Material Type

Artifact

Other Name

TRENCH ART OR BATTLEFIELD SOUVENIR

Date

1918

Materials

BRASS, STEEL

No. Pieces

2

Length

17.8

Diameter

3.6

Description

CALIBER 35MM "VERDUN 1918" AND "RAILWAY SYMBOL" EMBOSSED ON A DECORATIVE BACKGROUND ON SIDE OF CASE. STAMPED ON BULLET: "94", "4498" L.U., "NO. 60 17" STAMPED ON BASE: "37-85", "P.D. PS. 216.9.16" HAS BEEN FIRED AND PRIMER IS MISSING.

Subjects

DOCUMENTARY ARTIFACT

ARMAMENT-AMMUNITION

Historical Association

MILITARY

DECORATIVE ARTS

History

THIS IS REPRESENTATIVE OF TRENCH ART THAT CAME OUT OF THE MONTHS & YEARS SOLDIERS SPENT IN THE TRENCHES DURING W.W. I. ENGRAVING IS HAND WORKED *UPDATE* IN 2014 COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT JANE EDMUNDSON CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF MILITARY OBJECTS. THE DONOR'S FATHER, GEORGE WATSON SR., SERVED IN WWI, AND IT IS POSSIBLE THAT HE WAS THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS CARTRIDGE. FROM WATSON SR.'S OBITUARY IN JUNE 30, 1980 LETHBRIDGE HERALD: "WATSON, GEORGE OF 1409 9 AVE SOUTH PASSED AWAY IN LETHBRIDGE ON JUNE 27 AT THE AGE OF 84 YEARS... [HE] WAS EDUCATED IN LETHBRIDGE AND TOOK HIS NORMAL SCHOOL TRAINING IN CALGARY. DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR HE ENLISTED IN THE ROYAL FLYING CORPS, SERVING AS A FLYING CADET. HE RETURNED TO THIS AREA AND TAUGHT SCHOOL IN SLEEPY HOLLOW, MILK RIVER, COALHURST, COALDALE, AT THE LETHBRIDGE COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE FROM 1930 TO 1950, AND FROM 1950-1961 AS VICE PRINCIPAL OF HAMILTON SCHOOL, THE FIRST JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL IN LETHBRIDGE. HE WAS AN HONORARY LIFE MEMBER OF THE ALBERTA TEACHER'S ASSOCIATION. ACTIVE IN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS, HE SERVED ON THE FOLLOWING: THE FIRST TOWN PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY, THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD, THE HEALTH UNIT, AND ONE TERM AS AN ALDERMAN ON CITY COUNCIL. DURING ITS FORMATIVE YEARS HE SERVED AS COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE NO. 1 SQUADRON OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN AIR CADETS. HE WAS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE LETHBRIDGE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, AND THE LETHBRIDGE RETIRED TEACHERS ASSOCIATION." ACCORDING TO HIS LETHBRIDGE HERALD OBITUARY, THE DONOR, GEORGE WATSON JR., PASSED AWAY IN LETHBRDGE ON MAY 16, 2003, AT THE AGE OF 75 YEARS. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE WATSON FAMILY, INCLUDING WATSON SR.'S MILITARY SERVICE RECORDS, SEE PERMANENT FILE P19830011000-GA.

Catalogue Number

P19683502000

Acquisition Date

1968-09

Collection

Museum

Less detail