U.S. Army "Sam Browne Belt", WWI.
Sam Browne belts are a mixture of a garrison belt or pistol belt along with a shoulder strap.
Sam Browne is the name of a British army officer who served in India back in the 19th century. Back then, officers had to carry a sword when they went into battle. This sword hung from a strap that was placed on the waist belt and this strap was called a 'frog'.
However, when the soldiers would charge the enemy, the strap would move around and slip a lot so it had to be steadied with their left hand. In 1857 in India, Captain Sam Browne received two sword cuts; one on the left knee and one which severed his left arm at the shoulder. He managed to survive his injuries but without his left hand; he couldn't control his sword. Instead, he wore second belt that was worn on his right shoulder and this successfully held the scabbard exactly where he needed it. Other officers began wearing the second belt as well and after a while, it became part of the standard uniform.
It is traditionally only worn by people who used to use swords such as officers. In more recent days it has been used to carry a pistol and it was extremely popular in the first part of the 20th century when the pistols were far heavier than they are nowadays.
This belt was the property of Capt. C. Emanuel Ekstrom who was Adjutant in the 74th Infantry Rgt. in WWI.
It is associated with:
ZFC0556 Campaign Hat;
ZFC0557 US Army Officers Boots and spurs;
ZFC0559 US Army web belt with .45 semi-automatic pistol holster, .45 magazine ammo pouch, first aid kit and pouch:
ZFC0560 Map Case with two pencils and 1904 Infantry Tactics Manual (see next item);
ZFC0561 Infantry Tactics manual 1094;
ZFC0562 Soldiers Bible;
ZFC0563 Tow sets of signal flags, mounted with carrying case;
ZFC0565 booklet, The Legend of the France-Tireurs of Lou Vain, 1928;
ZFC0566 booklet, Militarizing Our Youth, 1926;
ZFC0567 booklet, Military Training is Schools and Colleges of the U.S., 1926; & ZFC0568 booklet, The Work of the War Department, 1926.
From the Louise Veninga Collection
ZFC Noteworthy Flag
Sources:
Sam Browne belt, Tutor Gig, May 29, 2012, From: http://www.tutorgig.info/ed/Sam_Browne_belt
Sam Browne belt, Yawiki.org, May 29, 2012, From: http://yawiki.org/proc/Sam_Browne_belt
European Declaration of Independence, translated by you!, May 29, 2012, From: http://translated.by/you/a-european-declaration-of-independence/into-ru/?page=72
