bale fine, displaying as if it were not broken. 
-Allen’s M1910 Canteen & cup (no cover)
-Allen’s M1910 Mess kit, dated 1918 by L.F. & C. Also includes the knife, spoon, and fork, all dated 1917.
-Allen’s M1910 Campaign Hat in fantastic condition, named and numbered on the sweatband to him. It is very difficult to find a grouping with the soldier’s original campaign hat, as many were discarded upon arriving overseas when soldiers were issued overseas caps. These hats can be identified by their 5 rows of stitching along the brim.
-Allen’s overseas cap in a scarce mustard color with a US collar disc. Some mothing on the sides. The top has been sewn shut as was often done by soldiers in combat.
-Allen’s waist belt
-Allen’s pair of puttees, both in good shape.

The grouping is overall in phenomenal shape for its age, and makes for a very attractive display. This is a very rare grouping to a wounded-in-action soldier in one of the most war-torn divisions of the American Expeditionary Forces.

Approximate Measurements:
Collar to shoulder: 9.5"
Shoulder to sleeve: 23”
Shoulder to shoulder: 15”
Chest width: 18.5"
Waist width: 17.5"
Hip width: 21"
Front length: 30.5"

Pants:
Waist: 16"
Inseam: 22"

Daniel Barden Allen was born on April 6th, 1896 in Blue Hill, Maine. He was working as a farmer when registering for the draft in 1917. He was inducted into the service on May 28th, 1918, being assigned to Company C, 303rd Infantry Regiment, 76th Division. Upon arriving in France on July 6th, 1918, most of the 76th Division was skeletonized and its troops used as replacements for units already in combat that had suffered heavy casualties. Therefore, Allen was transferred to Company A, 128th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Division shortly before they entered combat operations in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. On October 17th, 1918, Allen was wounded slightly during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.

According to a December 24th, 1918 newspaper article, Allen wrote to his parents explaining that he had been in the hospital for the past three weeks after suffering five flesh wounds after going over the top. He’d also explained that his company had been under fire for about three weeks, but on the front lines for a week. Allen returned stateside on March 27th, 1919 as part of a casual company.

This is a phenomenal uniform grouping named to a wounded soldier in one of the most famous divisions of the American Expeditionary Forces, “Les Terribles”, the 32nd Division. Comes ready for further research and 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.

History of the M1917 Helmet

The M1917 was the US Army's first modern combat helmet, used from 1917 and during the 1920s, before being replaced by the M1917A1. The M1917A1 helmet was an updated version of the M1917 and initially used refurbished WW1 shells.

The M1917 is a near identical version of the British Mk.I steel helmet, and it is important to note that when the US joined the Great War in 1917 they were initially issued with a supply of around 400,000 British made Mk.Is, before production began stateside. The M1917 differed slightly in its lining detail, and exhibited US manufacture markings.

M1917 helmet liners typically show a paper label at the crown and the dome rivet head. The liner is set up as on the British versions, with an oilcloth band and net configuration, attached to a leather strap, riveted to the shell. The chinstrap is leather with a steel buckle.