| Place | Europe: France, Picardie, Somme, Amiens |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | RELAWM00812 |
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Heraldry |
| Physical description | Cotton, Paint, Paper, Tar paper |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | France: Picardie, Somme, Amiens |
| Date made | c 1914-1918 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
French air raid sign : St Victor Hospital, Amiens
Description
French paper sign consisting of two layers of paper sandwiching a length of cotton gauze. The top layer of paper is stained with horizontal, discoloured brush-applied adhesive marks, and bears the words 'CAVE POUR 350 PERSONNES' (BASEMENT FOR 350 PEOPLE') in bold black paint. The second, backing length of paper may be tar paper.
History / Summary
This French public sign was mounted to the wall of the St Victor hospital, Amiens. The sign denotes that 350 people could take shelter in the basement of the church during air raids and bombardments. Amiens was shelled by long range guns, and subjected to air raids by the Imperial German Air Service throughout the war, especially during the German Spring offensive of 1918.
Although it was difficult to conduct accurate air raids at night, civilian areas and buildings were bombed. During the war the Amiens cathedral sustained little damage despite being bombed at least nine times.
This sign is unusual in that it is essentially a sandwich of paper and cotton gauze, with the facing surface painted to represent wood.