United States of America: A good World War 1 Victory Medal 1917-1920 with single bar for France, indicating non-combatant status. Together with some original ephemera and documentation, as awarded to Private Harold ‘Harry’ Claywell, Battery D, 3rd Trench Artillery Battalion, United States Army, who saw service with the American Expeditionary Force over in France from July 1918 to January 1919, when despite his unit, he was most probably employed as a barber to the troops. From Winchester and later Pekin and Ellingham, Illinois, who became a long standing member of the American Legion.
United States of America: World War 1 Victory Medal 1917-1920, original striking complete with wrap brooch, and 1 Army issue slip-on bar for France.
Condition: Good Very Fine.
Together with the following original items, documentation and ephemera:
Recipient’s pair of aluminium dog tags from the World War 1 period, both stamped: ‘HAROLD CLAYWELL PVT. U.S.A. C.A.C.’, the other side stamped with his service number: ‘730222’, with remnants of neck cord.
United States Army original Enlistment Record, issued in the name of Harold Claywell, dated 2 April 1918.
State of Illinois Warrant of Appreciation in respect of service rendered.
United States ‘U.S’ bronze lapel badge.
American Legion Chicago 18th National Convention 1936 Medal.
American Legion New York 19th National Convention 1937 Medal.
American Legion Chicago 21st National Convention 1939 Medal, this with named brooch bar, the label inscribed in ink: ‘Claywell’.
American Legion Chicago 21st National Convention 1939 Partner’s Medal, differing ribbon, and no name tag brooch bar. As worn by Harold Claywell’s wife.
American Legion 50 Years Membership Certificate, issued in the name of: ‘Harry Claywell’ on 21 February 1970.
American Legion 60 Years Membership Certificate, issued in the name of: ‘Harold Claywell’ on 11 November 1980, after 61 years membership.
Recipient’s ‘Wizard’ pocket watch believed to have been carried by his during World War 1.
State of Illinois Marriage Certificate of Harold Claywell to Irene Ripper, both of Pekin, Illinois, dated 6 July 1930.
Seal of Marriage Certificate of Harold Claywell to Irene Ripper, both of Pekin, Illinois, where the marriage occurred on 6 July 1930.
Old photograph of their wedding cake in July 1930.
Lutheran Church Membership Certificate for the church in Pekin, Illinois, issued to Harold Claywell, on 24 May 1953.
Related photographs:
A photograph of the recipient when a child, this being coloured.
A very fine studio photograph of the recipient in uniform during World War 1.
2 x original photographs relating to the recipients time with the American Expeditionary Force out in France. In both he is identified.
A colour photograph of the recipient in later life.
Some polaroid photographs of the recipient’s grave.
Harold ‘Harry’ Claywell was born on 19 February 1890 in Winchester, Illinois, the son of Joseph Edward Claywell and Pamela, nee Burns. He was working as a barber when he enlisted into the United States Military at Mount Alerling, Illinois on 2 April 1918, and joining as a Private (No.730222) the United States Army, he then saw service over in France with the American Expeditionary Force from 14 July 1918, as a member of Battery D, 3rd Trench Artillery Battalion. He returned to the United States on 18 January 1919 and was Honourably Discharged at Camp Grant, Illinois, on 3 February 1919.
Claywell saw non-combat service with the army in France, and was most probably employed as a barber, despite his being assigned to a Trench Artillery Battalion. This is evidenced by his award of the World War 1 Victory Medal 1917-1920 with the single country bar for France, indicating that he had only performed support service, and was not actively engaged at the front. Country bars were awarded to those who did not qualify for ‘battle’ bars.
Claywell became a long standing member of the American Legion, for at least 61 years, and attended some of the National Convention’s in Chicago and New York during the late 1930’s. He had in the meantime returned to work as a barber in a beauty salon in Pekin, Illinois, where he married Irene Ripper on 6 July 1930. They lived there at 901 Highland Street. Claywell died on 30 January 1984 in Ellingham, Illinois.
