| Place | Europe: France, Picardie, Somme, Mont St Quentin |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | RELAWM01010 |
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Heraldry |
| Physical description | Tin |
| Maker |
Linley & Co. |
| Place made | United Kingdom: England |
| Date made | 1917 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
Bullet-riddled Australian mess tin : Mont St Quentin
Description
Mess tin with six bullet holes on the front, back and base and with overall surface corrosion. Stamped on the outside '58' and 'LINLEY & CO. LONDON 1917 AND BIRMINGHAM'.
History / Summary
This bullet-riddled Australian mess-tin was recovered from a German trench north of Mont St. Quentin. This was the direction from which the Australian 5th Brigade attacked and captured the hill, and the adjacent town of Peronne in late August and early September 1918.
The tin was found by a member of the Australian War Records Section (AWRS) in September 1918. The AWRS was set up in 1917 at the prompting of Charles Bean, Australia’s official war correspondent, and later official historian. Its task was to create a documentary record of Australian Forces in the war by collecting records and artifacts. Their gathered items became the basis for the Australian War Memorial's collection.