ryandunny Posted 1 July , 2019 Share Posted 1 July , 2019 Hi. I found these near Bazentin Le Petit woods last week. Does anyone know if they are first world war relics? At first I thought they could be an entrenching tool and a snipers plate but on closer inspection the entrenching tool looks to be a different shape and the plate possibly too thin?? So I'm thinking possibly just general items?! Thanks Ryan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AOK4 Posted 1 July , 2019 Share Posted 1 July , 2019 I assume the thin plate could be from a British or French shovel or German entrenching tool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ServiceRumDiluted Posted 2 July , 2019 Share Posted 2 July , 2019 The larger item looks like a big pin, possibly part of a light railway as there seems to be a lip on the head? Not sure about the purpose of what looks like a hole though, maybe to take a smaller nail, bolt or screw. I have a reasonably large assortment of western front nails, rail pins etc and it is similar but not identical to a few of the bigger pins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryandunny Posted 2 July , 2019 Author Share Posted 2 July , 2019 Thanks both. Ahh yes I hadn't thought of it being part of a light railway. It does have a lip and was found close to the light railway track between Bazentin Le Petit wood and Mametz Wood but yes there is hole there as you say that could fit a screw or bolt. Do you have any pictures to hand of your larger pins? Thanks Ryan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryandunny Posted 2 July , 2019 Author Share Posted 2 July , 2019 Infact it was found where the orange arrow is pointing on this map so I think your assumption is spot on mate! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ServiceRumDiluted Posted 2 July , 2019 Share Posted 2 July , 2019 (edited) My motley assortment of bits. The Mills plug is for size. The very top left is from Bullecourt, the screw next to it is a standard railway sleeper screw still used today, but I found it just outside Mametz wood where the railway would exit on your map above. Below that, I think, is the retaining pin from a 2" toffee apple mortar bomb. Below that is what I thought was a pistol cleaning rod, but I now think is a pin of some description to secure a ground sheet or similar (from Ginchy). The big flat pin with the curved T I think is a pin for securing camouflage netting, but thats just a guess. The rest are mostly big old nails and a big staple. The square item intrigues me though, again I think it is railway related, it has embossed lettering but I cant make it out, any help on this would be nice. I am, of course, aware that these might be agricultural or domestic in origin, that part of France having a lot more years of history when a war wasn't going on! Edit, top right looks like part of a gate hinge, funny how looking at the photo rather than the actual object can give a slightly different perspective. Edited 2 July , 2019 by ServiceRumDiluted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ServiceRumDiluted Posted 2 July , 2019 Share Posted 2 July , 2019 (edited) Apologies for thread hijack but here is another bit that intrigues me, it is only about 8cm long, I don't have a clue what it is. There is what looks like a cutting edge on the inside visible in the middle pic. No apparent threads. Any ideas very welcome. Edited 2 July , 2019 by ServiceRumDiluted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
303man Posted 2 July , 2019 Share Posted 2 July , 2019 (edited) It is the end of a Horse and cart cross piece harness hook.could be off any Farmers wagon, plough, harrow. Not a Mk X GS wagon for sure. Edited 2 July , 2019 by 303man Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ServiceRumDiluted Posted 2 July , 2019 Share Posted 2 July , 2019 3 hours ago, 303man said: It is the end of a Horse and cart cross piece harness hook.could be off any Farmers wagon, plough, harrow. Not a Mk X GS wagon for sure. The knowledge here never ceases to amaze me! Thanks 303. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
303man Posted 3 July , 2019 Share Posted 3 July , 2019 (edited) You have single Tree and double tree for pulling stuff, google and you will see various designs. Harness hooks tend to have the offset bend in them to stop the chains coming off when the pressure pulling is off and they go slack. I trained as a Blacksmith and the making of trace hooks was one of the exercises. Also called a Whipple Tree designs are numerous. Edited 3 July , 2019 by 303man Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghazala Posted 3 July , 2019 Share Posted 3 July , 2019 Came across these behind High Wood last year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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