World War I squad leader’s pouch, 8 x 5 in., stamped ‘U.S.’ on the flap. A woven strap attached at the back with a metal hook at the end for suspension from a belt. Marked just in front of the strap ‘OMO-1915’. These pouches would normally hold items such as scissors, buttons, pins, needles, iodine, soap, etc., all lacking from this lot. This pouch is however accompanied by several pieces of ephemera belonging to the owner, Sgt. Robert Byrans of the 126th Infantry Regiment, Company K. Includes: pay record book, 4 x 4.5 in. 10pp., issued on Nov. 7, 1918; a songbook ‘Doughboy Ditties’, containing 25 different tunes; three empty wallets; two packets of ‘Snapshots’, 3 x 4 in., depicting landmarks of Brussels. One packet bears ten images, the second with eight; a tourist booklet for the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, nicely illustrated with several photos; thirteen pieces of foreign notes, such as German pfenning, French centimes, Austrian krone, and French francs, in various denominations; U.S. Army gillette shaving kit, the year ‘1918’ handwritten on the interior of the flap. The handle and razor are still present, lacking the blade; and a calling card for a Robert L. Marsh, 1st Lt. of the 124th Infantry Regiment. With a document titled ‘The Bar-Red-Arrow’ bearing three images, showing the red arrow being used on maps. Reading in part: ‘...when instructions were received that each Division in the A.E.F. should choose a distinguishing mark, it was thought that the red circle no longer typified the character of the 32ND DIVISION...the troops of the Division on many occasions formed a flying wedge launched against the German lines and this fact led to the selection of the arrow as its symbol...’