Belt

Object Name:

Belt

Object ID:

1989.031.02 a-b

Creator:

Ellis, George Matthew (1894-1981)

Place of Origin:

Bridgewater, NH

Date:

1917-1918

Description:

World War I belt, hand-made by George Matthew Ellis (1894-1981) of Bridgewater, NH. Made of leather strap (A), with brass buckle (B). Buckle attached with second piece of leather, tied onto belt with shoelace. Latch fashioned out of flatware handle (plated copper, engraved "MED DEPT A"), riveted to belt. Full length of belt engraved with text, most of which pertains to Ellis's campaigns overseas. Text includes: "U[S]A", "CA_P. _NIPHRN. / CA__. _ILLE.L.I. / OBOCAI.N.I.", "__RONIAT_. / ___AROOLSPNO. / _PNARA_ANSETT.", "LEHARVE.FRANCE. / BESANCON. / L__EOLLE.", "LANORE_. / HAUME.", "BATT.A. / 3RE.FA. / A E.F." Two additional text sections illegible, damaged by fire. Brass buckle (B) taken from a dead German soldier; text surrounding central crown reads, "GOTT MIT UNS".

Material:

Metal
Leather
Brass
Textile

Dimensions:

W-1.6 L-39 inches

Provenance:

Objects given in memory of donor's father, George Matthew Ellis (1894-1981, b. Brookvale, Nova Scotia, Canada; m. 1923, Sidney Martha Fox; res. Bridgewater, NH 1935 and Bristol, NH 1981). Emigrated from Canada to U.S. 1917 and enlisted in U.S. Army, Private First Class, worked with horses. Honorable discharge 1919. Received U.S. Citizenship 1922. Discharge listed "iceman" as vocation; death certificate listed "carpenter" as occupation.

Credit Line:

Gift of John Theodore Ellis

People:

Ellis, George Matthew (1894-1981)

Subjects:

Belts (Clothing), Buckles, World War I