Trench art

[Brewins girl]

Can anyone tell me how the engraving on this piece of Trench art might have been done, what tools might have been used? With four different fonts, equally spaced, and with little embellishments it was both skilfully and artistically made. The intertwined initials set in the shape of a shield at the top (PS on one side, RE on the other) are those of my grandmother, Peggy Southall, and my grandfather’s regiment, Royal Engineers. My grandfather’s name, Joe, is set in a banner across a circular element which bridges the gap between the ‘driving band’ (I think) of the shell casing, and the blade of the letter opener. On one side, ‘FRANCE’ in capital letters runs the length of the blade. On the reverse, ‘Peg from Joe Souvenir de la Guerre’ .

[tonepad]

The following two links are about "trench art"

https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/trench-art

https://www.copper.org/consumers/arts/2011/february/trench_art_2.html


As a member of the Royal Engineers your grandfather may have been in a workshop behind the lines and had access to basic metal working hand tools and machinery.


Tony

[jim1]

Typically trench art fell into 2 categories, items made by men at the front such as lighters made from cartridge cases & other simple items & those made by local silversmiths & engravers & sold to men on
furlough. They would have had access to the same materials.
I suspect this is one of the latter & might be part of a shell casing.

[Brewins girl]

Yes Jim1, I’ve identified that I think it’s from a shell casing. Can you tell me any more about local engravers? And the same with your response Tony, you mention ‘Metal working Hand tools & machinery’ - As the engraving is so perfect, I’m interested to know a bit more if possible.

[jim1]

Away from the front people tried to carry on as normal as possible.
When you have millions of men constantly coming & going it makes
sense to cater for them, in many respects more so than for the locals.
Apart from the beer/wine & confectionary sellers there were also photographers
& souvenir sellers.
One could say silversmiths & engravers fell into that category.
The men themselves also tried to make a bit on the side by selling
"trophies" ie. German helmets, pistols, insignia etc.

[Brewins girl]

I appreciate all that Jim1. It’s the technology that I’m trying to get my head round. Having done some metal work & engraving myself using an electric powered engraver (& seen engraving done on dog tags in Timpson’s!) I can readily envisage it in WW2 & beyond, but my ‘young’ (hmm, hmm!) mind comes to a halt as far back as 1916.

[tonepad]

Not only has the engraving been done with skill, the shape of the letter knife is also very well made.
Some of the engraved wording in French may indicate that a Frenchman made the item to the requirements of your grandfather. Do you know the civilian occupation of your grandfather?


Hand tools:

Scriber for marking out the shape and possibly writing on the shield
Snips for cutting the metal to shape
Punches for the other engraving (JOE etc) - Engravers Punch, Centre Punch, Dot Punch
Hammer for hitting the punches
Files for smoothing and finishing the item plus polishing material
and maybe a Vice for holding the item steady


Tony

[youngtug]

The  initials at the end would have been cut in with a small chisel [graver], the dotted patterns using a centre punch. I cannot get a good view of the rest to make a comment.
Some trench art was made using what was available, such as knives, bayonet and nails.

[Brewins girl]

Thank you Tony (tonepad) and youngtug, those are both really helpful, and the insight into the possibility of it being made by a Frenchman adds to the story this object can tell us. My grandfather was a tailor, so worked in a very different material!