All indications are
that this flag belonged to an American Prisoner of War
serving in the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF)
during World War I. Written on the back of a hand
sewn patch, in crude, early ink, reads:
POW
51146 W. Malloy
AEF More research
is require to determine the identity of the soldier who
owned the flag, since the writing on the flag is very
difficult to make out clearly--the number is not very
clear, and the name appears to be either Malloy or Manoy.
It may, in fact, be easier to determine the soldier by
researching the records of the 2,450 Americans who were
taken prisoner for a W. Malloy or W. Manoy. Without
question, the crude construction of the flag, made with
inexpensive and brittle cotton with hand sewn
four-pointed stars is certainly indicative of a flag
made under the most austere conditions. The flag
is unexpectedly treadle-sewn, which adds to its mystery.
It may have been sewn within the camp by the soldier who
may have had access to a sewing machine as part of a
work detail, or it may have been given to the soldier
after liberation from the camp. Flags with stars with other
than five points are very rare. This is one of
the few I've seen with four-pointed stars. They
would have been easier to cut for the maker, of the
flag. The flag is single-sided and has sustained
some water damage, but it remains a remarkable survivor
from the European theater of World War I. Given that
very few Americans were captured and taken prisoner
during this war, the flag may well be the only World War
I prisoner flag in existence. |
