Table Of ContentTrench Art
- the stories behind the talismans
To contact the author, or to purchase the printed edition of this book, please visit:
www.vividpublishing.com.au/trenchart
Copyright © 2015 Judy Waugh
ISBN: 978-1-925341-61-4 (ebook)
Published by Vivid Publishing
P.O. Box 948, Fremantle
Western Australia 6959
www.vividpublishing.com.au
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, shared or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of
the copyright holder.
To those who left unintended epitaphs in times of trauma – carving their
names and affirming their values on small and beautiful works of art
Foreword
by
Dr Brendan Nelson
Director
Australian War Memorial
Australian institutions such as the Australian War Memorial have a proud history in
preserving Australia’s heritage. However, individuals have a vital role in this, too. Many
people, including families, groups, and private collectors, are keen to ensure the survival
of the objects that reveal our past. No one deserves to be remembered more than those
who served our nation in war and who, too often, gave their lives.
Judy Waugh is a dedicated collector of wartime trench art. Her interest is concentrated on
those small personal items which she calls “talismans in times of trauma”, made by
soldiers from the limited available materials during wartime. The selection of objects she
has assembled is remarkable, and all the more important because she has researched the
details of the soldier involved; the so-called, “man behind the object”. Many of the
soldiers whose stories she reveals are Australians, but there are others, too. The power of
the objects is in the story of the men and women behind them. It is this especially which
makes the book so compelling.
Even though a century has passed since the First World War began, the stories of
individual soldiers can still be brought to life by examining the existent records. So much
of this information has become available online. I am proud that the Australian War
Memorial has been in the forefront of making its records digitally available.
Sharing is an important part of preservation. Judy Waugh’s book is fascinating for its fine
photographs of small objects. The craftsmanship ranges widely (though many are fine
works), but each object displays immense ingenuity and, through Judy Waugh’s research,
tells stories of service and sacrifice.
I am very happy to encourage this work and thank Judy for sharing her collection with us
and the nation.
Table of Contents
FOREWORD by Dr Brendan Nelson, Director, Australian War Memorial
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
PREFACE
CHAPTER 1 PERSONAL TRENCH ART
Talismans and touchstones
Art in the face of trauma
CHAPTER 2 THE COLLECTION
Sourcing the collection
‘Amazing’ items
Survival of the pieces
CHAPTER 3 THE PIECES
Identity and values
Symbolism and style
Theatres of war
CHAPTER 4 THE RESEARCH
Finding the story
Australia and New Zealand
Great Britain
The story in context
CHAPTER 5 STORY COINS
CHAPTER 6 A PERSONAL PIECE
CHAPTER 7 STORIES FROM FORGOTTEN PIECES
Music
Pearson’s banjo
Artists Regiment
Arnold’s mandolin
Royal West Kent
Lowrie’s bagpipes
Black Watch
Bell’s drum
Royal Field Artillery
Morgan’s grand piano
King’s Shropshire Light Infantry
Gregory’s ukelele
Manchester Regiment
Hogben’s mandolin
Border Regiment
ANZAC
Scott’s drum
New Zealand Rifles
Ginger’s cello
Australian Imperial Force
Ladd’s vesta case
Australian Field Artillery
Sinclair’s matchbox case
Australian Imperial Force
Hillman’s matchbox case
Australian Imperial Force
Wilkinson’s map
Australian Light Horse
Adams’ small knife
Imperial Camel Corps
Donald’s letter opener and pencil
Australian Imperial Force
Denton’s paper knife
Australian Light Horse
Kelly’s Tunnelling Corps box
AustralianTunnelling Corps
Hammond’s Boer War locket and WW1 fob
Bushmen’s Corps and Australian Light Horse
Rootes’ bone crucifix knife
Australian Imperial Force
Faith
Sawyer’s crucifix
Hampshire Regiment
Gough’s crusader case
Gordon Highlanders
Castle’s candleholder and matchbox cover
Devonshire Regiment
Fisk’s crucifix and horn
Royal Army Medical Corps
Smith’s booklet and ring
Royal Horse Guards
Cortez’ pyx and sacramental box
Wiltshire Regiment
Love
Adams’ crucifix hearts
Royal Air Force
Hogg’s matchbox cover
Royal Navy
Long’s cameo and box
Sherwood Foresters
Garrett’s photo frame
Sherwood Foresters
Platt’s Boer War locket, horse brass and paper knife
Lancashire Fusiliers
Letters home
Beaver’s inkwell
Royal Fusiliers
Cobb’s candleholder
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Grainger’s candelholder
East Yorkshire Regiment
Pelham’s inkwell
Royal Field Artillery
Brewer’s scimitar and scabbard
The Buffs
‘I was here’
Collings’ HMS Contest cap
Royal Navy
Bass’ lighter and matchbox case
Royal Engineers
Geddie’s match holder
Highland Light Infantry
West’s matchbox cover
Northumberland Fusiliers
Mickle’s matchbox case
Machine Gun Corps
Williams’ matchbox cover
Welsh Guard
King’s matchbox cover
Devonshire Regiment
Chenery’s tin matchbox cover
Lancers
Dicks’ pocket knife holder
York and Lancaster Regiment
Armour’s whistle and pipe tamper
King’s Own Scottish Borderers
Carvings
Barnes’ bone crucifix
Oxford Buffs
Bateman’s dice box
Norfolk Regiment
Longman’s bone shield
Queen’s Westminster Rifles
Kidd’s tobacco box
Black Watch
Hale’s snuff mull Crimea
Crimean War
Coins
Hogg’s fork and spoon
Highland Light Infantry
Brunt’s dog tag
Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
Booth’s coin holder
Royal Flying Corps
Ford’s tank
Machine Gun Corps
Pelham’s rupee Mesopotamia
Royal Sussex
Johnson’s identity bracelet
MTASC
McBlain’s rupee dog tag
Royal Air Force
KAZEMIAN dinar
MTPC
EPILOGUE
RESEARCH NOTES
Henry Hammond
Edward Wildes Holyoak Ladd
RESEARCH CLUES
ABOUT THIS BOOK
REFERENCES
BIBLIOGRAPHY
INDEX
