Australian War Memorial Logo
Search
  • Online Shop Use this login for Shop items, and image, film, sound reproductions
    Cart  |  Log In
  • Collection Open Information Close Information
    • Official Histories & Unit Diaries
    • Understanding the Collection
    • Research at the Memorial
    • Donating to the Collection
    • National Collection Loans
    • Projects
  • People
  • Visit Open Information Close Information
    • Visitor Information
    • Exhibitions
    • Events
    • Schools
    • Memorial Development Project
    • Research Centre
  • Commemorate Open Information Close Information
    • Last Post Ceremony
    • Honour Rolls
    • Anzac Day
    • Remembrance Day
    • Customs & Ceremony
    • Speeches
  • Learn Open Information Close Information
    • Schools & Teachers
    • Memorial Articles
    • Encyclopedia
    • Understanding Military Structure
    • Podcasts
    • Glossary
    • Wartime Magazine
  • Get Involved Open Information Close Information
    • Donations & Bequests
    • Corporate Partnership
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Volunteer at the Memorial
    • Friends of the Memorial
    • eMemorial Newsletter
    • Grants, Scholarships & Residencies
      • Research Papers
  • Shop Open Information Close Information
    • Help and Information
    • Lone Pine Seedlings
    • Images, film and sound
Australian War Memorial Logo
Search
  • Online Shop Use this login for Shop items, and image, film, sound reproductions
    Cart  |  Log In
  • Collection Open Information Close Information
    • Official Histories & Unit Diaries
    • Understanding the Collection
    • Research at the Memorial
    • Donating to the Collection
    • National Collection Loans
    • Projects
  • People
  • Visit Open Information Close Information
    • Visitor Information
    • Exhibitions
    • Events
    • Schools
    • Memorial Development Project
    • Research Centre
  • Commemorate Open Information Close Information
    • Last Post Ceremony
    • Honour Rolls
    • Anzac Day
    • Remembrance Day
    • Customs & Ceremony
    • Speeches
  • Learn Open Information Close Information
    • Schools & Teachers
    • Memorial Articles
    • Encyclopedia
    • Understanding Military Structure
    • Podcasts
    • Glossary
    • Wartime Magazine
  • Get Involved Open Information Close Information
    • Donations & Bequests
    • Corporate Partnership
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Volunteer at the Memorial
    • Friends of the Memorial
    • eMemorial Newsletter
    • Grants, Scholarships & Residencies
      • Research Papers
  • Shop Open Information Close Information
    • Help and Information
    • Lone Pine Seedlings
    • Images, film and sound

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Memorial Articles
  3. Blog
  4. Can't see the tree for the wood...

Main navigation

  • Our People
  • Our Work
  • Our Organisation
  • Media Centre
  • Memorial Articles
    • Australians and Peacekeeping
    • Australians at war
    • Gulf War 1990-1991
    • Journal of the Australian War Memorial
    • Korean War 1950 - 1953
    • NAIDOC Week 2020
    • Victory in the Pacific Day
  • Speeches

Can't see the tree for the wood...

Dianne Rutherford

03 June 2008
4 mins read

One of my favourite items at the Memorial is a tall steel and iron German camouflage tree from the First World War. During the First World War fake trees were one method used for disguising observation posts on the Western Front. This tree is from Oosttaverne Wood (also sometimes spelt Oostaverne Wood), near Messines in Belgium. We don't know when the tree was erected in the wood, but it could have been used by the Germans up until 7 June 1917, when the Oosttaverne area was captured by the British during the Battle of Messines.

February 1918. Two Australian officers inspecting a German camouflage tree. The entrance is at the base of the tree.

It was hidden among a group of real trees in the wood and would have been difficult to spot as a fake - especially from a distance. The exact original location of its placement in the wood is unknown, but after the Battle of Messines it remained in position in Oosttaverne Wood, behind the new British front line until January 1918, when the 3rd Battalion AIF dismantled it while they were stationed in the area.

Aerial photograph of Oosteverne Wood 7 June 1917 during the battle of Messines. In the background can be seen smoke from the British artillery (Aerial photograph grid reference 28O 14d).

The front was carefully watched by both sides, and an extra tree appearing out of nowhere would have been noticed and targeted. For the fake tree to blend in, a real tree in the wood was carefully studied and photographed. A realistic looking replica was made in the German camouflage workshops behind the lines. One night the real tree was felled and this tree was erected in its place. This was done under the cover of artillery fire so the noise of their work would be drowned out.

