WWI U.S. Army Original Uniform Grouping w/ CaptainTrunk, Cap, Med Instruments For Sale

The Story of Captain R.B. Doig
Captain R.B. Doig, M.D. — U.S. Army Medical Reserve Corps, 314th Field Artillery, 80th Division, World War I
Before America entered World War I, R.B. Doig was a practicing physician in New York. He was serving in the medical profession at the time the United States entered the war and subsequently entered military service through the Medical Reserve Corps.
He was assigned to the 314th Field Artillery Regiment, part of the 155th Field Artillery Brigade of the 80th Division, and ultimately held the rank of Captain. The 80th Division was organized at Camp Lee, Virginia, in 1917 and was known as the “Blue Ridge Division.” Its organization included the 314th Field Artillery, the 305th Field Signal Battalion, and the 305th Sanitary Train with field hospitals and ambulance companies.
The 80th Division began deploying to France in 1918. While the artillery component trained separately in France, it rejoined the division in September 1918 as the division prepared for major combat operations. The division subsequently participated in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, one of the largest American operations of World War I.
Doig's surviving possessions tell part of that story. His original trunk is specifically marked:
R.B. Doig
314 F.A.
80th Div.
Captain Medical Reserve Corps U.S.A.
The collection also contains his apparent WWI medical/officer clothing, medical and surgical instruments, officer's cap, and other period equipment, preserving a remarkable snapshot of the life of a physician serving in the American Expeditionary Forces.
Also preserved with the collection is a large WWI panoramic photograph identified as:
“305th Field Signal Battalion – Camp Lee, Va. 1918”
The 305th Field Signal Battalion was another official component of the 80th Division. The 80th Division's surviving photographic archives document original photographs of the 305th Field Signal Battalion, demonstrating the existence of period unit panoramics from this formation.
What makes the grouping particularly interesting
This isn't simply a collection of unrelated WWI antiques. The trunk provides a direct named connection between the physical objects and a specific officer and military organization. The combination of the named trunk, medical instruments, uniforms, cap and 80th Division material creates a coherent WWI officer/medical grouping.
The 80th Division itself went through combat in France in 1918, including the Meuse-Argonne campaign. Its wartime records identify the 314th Field Artillery and 305th Field Signal Battalion as components of the division.
Note: We should be careful about saying that Capt. Doig personally served in a particular field hospital or treated casualties during a specific battle until we locate his individual service record. His medical training and assignment to the 314th F.A. are different from having proof of his exact duties in France.WWI U.S. ARMY CAPTAIN R.B. DOIG — 80TH DIVISION MEDICAL OFFICER GROUPING
Offered is an original World War I U.S. Army grouping associated with Captain R.B. Doig, Medical Reserve Corps, 314th Field Artillery, 80th Division.
The collection includes:
* Original named WWI officer's trunk marked “R.B. Doig,” “314 F.A.,” “80th Div.,” and “Captain Medical Reserve Corps U.S.A.”
* Additional original trunk markings including “Stateroom,” “No. 20,” “Wt. 90,” and “Cu. Ft. 4”
* WWI-era U.S. Army officer/medical uniform pieces
* WWI-era surgical and medical instruments, including forceps, scissors, clamps, probes and other instruments
* Original medical containers, tins and period packaging
* WWI-era U.S. Army officer's/medical cap with U.S. eagle insignia
* Large framed WWI panoramic photograph identified “305th Field Signal Battalion – Camp Lee, Va. 1918”
* Additional period military and medical accessories
Captain R.B. Doig was a physician who served in the U.S. Army Medical Reserve Corps and was associated with the 314th Field Artillery Regiment of the 80th Division.
The 80th Division was organized at Camp Lee, Virginia, in 1917. Its organization included the 314th Field Artillery, 305th Field Signal Battalion and 305th Sanitary Train with field hospitals and ambulance companies. The division served overseas in France during World War I and participated in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.
The original named trunk and accompanying medical, uniform and photographic material make this an unusually cohesive named WWI military grouping.
All pieces have been kept together as one collection.