DownNDirty
Bronze Member
The past few weeks I have been hunting a large field where I have located three home sites-two from the 1700s-1800s and a third that dates back to the early twentieth century. I had previously found three Artillery Corps cuff-sized buttons at one of the older sites, all from a single uniform. A couple of weeks ago I returned to the field with hopes of finding more of the buttons.
I decided to start out by swinging the coil over the 1900s home site with the hopes of finding some silver coins. I notch discriminated out all signals below 70 and went to work. After digging some trash and a couple of wheaties I got a loud large coin-like signal and dug it. While it wasn't a coin it was a good find-a World War i collar disc.
S
Later research told me that it was a 114th Infantry Regiment, A Company disc; it's in in great condition too.
Pleased with my find I continued hunting the site. Another wheatie, more trash. Then a signal that I knew had to be a silver coin. I dug the target and pulled out a silver disc-yes! Wait, it was too light and thin to be a coin. I rubbed some dirt off and was able to read "James L. Dobbs/USA." On the reverse side was a long number. Then the wheels started turning and I figured out that I had found a World War I dog tag for James Dobbs.
That's definitely a first for me. I am assuming that both relics were worn by Mr. Dobbs in the Big War.
I have spent the past two weeks trying to find some info on Mr. Dobbs-his war service, if/when he came back, his descendants, etc. I would really like to present the tag and disc to a surviving family member but I have come up with nothing. I guess they will reside in my collection.
After finding the relics I moved to the area of the field where I found the Artillery Corp buttons. I hit a nice "buttonesque" mid-60s signal. Before I could stick the shovel in the ground I saw this
I popped it out of the soil and wouldn't you know it-my fourth Artillery Corps button, and it's in the best condition of the four
Here is a group shot of the four together
Other finds included a small brass octagonal buckle and a few flat buttons
Definitely a memorable day. If only I could locate Mr. Dobbs' family-that would be the icing on the cake.
I decided to start out by swinging the coil over the 1900s home site with the hopes of finding some silver coins. I notch discriminated out all signals below 70 and went to work. After digging some trash and a couple of wheaties I got a loud large coin-like signal and dug it. While it wasn't a coin it was a good find-a World War i collar disc.
S
Later research told me that it was a 114th Infantry Regiment, A Company disc; it's in in great condition too.
Pleased with my find I continued hunting the site. Another wheatie, more trash. Then a signal that I knew had to be a silver coin. I dug the target and pulled out a silver disc-yes! Wait, it was too light and thin to be a coin. I rubbed some dirt off and was able to read "James L. Dobbs/USA." On the reverse side was a long number. Then the wheels started turning and I figured out that I had found a World War I dog tag for James Dobbs.
That's definitely a first for me. I am assuming that both relics were worn by Mr. Dobbs in the Big War.
I have spent the past two weeks trying to find some info on Mr. Dobbs-his war service, if/when he came back, his descendants, etc. I would really like to present the tag and disc to a surviving family member but I have come up with nothing. I guess they will reside in my collection.
After finding the relics I moved to the area of the field where I found the Artillery Corp buttons. I hit a nice "buttonesque" mid-60s signal. Before I could stick the shovel in the ground I saw this
I popped it out of the soil and wouldn't you know it-my fourth Artillery Corps button, and it's in the best condition of the four
Here is a group shot of the four together
Other finds included a small brass octagonal buckle and a few flat buttons
Definitely a memorable day. If only I could locate Mr. Dobbs' family-that would be the icing on the cake.
Last edited:
Upvote
20