Unissued WWI Colt 1911 on GB

[Mister Coffee]

Every time I see something like this one, it makes me wonder how it made it and where it hid. I saw one complete with belt and holster and mags/pouch that was issued to a surgeon in the US military in WW1 and was never moved from his foot locker. It went home with him and remained there. It was perfect. You wonder if you could find the guns close to this number what shape they'd be in? Or are they buried in France? Guns like this will be surfacing still in 200 years. As new and perfect...

Off-Topic: As noncombatants, medical doctors were not issued weapons. True in WWII (my father was U.S. Army M.D. in the European Theater). True in WWI?

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[browningautorifle]

Off-Topic: As noncombatants, medical doctors were not issued weapons.

That's what I always thought too, our medics carried and were prepared to defend both patients and the Dr while he did his thing under fire as some did... As for how he managed to get it, if not issued, wouldn't have been THAT hard to procure. Someone here will have had a Dr relative and might know. Doubt any had a Dad in WW1 as mine and yours were WW2, Cosine26 perhaps would be old enough for his did to have been in WW1...maybe someone has a TO&E to show us...?

[Mister Coffee]

That's what I always thought too, our medics carried and were prepared to defend both patients and the Dr while he did his thing under fire as some did... As for how he managed to get it, if not issued, wouldn't have been THAT hard to procure. Someone here will have had a Dr relative and might know. Doubt any had a Dad in WW1 as mine and yours were WW2, Cosine26 perhaps would be old enough for his did to have been in WW1...maybe someone has a TO&E to show us...?

Not to put too fine a point on it, but my understanding is that, if medical personnel were to have carried weapons, they would have been in violation of international accords regarding non-combatants. The idea was that they were not armed, so the enemy was not supposed to fire on them. So, it wasn't just a matter of them not being issued weapons. They would have some real sh*t to sort out if they were caught carrying arms.

As for medics or corpsmen or what have you, I have no idea how it worked for them. But you said above that the man was a surgeon. A surgeon is not supposed to be any place where he would need a weapon, unlike a medic, who would be on the field of battle. You say your medics were armed, and I do not doubt you. Then again, there is only so much you can reasonably carry, so I wonder why a medic would want to carry weapons and ammo even if he could get hold of it. Maybe medics are considered fighting personnel (?).

I want to underscore that I am not an expert. You probably know more about all this than I do.

NOTE: I see you are Canadian. When you say "our medics," do you mean the Canadian Army?

[browningautorifle]

I see you are Canadian. When you say "our medics," do you mean the Canadian Army?

Certainly... Our Dr. accompanied us into the field, he's the battalion surgeon.

Also during the Normandy landings the medical staff came ashore immediately.

By the way, I've had enough conjecture. I was relating the story of a firearm as I got it from the auction house. Long past. None of it matters to me. That's where the pistol came from, how he got it doesn't matter. Here's the provenance I recorded with this beauty... I have lots more pics but this should do.

[painter777]

how he got it doesn't matter

Doctor Frank W Snow,
Was a graduate of the Medical School in 1902, a member of the first contingent of the Harvard Surgical Unit in 1915. The initial contingent of the Harvard Surgical Unit, consisting of 32 surgeons, 3 dentists, and 75 nurses, sailed for Europe aboard the Noordam on June 26, 1915. Surgeons were principally drawn from the Massachusetts General and Boston City hospitals. The unit was entertained at Warwick Castle on July 10 and then arrived in France on July 16 for a service of six months’ duration. Doctor Snow can be seen sitting in the front row on the far left.


** Link To Above Picture**
The First Unit Arrives in Europe Exhibits

After America entered the war, he was first attached to No. 4 General Hospital in the British Expeditionary Force in the city of Rouen, France. Then assigned to the U.S. Army's Camp Hospital No. 12 in Le Valdahon in April 1918 and appointed officer in command there. He was transferred to Camp Hospital No. 41 in Is-sure-Tille early in 1919, returning to the United States in July. Snow was awarded the Médaille d'honneur des affaires étrangères ( Medal Of Honor For Foreign Service ) and cited for his "exceptionally meritorious and conspicuous services at Camp Hospital No. 12" by General Pershing.

Doctor Frank W Snow:


Camp 12 Front View of Office. Doctor Snow can be seen in the right rear corner at the Commanding Officers Desk. Note the Locker below his desk..



Links that show more camp pictures that can be enlarged:
Camp Hospitals of the American Expeditionary Forces Exhibits.

Jim,
Very nice piece of History you have there. Might have been arranged by Ole Black Jack

Regards,

---------- Post added at 10:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:57 PM ----------

Thought I should add a picture of their Lab.