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Original World War I Christmas Dinner menu and company roster issued December 25, 1918 by Headquarters, Provisional Infantry Company, G.H.Q., American Expeditionary Forces in France.
This scarce surviving booklet comes from a particularly interesting unit within General John J. Pershing’s American Expeditionary Forces.
The National Archives identifies the Provisional Infantry Company among the headquarters elements under the Headquarters Commandant of General Headquarters, AEF. General Headquarters was located at Chaumont, France during this period and served as the central headquarters of the American Expeditionary Forces under Commander in Chief General John J. Pershing.
Historical accounts further identify Captain Joseph P. Sternhagen, whose name appears at the head of the roster in this booklet, as the officer detailed to organize the special Provisional Infantry Company for duty at U.S. General Headquarters.
The booklet was produced for Christmas Dinner on December 25, 1918, only six weeks after the November 11 Armistice.
The illustrated front cover reads:
Headquarters
Provisional Infantry Company
G.H.Q. American E.F.
Christmas Dinner
December 25, 1918
Inside is the complete printed Christmas dinner menu, including roast pork with bread dressing and brown gravy, creamed corn, mashed potatoes, creamed peas, apple cobbler, doughnuts, coffee, milk, nuts, chocolates and cigarettes.
Of exceptional historical and genealogical interest is the extensive multi-page roster identifying the officers and enlisted men of the company by name and rank.
Captain Joseph P. Sternhagen appears as commanding officer, followed by the company’s lieutenants, sergeants, corporals, cooks, mechanics, buglers, Privates First Class and Privates.
Rather than being a general souvenir produced for the public, this is a surviving unit Christmas program documenting the men of a specific General Headquarters company at the end of World War I.
The rear cover features a wonderful period illustration of a heavily equipped American doughboy carrying his rifle and pack.
DETAILS:
• Original World War I military ephemera
• Christmas Dinner — December 25, 1918
• Headquarters, Provisional Infantry Company
• General Headquarters, American Expeditionary Forces
• General John J. Pershing era
• France
• Captain Joseph P. Sternhagen
• Complete printed Christmas dinner menu
• Extensive multi-page named company roster
• Officers and enlisted personnel identified by rank
• Illustrated front and rear covers
• Original staple-bound booklet
• Measures approximately 8 x 5.25 inches closed
CONDITION:
Original 1918 condition with age toning, scattered spotting and staining, creasing, handling wear and other age-related wear visible throughout. The booklet remains intact and the printed contents and extensive roster remain legible.
Please examine all photographs carefully for condition and complete contents.
A remarkably evocative piece of WWI American military history connecting a named group of servicemen with the General Headquarters of Pershing’s American Expeditionary Forces in France at Christmas 1918.
NOTE: General Pershing’s connection to this piece is through his command of the AEF and the Provisional Infantry Company’s service as a General Headquarters element. This listing does not represent that General Pershing personally owned this booklet or attended this particular Christmas dinner.
