Improvised sign, 'JARGON TRACK' : Belgium

Improvised British sign for Jargon Track. Constructed from three pieces of wood nailed together. The sign has been stencilled with black paint with the words 'JARGON TRACK / TO / BOSSCHEN TRACK. / POLYGONVELD. / CRUCIFIX. / THE BUTTE. / FRONT LINE.' There is a thin black border painted around the edge of the sign. The sign also bears an improvised metal plaque near the words 'CRUCIFIX' and 'THE BUTTE' which reads: 'NOTICE BOARD / COLLECTED / FROM YPRES / BATTLEFIELD BY / SGT W BROWN VC / DCM / PTE W WISE / AND PTE B KENT / FOR 20TH BATTALION / WAR MUSEUM.' The sign shows evidence of some minor damage.

This sign was collected by 1689 Sergeant Walter Ernest Brown VC DCM, 5917 Private William Horatio Thomas Henry Wise and 54453 Private Bailey Horace Kent, all of the 20th Battalion for a proposed 20 Battalion museum. Instead the sign was donated by them in March 1919 to the Australian War Records Section for the National Museum being developed.

Jargon Track ran across part of the Ypres battlefield north east from not far from Hooge, towards the front line. About half way along, Jargon Track diverted to the left and Bosschen Track diverted to the right near the swamp of Nonne Bosschen (Nuns' Wood). Nonne Boschen contained a number of pillboxes and was captured by the 3rd Brigade on 20 September 1917. Further east was Polygon Wood with The Butte in the north east corner of the wood. They were taken by the 5th Division six days later. Crucifix was a dump located near The Butte.

This sign would have been located at the beginning of Jargon Track, probably at the end of Chateau Wood Road, where the two met.