#13. Colonel Edward M. Offley Collection; Service Dress Coat, Medals, More. SOLD

Description

Having had an incredible amount of material belonging to career cavalry officer, Colonel Edward M. Offley, we tried to keep the collection intact for years now, but sadly I must break up the collection in the attempt to move it along. There will be single and small lots, as well as larger groups with combinations of uniforms, insignia, photo and or paper, etc.  All lots offered will be titled, “Colonel Edward M. Offley Collection.

 

This is probably the most rounded of the uniform lots, with service dress coat and cap, Sam Browne belt, medals (with miniatures), photos, colonel’s commission, and his journal, titled “Military Record,: which goes from 1899 to 1918 (just prior to the 78th Division arriving at the front).

This gaberdine coat was made by The Haas Tailoring Co., Baltimore, Md.  The tailor’s label is ID’d and gold thread embroidered initials are sewn on the outside of his breast pocket.  The colonel’s eagles are pin- back, STERLING, made by MEYER, N.Y.,  “US” and cavalry saber insignia are early style clutch backs. A wide ribbon bar is also early clutch style, and holds ribbons for (l to r), Purple Heart Medal, War With Spain, Mexican Border, and WWI Victory Medal with 3 battle stars.  All are in excellent condition.  On the breast pocket flap below are his expert rifle and pistol badges.  Two overseas stripes in bullion (at least one year overseas), complete the uniform coat.  Overall in excellent condition.  SHIRT & TIE are props NFS.

The service visor cap shows more wear; with some stitching loose holding the sweatband, the visor loose.  There appears to be another name on the underside of the sweatband.  The size is the same as his full dress cap in another lot. Many times officers obtained articles of clothing, etc. from other officers leaving the service.  This came with the collection, and I am leaving it at the very least to have a piece of headgear to go with the coat.

The framed medals were done by the family some time ago. They were framed incorrectly with the Purple Heart out of place of prominence.  There is a tipped in autograph from his WWI service days in the AEF.  The medal numbers are recorded on the back of the frame. All are in fine condition. Refer to photo of back of frame for medal numbers. It also mentions were he was wounded.  The miniature medal bar is in fine condition as well with the order card for the WWI Victory Medal, specifically put together for Offley;  all this is contained in a Meyer Insignia (hard case) box.

The small framed photo of Offley in this uniform, is a high quality image, with daguerreotype style look.  Sorry, I don’t know the correct terminology, its high quality what ever it is!  Size is 3 3/8 x 4 1/4 inches framed.  Frame is gilt metallic, made for either free standing or hanging.  Excellent.

The next photo is a B&W glossy, size 5 1/2 x 7 1/2 inches overall.  It appears that Colonel Offley is wearing this uniform coat, taken at Fort Sam Houston by National Photo & New Service, San Antonio, Texas.   It is also signed by the Colonel on the reverse.  Excellent condition.

Colonel Offley’s last commission to colonel of Cavalry, dated 1 June, 1932, is made of vellum and signed by the Secretary of War, Patrick J. Hurley (retired and decorated major general, and statesman), and the Adjutant General of the Army.  Fine condition.

Not having another place as appropriate to place Mrs. Sally C. Offley’s Certificate for the Daughters of the American Revolution dated 1933, I thought this would be as good a place as any.  An army wife always  looks forward to retirement after a long career in the military.

Finally, I have included his Military Record, from 1899 to 1918.  Hundreds of entries relating to pertinent events in Offley’s career. All the entries precisely place him were he is stationed and what he is doing for these year.  The 1917-18 years are very informative and written in diary form, describing his assignment to raise, train, and command the 308th Machine Gun Bn., 78th Division, AEF, and the training he had while in England. He describes his schooling, the British army he is associated with while in the UK, Trips to London, and looking up distant relatives living in the English country-side, and more.  This is a large journal in format, fine condition other that the spine which has been quickly repaired with red tape.

All of this material makes for a great representative collection and most displayable.

 

Colonel Edward Murray Offley’s career began in 1899 to his retirement in at Fort Myer, Va in October, 1937 after 38 years of active service, most of that being in the cavalry.  He served in several regiment through the years, at many army posts in the southwest, west, Panama, etc.; he saw service in the Philippines with the 1st Cavalry.  During WWI, he was given the assignment to raise, train and command the 308th Machine Gun Battalion, 78th Division in the AEF, where he received the Purple Heart, being wounded at Boise De Loge on 14, Oct., 1918, while serving with the British 2nd Army in the Hazebrouck Sector on the Western Front.  His last assignment was with 2nd Cavalry at Fort Myer, Va.