Shell case
Category
Brassware
Date
Unknown
Materials
Brass
Measurements
296 mm (Height); 285 mm (Circ)
Order this imageCollection
Cragside, Northumberland
NT 1225535.1
Caption
William John MontaguWatson-Armstrong (later 3rd Lord Armstrong) left for France and the 2nd Battle of Ypres in April 1915, along with his other comrades in the 1/7th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. To commemorate the centenary of Captain William’s departure, we have a selection of his possessions and souvenirs from his time in the army, on display at Cragside House. This pair of engraved shell cases are inscribed; “L.T. W.J.M WATSON. ARMSTRONG. 7TH BTT.N.F. YPRES.”. The shells are examples of First World War trench art, possibly even made by Captain William himself. Pieces of art and functional items were created by the soldiers from shell cases, bullets and other waste from the battlefield while off duty in the trenches.
Summary
One of a pair of engraved brass shell cases.
Provenance
Armstrong collection. Transferred by the Treasury to The National Trust in 1977 via the National Land Fund, aided by 3rd Baron Armstrong of Bamburgh and Cragside (1919 - 1987).