If These Shirts Could Talk: The Tantalizing Tales Behind Used Clothes
Jockeying for Position: How Boxers and Briefs Got Into Men's Pants
Gloriously Grotesque 19th-Century Pipes
In the Hot Seat: Is Your Antique Windsor a Fake?
Love at First Kite: How Pizza and Pente Led to One Oklahoman's High-Flying Obsession
Blood, Sweat, and Steel: My Afternoon with the Ace of Swords
'The Great Gatsby' Still Gets Flappers Wrong
Say Ahhh: An Oral Surgeon's Quest to Reimagine the Garage-Band Guitar
Forget TV Pickers, Meet the Real Mavericks of the Antiques World
Coveting The Craziest Cat-People Collectibles
Posted 2 years ago
scottvez
(554 items)
This ID bracelet is on its original leather wrist strap.
When first purchased I misread the unit and thought it said CAV-- meaning a Cavalry unit and probably US. I was disappointed when I realized it was Canadian since I don't usually buy non US items. I thought this would be a hard research project.
To my suprise, information on the soldier and unit was actually easier to find than information on US soldiers. The Canadian National Archives has a database of CEF serial numbers that are linked to enlisted paperwork. I wish the US records were that easy!
It is identified to William Ellis Smith who served in the 107th Canadian Pioneer Battalion. Smith was born 28 SEP 1894.
Smith enlisted for overseas service on 29 MAR 1916 and was initially assigned to the 221st overseas battalion which after sailing overseas in 1917 was disbanded.
At some point Smith became a part of the 107th and had this bracelet made. According to research online, the 107th was eventually disbanded and became part of the Canadian Engineers in 1918.
I do not know if Smith survived the war.
Scott
World War OneWorld War I coincided with numerous advances in technology, resulting in th…
How much is this worth? I have my great-grandfathers bracelet and am interested to know its value (although I would never sell it).
Thanks, Bravo
I'd say about $50- $75.
Was your gg in the CEF or was he American?
Post your bracelet and I would be happy to provide you with some more information on it.
Scott
Thanks for the info. I was just curious.
He was an American from Rhode Island. He ran away from his orphanage, came to Canada sometime before the war, then enlisted with the CEF in 1914. I have his papers from the National Archives of Canada. Very interesting stuff. Thanks.
Glad to help.
I wish the US National Archives WW1 records were online!
I had numerous family members in the CEF but have never seen a bracelet, very nice, thanks for posting.
I looked at his attestation papers, & he was born in Manitou, MB, not that far from where I live, small world.
Walksoftly-- I didn't realize you were in Canada.
I have seen similar WW1 items from both CEF and AEF.
The online Canadian records sure make researching easy!
Thanks for looking,
Scott
Thanks for looking official.
Scott
Canadian ID bracelet from WW1.
scott
Thanks tom.
scott
Thanks braveheart.
scott
Thanks tlmbaran-- if you haven't seen them yet, I have several other WW1 and WW2 ID bracelets on CW.
scott