WWI US Army fur lined arctic hat

[Panzer]

I am trying to figure out what the name of the WWI US Army fur lined arctic hat is officially called? the same hat the is depicted in the Osprey book #305 The Russian Civil War white Armies, plate #A; I think figure#2
Corporal 366th (Polar Bears) the figure with the leather Jerkin.

Or if anyone knows where images of the hat can be found I would appreciate the help.

Thanks
Mrosko

 

[gordy]

I am trying to figure out what the name of the WWI US Army fur lined arctic hat is officially called? the same hat the is depicted in the Osprey book #305 The Russian Civil War white Armies, plate #A; I think figure#2
Corporal 366th (Polar Bears) the figure with the leather Jerkin.

Or if anyone knows where images of the hat can be found I would appreciate the help.

Thanks
Mrosko

Do you have a scan for those of us that don't have the book ?

 

[billyturnip]

Chris, give Dan Morton a pm, he's got plenty of WWI reference material and might know.
I'll have a look at what I've got but it won't be 'til the middle of next week as I'm at sea at the moment.

Roger.

 

[Dan Morton]

First - to make clear, I'm attaching the image that Chris indicated so everybody that's interested can follow this. Next, the best reference that I have for the Polar Bears uniforms generally is The Company of Military Historians, The Modern Era from 1868, pages 74 and 75, attached. The text page should answer your question Chris. If you can't read it about all I can suggest is trying to get your hands on a copy of the text. It's still available from time to time on Abebooks.com. Finally some other photos from the GI Series, Over There. They should speak for themselves.

Hope this helps.

All the best,
Dan

 

[Panzer]

Dan
Thanks

I have the artwork from the Ospry book and here are more ref. images and history, what I need is the exact nomenclature of the hat?
http://31stinfantry.org/Documents/Chapter%202.pdf

Siberia Campaign

http://31stinfantry.org/cpg31/thumbnails.php?album=38&page=1

Siberia Photos

http://31stinfantry.org/cpg31/thumbnails.php?album=44&page=1

 

[Panzer]

Notice the unique shape to the fur peak on the hat in the artwork, in the images that I have none of the domes are that high or that shape.
Chris

 

[Dan Morton]

I agree, Chris. Either it is an illustrator's mistake or the cap may be some kind of non-regulation one.

Per the write-up in the Company of Military Historians book, the US "issue" caps were made of muskrat and would have been either M1879/1902 or M1918. The M1918 is described as having longer ear flaps and an affixed visor as compared to the earlier one.

Here's another possibility. I haven't read that much about the Siberian expedition but what I have read indicates Quartermaster's ability to meet the needs of the soldiers was stretched pretty thin and some extraordinary measures were adopted. For example, either in the Fierce Lambs (A.A. Hoehling) or The Ignorant Armies (E. M. Halliday) - don't remember which - it indicates that both US and British soldiers were equipped with Mosin-Nagant rifles because there was ample ammunition for them, whereas there was an insufficient amount for the SMLE and the Springfield rifles. And in one of the photos of British infantrymen in Siberia attached, it shows Mosin-Nagant rifles.

It also shows a British issue cold weather fur cap which (in my opinion) looks much more like the one in the illustration than either of the two US issue fur caps.

The photos are from Stephen Chambers book on uniforms of the British army.

All the best,
Dan

 

[captnenglish]

Judging by the images that Dan posted, I would say the the soldier in the questioned plate is wearing a combination of US and British kit.

 

[Heeresbergführer]

I am trying to figure out what the name of the WWI US Army fur lined arctic hat is officially called? Thanks Mrosko

From what I can figure out from my references, the official QM nomenclature would be:

CAP, WINTER, FUR LINED

This was one of the several winter caps that were available at the time. The special arctic clothing was originally used by the small army garrison stationed in Alaska which had a special set of Alaskan clothing which was based on Eskimo types of clothing.