"Trench Art"

[Max]

Hello Everyone

In the 60s my old man bought a decorated shell casing whilst on holiday in Blackpool. All my efforts to get a decent photo of the casing have failed due to "technical difficulties" ie my inability to use the camera correctly. I have managed to get a decent shot of the bottom of the case and would be grateful if any pal could identify the type, year of manufacture of the shell casing.

The decoration on the shell is very faint as a very fine punch has been used for the decoration. The case itself is decorated with Chinese/Japanese script (see transcription picture below, any opinions?), has what looks like a large plum blossom punched on one side and what appears to be 2 British officers talking to each other on the other side.

Any ideas as to age or origin will be very gratefully accepted.

Andy

[Max]

....and an example of the script. Hope it doesn't mean anything rude.

[iain mchenry]

Andy,

Not sure exactly what year the shell case is but it may come from 1916. As to what caliber or nationality I dont know. Looking on the base of the Shell though, it may have had three tiny legs added on the base to turn it into a small vase/flower pot. Recently saw this with 25 Pounder Shell case in Devon. As to the Chinese inscription, perhaps the engraver of the shell was a member of the Chinese Labour Corps?. It would be interesting to translate the symbols. I know this may sound daft but have you tried your local Chinky to see if they could translate?

Iain

[Max]

Hello Iain, thanks for that. It does look like it has been a flower pot at some time as the top of the casing has been cut and worked back to make it look like flower petals.

As for the idea of walking into my local Chinese, thats only something I would do when extremely drunk as it looks a bit like salmonella central.

Thanks again

Andy

[Max]

I managed to get some shots of the casing (more luck than judgement)

[Max]

number 2

[Max]

Number 3

[Peter B]

Max

Have a look at this site

http://home.hetnet.nl/~supersmit/ww1/stamps2.html#canon

You may be able to find info about its origins here.

hope its of some help

Peter

[Max]

Thanks Peter

I have checked the site out, but nothing jumps out at me just yet.

Andy

[Peter B]

Max

I have had another look at the site

I am pretty sure the case is German

The mark AWS = Artillerie Werkstatt Spandau

St = Strengthened Case

I suspect 16 = year of manufacture 1916

Some of the other markings may have been polished out.

As for the writing sorry no idea.

Peter

[Guest Pete Wood]

....and an example of the script. Hope it doesn't mean anything rude.

I think it reads:

"These British officers all look the same to me."

[Max]

I have had another look at the site

I am pretty sure the case is German

The mark AWS = Artillerie Werkstatt Spandau

St = Strengthened Case

I suspect 16 = year of manufacture 1916

Some of the other markings may have been polished out.

Hello Peter

I do believe that you are right. The AWS is very stylised and it threw me first off but on closer inspection it looks exactly the same as on my shell. Thanks very much.

Hello RT

"These British officers all look the same to me."

To be honest, this wouldn't surprise me at all

Andy

[iain mchenry]

Andy,

I have printed off a copy of the Chinese text and given it to my girlfriend. She works in a residential home that employs a number of Chinese nurses . They may be able to help. The only problem is that there are a lot of dialects in China. We can only try.

Iain

[Max]

Cheers Iain. It probably says "souvenir of Blackpool"

[iain mchenry]

Hi Andy,

Just been speaking to one of the Chinese Nurses at my girlfriends work. Her English is pretty good and she said that the right column of writing from top to bottom says "Peace on earth" and the left column says words to the effect of "Improve everything" Maybe this is in relation to the distruction of the area these chaps served in? It still would be good to get a second translation just to be sure.

Best regards

Iain

[zephyr4]

I have a pair of shells engraved in chinese, I did get a translation but i lost the paper but I do remember one said the happy world of the chinese worker.

I have been told that chinese labour was use to clean up ww1 battle feilds, is this true.

Here is a good site on ordanance.

_http://web.ukonline.co.uk/stephen.johnson/arms/

[Hooge]

Yes,indeed the chinese labour were used to clean up the battlefields in one way or other.There are a number buried at Lissjennhoek CCS cemetary dated 1919,apparently blown up by an explosion whilst shifting munitions.I don't know how much they were involved in the Imperial wargraves commission work afterwards.John

[Max]

Hello Iain

Thanks very much for the translation its very enlightening. Peace on earth would hqve been something that these men must have rearned for.

Many thanks again <and i will get used to this bloody Belgian keyboqrd if it kills ,e§

Andy