first camoufleur / screens to conceal roads in France

Above This drawing is in the collection of the University of Victoria Library in British Columbia, Canada. It is from a two-volume series of pen-and-ink drawings and watercolors, made during World War I by an unknown artist whose initials were “J.M.” It provides a clear portrayal of the installation of a screen that will conceal traffic and troop activities on a road. It has nothing to do with the story below about George L. Crossgrove, although he too may have camouflaged roads in France.

•••

Here is another curious claim about World War I camouflage and camoufleurs. The following is from an article in The Boston Post on September 16, 1917, with the headline IS FIRST U.S. CAMOUFLEUR: Dorchester Man Passes All Tests—

George L. Crossgrove of 69 Norton Street, Dorchester, bears the distinction of being the first camoufleur ever to have been enlisted in the army or navy of the United States. He has passed all examinations and inspections of the officers of the army recruiting office…and will soon be on his way to France.

The duty which Crossgrove will perform is to create camouflages in the vicinity of the trenches to be held by the American troops, with a view to deceiving the enemy. Crossgrove will be required to make a gun or trench appear to be where none exists and to hide either where they actually exist.

So unerring have the aviators and balloon pilots become in giving to the officers of their armies directions as to the locations of the guns and trenches of the enemies that the officers have found it necessary to use protection. The camoufleur may be called upon to build a scaffold above a gun and cover it with grass, hay or dirt to conceal the gun. He may also be required to locate a wooden gun in a place where no damage would be done by an enemy shell or bomb.

On the same day, there was further confirmation of Crossgrove’s assignment in the Sunday Morning Star (Wilmington DE). It states that George Leon Crossgrove (1881-1953), who was originally from Wilmington, but "for the past five years has been engaged in sign painting and theatrical construction work in Boston, has enlisted in the Camouflage Company…” He served in the US Army until December 24, 1918.