Rare WW1 Gallipoli Campaign Carved Stone Trench Art In Soldier’s Original Tin
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A Very Rare Antique WW1 Gallipoli Campaign (Ottoman Empire) Carved Stone Trench Art Set In Their Original Tin.
I quite extraordinary item. It consists of a carved Bible stand, a large Bible, a small Bible and some slippers.
The large Bible has an inscription for “Souvla Bay 1915” (one of the 3 landing points for allied troops), followed by “Egypt 1916” and “France 1916”.
The smaller Bible is inscribed with “I Love You” and this sits on the carved Bible stand.
These are all housed within the original tin that the soldier would have kept them in during his service. It is an old “Three Caftles Cigarettes” tin, heavily decorated in advertising. The lid has become unattached and it is heavily worn. A reflection of its travels during WW1. If only this piece could speak!
One of my favourite ever finds!
This apparently came from a house clearance in Richmond, Yorkshire, which just so happens to be the home of the 6th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards). Having contacted the Green Howards Museum in Richmond, I have discovered that they saw action in the landings at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli on the 6th and 7th August 1915. In December 1915 the Division was evacuated from Gallipoli and sailed to Egypt via Imbros. They took over the Suez Defences in February 1916. In June 1916 they received orders to move to France to reinforce the Divisions on The Somme. By the 7th July Divisional HQ had been set up at Flesselles, and by the 27th the troops were in action on the frontline.
Certainly, the above deployments (Suvla Bay, Egypt and France) by the Green Howards and the dates of these deployments, match those carved into these stone pieces and would appear to suggest that these pieces of trench art were made by a solder of the 6th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards).
Measurements:
Tin 14cm x 7cm x 3cm
Large Bible 4cm x 3cm x 1cm
Small Bible 2.5cm x 1.7cm x 0.6cm
Stand 2.5cm x 2.4cm x 1.6cm
Slippers 2.8cm x 0.6cm x 0.6cm
Total Weight 89.21 grams