November 7-8, 2018 Edged Weapons, Armor, & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/7/2018
Exceedingly rare, World War I U.S. Marine Corps Battle of Belleau Wood valor grouping. This group is from a small private historical society and has never before been on the military collector market. All items in lot are named to Pvt. William Parry. Parry was born in Wales, Great Britain, and entered service at Rochester, New York April 26, 1917. He served overseas from June 14, 1917 to July 25, 1919 with the 51st Co., 2d Bn, 5th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Brigade, 2d Division, A.E.F. He was awarded the Silver Star, the Nation's third highest award for actions during the Chateau-Thierry Campaign at the Battle of Belleau Wood. He is cited in Division orders as follows: "For gallantry in action at Belleau Woods, France, June 6-12, 1918, while attending to the wounded, under enemy fire". Lot consists of the following: William Parry's P1917 green winter service wool tunic with bronze EGA collar discs and a multi-piece, silk embroidered Indian head patch on light yellow silk background on the left shoulder. Uniform is stamped inside with Parry's name and USMC Quartermaster's Dept 1918-1919 size 3-M in the sleeve. There is a French Foraguerre looped under the shoulder epaulette along with a miniature Foraguerre pin, a sterling rifle sharpshooter badge, and an enameled 2nd Division medal with the name JAMES A. SOLOMON engraved on the reverse (This was most likely given to Parry by a fellow veteran at a 2nd Division reunion). Army pattern overseas cap with bronze enlisted P1914 EGA device. A photo album with 79 small photos and a large frame with multiple original wartime photos showing Parry and other Marines, a framed rack of service certificates and a copy of Parry's Silver Star citations and service records. USMC regulation P1912 campaign hat with rolled brim and P1914 EGA device to front. Canteen with scarce USMC eagle snap carrier. A fabulous hand painted "trench art" gas mask bag with listed campaigns and battles with 2dBn, 5th Marines Indian motif on front. A small framed rack of miniature medals that include the Silver Star, USMC Good Conduct and World War I Victory with five bars and multiple corresponding silk ribbon bars from the World War I period. Also included is a small box of misc. veteran's medals and reunion pins from the 1920's to 1930's. Two rows of mounted medals with the first row being his Silver Star government engraved on the reverse, "WILLIAM PARRY", with edge number 1299, his USMC Good Conduct Medal, Croix-de-Guerre medal with silver star, Chateau Thierry Medal, Battle of Verdun Medal, World War I Victory Medal with AISNE, AISNE-MARNE, ST. MIHIEL, MEUSE-ARGONNE, and DEFENSIVE SECTOR bars. Second row is miscellaneous reunion and state medals. CONDITION: All items are very good to excellent and were acquired direct from the Parry family decades ago.