Soon after the landing of the U.S. Marines in Haiti, in August 1915, it became apparent that the existing police and military forces of Haiti were in need of a complete reorganization. With this in view, steps were taken towards the institution of a Haitian Military Police organization which would take the place of all the existing military and police forces of the Republic.
This idea met with the favor of the Haitian and the United States governments and on September 16, 1919, a Treaty was signed between the two powers which among other agreements stipulated that a Gendarmerie should be organized which should take over all the military and police activities of Haiti. The enlisted men of this organization were to be Haitians and the officers to be Americans until such a time as qualified Haitians could be found to take the places of these latter.
With the exception of the senior grades, practically all the officers were selected from the ranks of the Marine Corps. These young men selected from an organization of picked men soon mastered the difficulty of making themselves familiar with both the native dialect and many of the customs of the country. Edward E. Richard was such an officer.
We encourage you to read a wonderful post on the devices of Haitian Campaign Marines assigned to the Haitian Gendarmerie at this .
The medals and other articles in this set include:
- Original WWI USMC Good Conduct Medal engraved on the medal:
No. 8981
Edward E. Richard
1st Enlistment
DEC 5, 1915-1919
- Original WWI USMC 1915 Haitian Campaign Medal numbered on the rim 2557. Also included is the original cardboard box in dark blue with gold lettering on the top that reads: HAITIAN CAMPAIGN.
The Haitian Campaign Medal was a United States Navy military award which was first established on June 22, 1917. The medal was first intended for members of both the Navy and U.S. Marine Corps who had served ashore in Haiti from and or was aboard the cruiser and flagship USS Washington (ACR-11) or any of the other thirteen named ships of the United States fleet under the command of Rear Admiral William B. Caperton on July 9 through December 6, 1915,for the purpose of protecting life and property during a revolution in Haiti.
- Original WWI Victory Medal.
- Large Haitian Gendarmerie Gold Wash Hat Badge which features the Haitian coat of arms - 2" tall.
- Smaller Haitian Gendarmerie Gold Wash Hat Badge which features the Haitian coat of arms - 1.25" tall.
- 4 x pinball collar devices that the Marines wore which are composed of the letters G D H (Gendarmerie D'Haiti) in overlapping monogram style.
- Inverted Double Chevron pins which Marines wore on their has and/or epaulets.
- 2 x Haitian Gendarmerie Gold Wash Tunic Buttons.
- 1 x Haitian Gendarmerie Dark Tunic Button.
- 2 x Haitian Gendarmerie Gold Wash Cuff Buttons.
- West Indies Campaign Bar.
- 191-1920 Campaign Bar.
- Marksman Bar Pin.
- Expert Rifleman Badge.
- Original 1917 Blue paper map of Port Au Prince which measures 21" x 21"
- Original Photograph of USMC officer in tropical dress uniform.
- Original Post Card of marines in uniform that reads: "2nd Company, Haitian Constabulary, Officered by U.S. Marines".
- Original Photograph of Marines at attention with rifles,
Overall an extremely rare collection named to an Marine officer that helped lead the Haitian police in 1915!
