Insignia

[Excerpt from Wyllie, Col. Robert E. "The Romance of Military Insignia."
 The National Geographic Magazine, Vol. XXXVI, No. 6. December, 1919. ]

It went to France in October, 1918, and never entered the line. The insignia stands for the initials of the nickname, the Dixie Division, and was used for marking the baggage as early as November, 1917.

Nickname

"Dixie" Division.

Background

On 18 July 1917, the War Department directed National Guard troops from Alabama, Florida, Georgia to form the 31st Division.  Concentration and training at Camp Wheeler begins 25 August 1917, however, transfers reduce the strength of the division.  Draft troops increased the strength of the 31st, although its units were now spread between three camps: Wheeler, Greene and Jackson.  Movement overseas commenced on 15 September 1918 and was completed by 9 November 1918.  As units arrived in France they were skeletonized under War Department orders of 17 October 1918.

Primary Units

61st Infantry Brigade:
121st Infantry Regiment
122d Infantry Regiment
117th Machine Gun Battalion

62d Infantry Brigade:
123d Infantry Regiment
124th Infantry Regiment
118th Machine Gun Battalion

56th Field Artillery Brigade:
116th Field Artillery Regiment (75mm)
117th Field Artillery Regiment (75mm)
118th Field Artillery Regiment (155mm)
106th Trench Mortar Battery

Divisional Troops:
116th Machine Gun Battalion
106th Engineer Regiment
106th Field Signal Battalion
106th Train Headquarters and MP
106th Ammunition Train
106th Supply Train
106th Engineer Train
106th Sanitary Train (Ambulance Companies & Field Hospitals 121, 122, 123, 124)

Product Flyers

Copyright © 2001-2005
The Digital Bookshelf