Improvised directional sign 'HOOGE' and 'BIRR X ROADS' : Belgium

Improvised British sign constructed of three planks of white washed wood with text stencilled in black paint. The sign bears the words 'HOOGE / BIRR X ROADS' and a large right facing arrow. The sign also has a small improvised metal plaque attached to the top right hand corner which states '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 is quite faded and shows some signs of 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.

Hooge and the Birr X roads (also known as Birr Cross Roads) are located to the east of Ypres and north east of Zillebeke in Belgium. In 1917, the 20th Battalion fought near Ypres in the Battle of Menin Road in September 1917. From Westhoek Ridge they attacked Hannabeek (Hanabeek) Wood, north east of Westhoek, capturing and holding their objective against two counter attacks. They were relieved by the 19th Battalion on the night of 21 September.