This lot includes French WWI medals, pins, and a dog tag of 1st Lt. William Yorke Stevenson of Section I, 625th American Ambulance Field Service along with a French Model 1873 revolver. The medals and pins attest to Stevenson's service as an ambulance driver in France during WWI. He drove ambulance No. 10 and his first hand experiences with the horrors of 20th century warfare is covered in his books AT THE FRONT IN A FLIVVER and FROM "POILU" TO "YANK". He was the only child of Cornelious Stevenson and Sara Yorke Stevenson. His father had served in the Civil War while his mother was a noted women's rights advocate and archaeologist. Later in life he was a governor of the Philadelphia Gun Club and was a noted marksman. Stevenson was joined in France by a number of well known Americans of the era including Walt Disney and Ernest Hemingway. The WWI style dog tag is marked "W. YORKE STEVENSON" in an arch on the side and "1ST. LT./SEC 625/USAAS" in the center. An included plaque is marked "Lieut. W Y Stevenson" over "from" over "SSU I/625". Six of the medals are Croix de Guerre (War Crosses) with varying attachments of degrees ranging from a single bronze star to two palms and a star. One of the medals is a Inter-Allied Victory Medal with three pins for "*CHAMPAGNE-MARNE*", "*SOMME, OFFENSIVE*", and "*DEFENSIVE SECTOR*". Another is a French Field Service Medal with "William/Yorke/Stevenson" marked on the back in script. The final pin is an American Ambulance Service pin with hangers representing his nine months of service. The included French Model 1873 revolver would have been a fairly common sight in the French trenches during WWI and Stevenson records in the first mentioned work on that: "The regular equipment for charging now consists of two dynamite cartridges, six bombs, a knife, and a revolver: no guns at all." The Model 1873 and other service revolvers of the period proved to be deadly weapons in the trenches and were preferably for the gruesome close quarters work of attempting to clear enemy trenches. This example is correctly finished "in the white" and has the matching serial number on most of the components. "Mle 1873" is marked on the top barrel flat and "S. 1876" is on the right flat. Additional markings include "Mre de Armes/St Etienne" on the right side of the frame and various French proofs. It has checkered grips, blade front and frame groove/notch sights, and a lanyard loop on the butt.

Fine especially given the lack of protective finish and years of likely war time use. The revolver remains mostly bright with some light scratches throughout and small patches of oxidation. The grips are also fine with crisp checkering, a few small dings, and otherwise only handling and storage type marks. The action is excellent, and the markings are all sharp. The medals and pin are in fine condition. The dog tag is in very good condition, and the plaque is in fair condition with a dark patina. Overall, this is an interesting set relating to an American volunteer's service in France during the First World War.