Small trench art vase bearing crest of Ypres : Gunner C M Perkins, 11 Field Artillery Brigade, AIF

Small squat brass and copper vase featuring a copper-over-brass body with a copper base, soldered to a tapering brass neck. A brass coat of arms of Ypres is soldered to the body of the vase, and a scroll bearing the word 'Ypres' to the neck. The vase has a deep patina.

Souvenir vase made from salvaged war material by Belgian souvenir sellers. Purchased in 1917 or 1918 by 4882 Gunner Clarence Methven Perkins, 6 Battalion and Australian Field Artillery. Perkins, a farm hand from Apollo Bay, Victoria, was born on 23 August 1897, one of nine children. He enlisted on 27 September 1915, a month after his 19th birthday with 6 Battalion and embarked for overseas service aboard HMAT Wiltshire from Melbourne on 7 March 1916. Perkins transferred to 4 Division Artillery in Cairo, Egypt on 17 April 1916 and was taken on strength of 12 Field Artillery Brigade (12 FAB) a few days later. He transferred to France in June 1916 where he was posted to 24 FAB with the rank of Driver. In December 1916 Perkins, suffering 'debility', was transferred to England for treatment, returning to France in June 1917. He returned to his original artillery unit, 12 FAB, in early July but was transferred to 11 FAB on 11 August. He reverted to the rank of Gunner 'at his own request' on 6 July 1918 and was granted leave in England in August 1918, where a portrait photo was taken when he visited relatives at Bridlington (see P05938.001). Two months after his return to action, on 5 October 1918, Perkins received a gunshot or shrapnel wound to his left temple and another straight through his left thigh. He saw no further action in the war and spent many months recovering in England before embarking for Australia aboard the Orontes on 3 January 1919. A piece of shrapnel remained in his temple and for 12 years after the end of the war, he suffered extremely painful attacks which would leave him rolling on the ground in agony. One day, Perkins' wife noted that the site of the wound was festering and pricked it with a needle; a small knob of shrapnel popped out, ending his constant pain.