Trench Periscope
A 3.25 inch (8.26 cm) deep by 4.5 inch (11.43 cm)wide by 13 inch (33.02 cm) high grey wooden box with a 45 degree mirror at either end with a 3 inch (7.62 cm) by 4 inch (10.16 cm) viewing slot on each end. Early trench periscopes were made by installing two mirrors at 45-degree angles […]
Hinged Trench Mirror “Vigilant” WW 1
This 2 inch (5.08 cm) by 3.5 inch (8.89 cm) mirror was designed to be clipped to a bayonet on a rifle. The mirror is hinged to be closed when not in use, as to avoid a gunner’s attention and protect the mirror. If a soldier held the rifle upright above the parapet of a […]
Wire Cutters
Hundreds of thousands of miles of barb and razor wire were laid by both sides during the First World War. As the war transitioned from a war of movement to defensive one barbwire became instrumental to trench warfare. It offered an extremely cheap and easy way to create defence in depth. It was artillery resistant, […]
Kingston Road trench sign – The Somme area
An 11 inch (27.94 cm) by 24 inch (60.96 cm) sign for the Kingston Road trench at Ploegsteert Wood, The Somme in 1916. Signage was used to guide and direct troops to assigned locations. The sign has much damage shown along the edges from its hard life in the trenches. Of all the many thousands […]
Corona Mk3 portable typewriter and case- 15th Bn Orderly Room
Typewriter used by the Orderly Room 15th Battalion, 48th Highlanders of Canada C.E.F. for Part I Regimental Orders and all correspondence. Period 1914 – 1919. 10 3/4″ w, 9 3/4″ d, 6″ h. Typewriter is in carrying case, black covered pressed board, with handle and lock. Case is 10″ d, 11 1/2″ w, 5″ h. […]
Ear Defenders
Mallock-Armstrong ear defenders, vulcanite, in tin box circa 1915. The inventors and makers of these ear defenders promised “…ordinary sounds and conversations heard as usual. Gunfire and shell bursts rendered harmless.” The First World War was characterised by the extensive use of heavy artillery and many troops experiencing temporary or permanent deafness caused by the […]
Mitchell Oke – Bayonet and sheath – WW1
Ross Rifle Company bayonet with brown leather sheath- 1907 pattern Standard issue bayonet is missing the barrel ring as it was broken off or removed and used in farm work after Mitchell Oke was discharged. Both bayonet and sheath are well worn. On the metal hilt is the number 7-09. On the brown leather sheath […]
Dirk of Capt. and LCol Trumbull Warren – father and son
Dirk belonging to Captain Trumbull Warren and passed on to his son, LCol Trumbull Warren. The dirk, a Scottish knife, with a small fork and small knife inserted on the scabbard, was part of a Highland officer’s dress uniform, and worn hanging from the waist belt on the right side. The dirk has a black […]
German Straight Razor
A standard German issue 7 inch by 1 inch straight razor, engraved with ERN and Wald / Solingen on the blade. This razor could have been an item collected from a German soldier, or purchased pre-war. It was carried and used by CQMS Herb Pike of the 1st Battalion, 48th Highlanders of Canada during the […]
Helmet issued to the Carrier Platoon 1943
A standard issue metal helmet used by soldiers in the battle field. This design was used by the members of the Carrier platoon of Support Company of the 48th Highlanders. Unlike the standard Canadian and British issue helmet, which was shaped like an inverted soup bowl with a rim, this helmet lacks a rim, making […]