Interwar unit files of the Virginia Dept. of Military Affairs, 1918-1941

Access and use

Location of collection:
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Archives Reference Services
Phone: (804) 692-3888

Summary

Extent:
15 cu.ft. (33 boxes and 1 oversize folder)
Creator:
Virginia. Dept. of Military Affairs.
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

Interwar unit file records, 1918-1941, of Virginia's National Guard, including correspondence, clippings, orders, payrolls, reports, service records, and telegrams, among others. The files were created between World War I and World War II (interwar). Types of records include officer service records, discharge orders, special orders, summary courts martial records, officer resignations, officer efficiency reports, retirements, payrolls, monthly drill reports, investigations, reports of training, inspections, reports of armory break-in & fires, state military reservation material, aid to civil authority, unit files, and other miscellaneous records. Includes files relating to the 1st Infantry Regiment, 29th Tank Company, 54th Field Artillery, 104th Medical Regiment, 111th Field Artillery, 116th Infantry, 246th Coast Artillery, and 415th Coast Artillery.

One of the largest groupings are the Summary Courts Martial Records, which are arranged alphabetically by last name of soldier. The records mainly consist of charge sheets including the soldiers names, enlistment, charges, affidavits, pleas, and findings. Most of the charges relate to missing drills and training (absence without leave). Included are orders relating to horses and mules used, including physical descriptions and noting any injuries or deaths; orders and reports detailing ordnance and military equipment (guns, tanks, trucks); and inquiries from towns requesting the creation of local National Guard units.

The Aid to Civil Authority includes instances where the National Guard was sent to cities or towns to assist during natural disasters and protests or strikes (such as the Dan River Cotton Mills, Danville, Va., 1930 and Bonus Marchers, 1934). Also of note are the history and heraldry papers that contain information on the history of various units. Materials relating to officers can be found in the Officer Resignations, Office Efficiency Reports, Retirement, and Officer Service Records. The Officer Service Records include correspondence detailing officers military service and some questionnaires detailing birth, service, military academy graduation, current address and occupation.

The files are arranged numerically by a file number assigned by the Adjutant General's office. An inventory in the Manuscript Room represents more than what is included in this accession. Only boxes 13-20 were transferred from the Adjutant General's Office.

Biographical / historical:

During the First World War, the units from Virginia joined units from Maryland and the District of Columbia to form the 29th Division. Following the war, the Virginia National Guard consisted of the following units: 91st Infantry Brigade; 116th Infantry; 183rd Infantry; 111th Field Artillery; Ambulance Battalion Headquarters, 104th Medical Regiment; Ambulance Co. No. 110; Hospital Co. No. 110; Medical Support Section No. 104; Medical Laboratory Section No. 104; 29th Signal Company; 29th Tank Company; 167th Engineer Battalion; Co. B, 111th Military Police Battalion; and 16th Service Battalion.

Between 1918 and 1922, numerous changes took place in the Virginia National Guard. The 1st and 2nd Infantry were redesignated by the War Department as the 183rd and 116th Infantry, respectively. The 1st Brigade became the 91st Brigade. The 1st Coast Defense Command of the Coast Artillery Corps was redesignated as the 246th Artillery and the units of that regiment including the 411th through 415th Companies Coast Artillery Corps were redesignated Batteries A through H of the 246th Artillery.

Acquisition information:
Transferred on 29 July 1985 by the Dept. of Military Affairs, Historical Section, 501 E. Franklin Street, Richmond, Virginia, 23219. Only boxes 13-20 were transferred from the Adjutant General's Office.
Arrangement:

The original order was maintained for the collection and is arranged by file number. Files 216-217 are at the end of the collection due to the fact that they weren't identified until processing was almost complete.