Re: Insignias, Divisions, in World War 1 -Part 2-FIRST and SECOND DIVISION
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In reply to:
Insignias, Divisions, in World War 1 -Par t 1
Anna Pape 5/06/05
(Same Source as first posting) Regular Army: Division Headquarters arrived in France June 27, 1917. Activities: Sommerville sector, ten kilometers southeast of Nancy, October 21 to November 20, 1917: Ansauville sector, January 15 to April 3, 1918; Cantigny Sector, April 25 to July 7 (Battle of Cantigny, May 28-30); Soissons operation, Marne counter-offensive July 18-24; Sazerais sector, August 7-24; St. Mihiel operation, September 12 and 13: Argonne-Meuse offensive, October 1 to 12: operations against Monzon, November 5 and 6: operation south and southwest ofSedan, November 7 and 8; march on Coblenz bridgehead, November 17 to December 15, 1918.
Prisonerscaptured: 165 officers, 6,304 men. Total advance against resistance, 51 kilometers.
DIVISION INSIGNIA: Crimson figure "1" on khaki backgroud. Chosen because of the numeral "1" represents the number of the division and many of its subsidiary organizations. Also, as proudly claimed, because it was the "First Division in France:"first in sector; first to fire a shot at Germans: fist to attack; first to conduct a raid; first to be raided; first to capture prisoners; first to inflict casualities; first to suffer casualites; first to be cited singly in General Orders.
SECOND DIVISION---Regular Army: Divisional Headquarters established in France , October 26,1917. Activities: Verdum and Toul-Troyon Sectors, March 15 to May 14,1918: sector northwest of Chateau-Thiery ( almost continous heavy fighting), May 31 to July 9: Soissons Sector, Marne Counter-Offensive; July 18 to 20; Marbache Sector, August 9-24; St. Mihiel sector and operation, September 9 to 16; Blac Mont Sector and Advance in Champagne, September 30 to October 9" Argonne-Meuse Offensive, October 30 to November 11, 1918.
Prisoners captured 228 officers, 11,738 men . Guns captured 343 pieces of artillery,1,350 machine guns. Todal advance on Front Line, 60 Kilometers.
INSIGNIA: Indian head, with background star and shield with colours varying according to unit. Creation of truck driver who practiced on the side of his truck with such success that the design he had drawn evolved into the insigna of the division.
The SECOND DIVISION included 2 regiments of marines.Hope this will help WW 1 family researchers..Sincerely Ann