The German trenches around Oosteverne Wood in April 1917, before the battle of Messines in June 1917 (detail from 1:20,000 trench map France, sheet 28 SW edition 5A)

The tree is made of a hollow steel tube, made of 16 sections bolted together with a layer of iron ‘bark'. The ‘bark' has been wrinkled and painted to look like genuine tree bark. When one of the founders of the Memorial, official correspondent, (and later official historian) CEW Bean originally saw it, he thought it was real.

The front section of the 'bark' showing the location of two of the view holes near the top of the tree.

The tree's base was sunk into the ground. It had an entrance that was concealed - if a trench was spotted leading up to the tree in aerial photographs it would be a giveaway. The German soldier would have entered at the base and climbed up a ladder, bolted to the interior of the steel tube. Near the top there is a steel ‘seat' for the soldier to sit on and three viewing holes for him to observe over no man's land towards the enemy's positions.

The base to the German camouflage tree. This would have been sunk into the ground to provide support for the tree and also to allow access unseen by the enemy.

Conditions in the tree were cramped and it would have been very uncomfortable - just the small steel seat to sit on and the three small holes to look out of. There was no insulation or padding and it would have been freezing cold in winter and hot in summer. So that the soldier's face could not be seen by enemy observers, the viewing holes were covered with wire mesh.

Section of steel tube with the small and uncomfortable steel seat.

I have never seen the tree fully assembled, but will have the opportunity later this year as it has been selected for inclusion in the new ‘Over the Front' exhibition, opening in Anzac Hall in late 2008.

Our conservation staff have been working hard preparing the tree for exhibition and they have found some interesting features. When the tree was originally dismantled by the 3rd Battalion, some of the men from the unit signed the tree bark. Some of the signatures are a bit difficult to read these days, but one that was noted by CEW Bean in 1918 was the signature of John Hamilton, who was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions at Lone Pine in August 1915.

Another interesting feature of the tree is on one of the flange joints on the base. Andrew, one of the staff working on the tree, noticed that it has the steel manufacturer's name rolled into it. The manufacturer's name is Consett. The Consett Iron Company Ltd was a British iron and steel manufacturer based in the town of Consett in County Durham. Whether the steel came from pre-war importation into Belgium or Germany, or was scrounged from captured or abandoned British equipment is unknown. But someone in the German workshops may have enjoyed the idea of using British made steel against them!

Author

Dianne Rutherford

Last updated: 7 January 2020

  • Back to Articles

Cultural Message Modal

Explore the Collection

Explore the Collection

Our collection contains a wealth of material to help you research and find your connection with the wartime experiences of the brave men and women who served in Australia’s military forces.

Find out more
The Australian War Memorial at Night

Visit

The Australian War Memorial was voted the number one landmark in Australia by travellers in the 2016 Trip Advisor awards. Come and see why.

Find out more
The Donations and bequests

Donations & Bequests

Your generous donation will be used to ensure the memory of our Defence Forces and what they have done for us, and what they continue to do for our freedom remains – today and into the future.

Find out more
The placesofpride

Places of Pride

Places of Pride, the National Register of War Memorials, is a new initiative designed to record the locations and photographs of every publicly accessible memorial across Australia.

Find out more
Canberra Highlands in Grayscale

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF
TRADITIONAL CUSTODIANS

The Australian War Memorial acknowledges the traditional custodians of country throughout Australia. We recognise their continuing connection to land, sea and waters. We pay our respects to elders past and present.
Location map of The Australian War Memorial
The Australian War Memorial building

The Australian War Memorial

Treloar Crescent
Campbell ACT 2612
Australia
View on Google Maps (opens in new window)
Google Map data ©2021 Google
Australian War Memorial Logo
  • Go to AWM Facebook
  • Go to AWM Twitter
  • Go to AWM Trip Advisor
  • Go to AWM Instagram
  • Go to AWM Youtube

Footer

  • Memorial Articles
  • About
  • Contact
  • Media
  • Wartime Magazine
  • Donate Today

The Australian War Memorial

Treloar Crescent

Campbell ACT 2612

Australia

 

Opening Hours

10 am to 5 pm daily (except Christmas Day)

Get your ticket to visit: awm.gov.au/visit

 


Please enter a valid email address

Legal

  • Copyright
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • Freedom of information

Copyright 2021 Australian War Memorial, Canberra. All rights reserved