Trench Art - Engraved

Details

Title	Trench Art - Engraved
Description	75 mm shell produced by Scovill Manufacturing and engraved with the American and French flags. The inscription says it was picked up by an American Indian serving in the 42nd Division at Chateau Thierry, France on July 26, 1918. The shell was presented to the Daughters of the American Revolution by May D. File, a St. Louis resident who served as an Army Nurse in France with Base Hospitals 21 and 15. Soldiers often created art like this from battlefield debris during World War I. Commonly known as Trench Art, the pieces usually featured a patriotic motif and sometimes referenced a specific battle. Artillery shells were popular because of their size, but soldiers also constructed their artwork from much smaller pieces such as rifle casings.
Contributing Institution	Missouri History Museum
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