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Auction: 361 - The Numismatic Collector's Series e-Auction
Lot: 519

World War I. Silver Cigarette Case Presented to Captain E.B. Gore by Maj. Gen. Harry Hill Bandholtz, 1919. 92 x 78mm. 127.9 gms. Cover with meander border and gilt bars. Lightly gilded interior engraved: "To Capt. E.B. Gore As a souvenir of the P.M.G.D., A.E.F., in France, Luxemburg, England, Belgium and Germany. H H Bandholtz Wiesbaden April 23, 1919". Hallmarked 900. Major General Harry Hill Bandholtz (1864-1925) served as Provincial Governor in Tayabas Province Philippines in 1902; while there he became an early patron of Manuel Quezon. Promoted to Brigadier General, he then served as Chief of the Philippines Constabulary. Following his time in the Philippines and service with the NY National Guard, he became, in 1917, Commander of the 58th Brigade of the 29th Division, going with his unit to France. In September 1917, he was named Provost Marshal General to General Pershing's American Expeditionary Force in France and served past the cessation of hostilities.

Four months after the date of this cigarette holder, Bandholtz became the US representative to the Inter-Allied Command Military Mission in Hungary (August 1919-Feb. 9, 1920). The mission was charged with disarming the Hungarian military and overseeing the withdrawal of Serbian and Romanian occupying armies. Bandholtz prevented Romanian soldiers from looting the Transylvanian collection of the Hungarian National Museum and also prevented the arrest of Hungarian Prime Minister István Friedrich by Romanian forces. Following his role in Hungary, Bandholtz, along with General Billy Mitchell, was tasked with bringing the Mingo County WV Miners rebellion under control. Hardnosed Bandholtz was less than understanding with the miners, though federal troops were eventually deployed to evenhandedly enforce the law. Bandholtz is considered the "father" of the U.S. Military Police Corps. Extremely Fine.

Estimate

Starting price
$180