An archive of documents, photographs, uniform items, insignia and other souvenirs, including a Vacheron & Constantin Corps of Engineers chronograph watch, formerly the property of Matthew Dalton Phillips from Dalton, NC with some related material from his brother, Ernest. Matthew, known as "MD," served in the Ordnance section of the 103rd Squadron "Lafayette Escadrille Americain," Ernest as a machine gun mechanic in the 124th Squadron "Lafayette Escadrille." Both brothers enlisted and served after the Escadrille had transferred from the French to the American Army and neither were volunteers before the US entered the war. Items in the archive date from WWI through Matthew's service as an officer in WWII and after. Documents include several General Orders, some signed, rosters of Escadrille pilots, their flight hours and status, a number of wartime and post-war correspondence, French travel documents, official and commercial maps, and miscellaneous ephemera. Photographs include several unit group photos, private candid snapshots of Escadrille personnel including notable officers such as William Thaw, images of aircraft with ace's insignia, two copy images of the famous French ace Guynemer, air field scenes, etc., a group of negatives showing unit aircraft with the squadrons Indian head insignia and a captured German Fokker D-7, a package of stereoviews, a large number of commercial wartime French postcards, some with correspondence on the reverse and a few WWII images. Artifacts include the Vacheron & Constantin Corps of Engineers chronograph watch in a silver case numbered "929" with original flannel pouch, three other pocket watches, all in need of repair, wrist compass, eye glasses and a small Kodak camera. Souvenirs consist of two trench art letter openers, one engraved "La Fayette" and the other made from and aerial flachette, two trench art rings made from French coins, a British pocket knife, two French helmet badges and more. Uniform items include Matthew Phillips' WWII officer's tunic with insignia, two Croix de Guerre fourragere, visor cap and campaign hat with two officer's cords, WWI and WWII extra insignia and buttons, a WWI knit wool balaclava and more. An exceptional family preserved archive of a member of one of the most famous Allied units of the Great War. Condition: Normal age and service wear. The crystal on the engineer's watch is stained from the luminous numbers and the hands are oxidized. It is not currently in running order.
An archive of documents, photographs, uniform items, insignia and other souvenirs, including a Vacheron & Constantin Corps of Engineers chronograph watch, formerly the property of Matthew Dalton Phillips from Dalton, NC with some related material from his brother, Ernest. Matthew, known as "MD," served in the Ordnance section of the 103rd Squadron "Lafayette Escadrille Americain," Ernest as a machine gun mechanic in the 124th Squadron "Lafayette Escadrille." Both brothers enlisted and served after the Escadrille had transferred from the French to the American Army and neither were volunteers before the US entered the war. Items in the archive date from WWI through Matthew's service as an officer in WWII and after. Documents include several General Orders, some signed, rosters of Escadrille pilots, their flight hours and status, a number of wartime and post-war correspondence, French travel documents, official and commercial maps, and miscellaneous ephemera. Photographs include several unit group photos, private candid snapshots of Escadrille personnel including notable officers such as William Thaw, images of aircraft with ace's insignia, two copy images of the famous French ace Guynemer, air field scenes, etc., a group of negatives showing unit aircraft with the squadrons Indian head insignia and a captured German Fokker D-7, a package of stereoviews, a large number of commercial wartime French postcards, some with correspondence on the reverse and a few WWII images. Artifacts include the Vacheron & Constantin Corps of Engineers chronograph watch in a silver case numbered "929" with original flannel pouch, three other pocket watches, all in need of repair, wrist compass, eye glasses and a small Kodak camera. Souvenirs consist of two trench art letter openers, one engraved "La Fayette" and the other made from and aerial flachette, two trench art rings made from French coins, a British pocket knife, two French helmet badges and more. Uniform items include Matthew Phillips' WWII officer's tunic with insignia, two Croix de Guerre fourragere, visor cap and campaign hat with two officer's cords, WWI and WWII extra insignia and buttons, a WWI knit wool balaclava and more. An exceptional family preserved archive of a member of one of the most famous Allied units of the Great War. Condition: Normal age and service wear. The crystal on the engineer's watch is stained from the luminous numbers and the hands are oxidized. It is not currently in running order.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
