WWI M1917 Spec 1285 Wool EM Service Uniform 304th Tank Bde, First Army AEF 1918 For Sale

I’m selling this uniform grouping because my 12 year old daughter, Allison has cancer. It’s a rare form of Leukemia that usually only affects elderly men. She’s been on some form of chemotherapy since she was diagnosed in 2021. We are fighting hard. Unfortunately, during Thanksgiving and Christmas she lost 10 pounds and became really weak. We are fighting this right now to see what the complications are.

The savings that I had have completely dried up. I’m doing the best I can to save my daughter’s life. Her medication, Sprycel is $15,000 a month and only comes from a specialty pharmacy. The co-pay is ridiculous. I’m selling my inheritance to help fund my daughter’s recovery. All of my sales go towards her medication, treatments, doctor visits, and overall wellbeing.

I’m a single parent. I have had full legal custody of Allison since she was 6 months old. Her mother abandoned her. She hasn’t seen her mother in 8 years, thus I have had to pick up all the slack and take care of a very sick child, work, and still run my family as I am my parents caregiver as well. God has given me the strength that I need and will never give us more than we can handle.

I know it’s hard after Christmas. If you can help Allison, then please do.

I hope that y’all have a safe and blessed New Year.

PS. Please know that just because I’m selling my collection to help pay for my daughter’s cancer treatments doesn’t mean that I’m desperate. There are some people who feel like it’s a good time to make a lowball offer to take advantage of a bad situation. I’m not there so please be respectful.

Thank you.

** Lt Colonel George S Patton was commanding officer of 1st Provisional Tank Brigade, redesignated 304th Tank Brigade 6 Nov 1918. **

For your consideration is this beautiful WWI M1917 Spec 1285 EM Wool Service Uniform grouping from the 304th Tank Bde, 1st Army, AEF.

This WWI veteran fought in the SOMME OFFENSIVE, ST MIHIEL , NEUSE-ARGONNE, & the DEFENSIVE SECTOR. He was wounded at some point during the war.

This is amazing for US soldiers to have been in Europe as early as April 1917, but most soldiers came much later.

This group has an extremely rare hand made and machine made Tank Corps patch over the First Army patch representing the 304th Tank Brigade. You can see that these patches are truly original to this tunic, as well as the collar disks and WWI Victory Medal. The only aspect that’s not original is the Mexican Service Ribbon. The original ribbon was sewn onto the tunic but fell off. It’s in the pocket, but I felt it would be better to add the ribbon with a pin back instead of adding new thread to the tunic.

Note: The left leg of the M1912 Spec 1161 Wool EM Service Breeches have a repair at the left leg. This was fixed by my grandmother for my grandfather as there was a tear from storage.

This Uniform is from my grandfather’s military collection. He got this uniform in the 1940’s. His ESSO service station was at Hunter Air Field in Savannah, Georgia and he traded tires, batteries, gasoline, and liquor for uniforms, guidons. and flags.

My grandfather was Robert Allen Davies b 1910 Columbia, SC d 2000 Greenville, SC. He collected from the end of the depression until he passed away. I’m having to sell this collection that I inherited because my 12 year old daughter Allison has cancer. My sales go to her medical bills, and medication. I feel like my grandfather would understand.

This group includes:

• M1917 Spec 1285 Wool EM Tunic. (This is the Spec 1285 and not the earlier Spec 1268 because the seems are the white cotton thread and NOT the darker silk thread.)

• M1917 Overseas Cap

• M1912 Spec 1161 Wool EM Breeches (No pockets in rear, laces on side of breeches)

• M1910 Collar Disk, US

• M1910 Collar Disk, TYPE 2 Tank Corps

• M1909 Mills Pistol Belt (No snap button, meant for revolver)

• Mexican Service Ribbon

• WWI Victory Medal • SOMME OFF • ST MIHIEL • NEUSE-ARGONNE • DEFENSIVE SECTOR

NOTE : BOOTS NOT INCLUDED

Please note that you may find other Tank Corps uniforms, but you won’t find one like this. I haven’t seen a double tank corps patch in a long time.

304th Tank Brigade

Formed August 18, 1918 in AEF as 1st Provisional Tank Bde. Served with First Army September through November 1918. (With V Army Corps at St Mihiel and I and V Army Corps in Meuse-Argonne). Redesigned 6 November 1918 as the 304th Tank Brigade. GHQ unit with AEF November 1918. Moved to the U.S. March 1919, then moved to Camp Meade, MD.

1917 Service Coat

Specification No. 1285

Specifications for the 1917 Service Coat were revised in December of 1917. The only change that was made to this specification was that a cheaper mercerized cotton thread was substituted for the more expensive silk thread that had been called for in all the previous service coat specifications. Otherwise, in every other respect, the Specification No. 1285 Service Coat was identical to that of the Specification No. 1268 Service Coat.

Note: Sited from World War I Nerd Page #12 USMF; TY for the reference