Auction of trench art from Zeppelin wreck

A commemorative plaque be sold at auction in Honiton has revealed an interesting story from the First World War. The plaque displays a trench art knife, made from a Zeppelin shot down over London.

Trench art is a term used for objects made from debris of war, commonly the First World War. On one side of the knife is an inscription, Part of Zeppelin L.15 brought down in Thames Estuary night of 31st March 1916. The other side shows the words To Mrs Frederick Braund. A remembrance from workers at The Eagle Hut, Strand, October 1918.

Auctioneer Duncan Chilcott said: “We researched the background of The Eagle Hut and found it was part of the YMCA of the USA, and somewhere for first British, then American servicemen to use as a place to rest and write letters home.

“For some of these servicemen, this was a stop off before they made their way to the Western Front.”

The Eagle Hut, according to website greatwarlondon.wordpress.com “was said to serve 3000 per day, 4-5000 on busy days. American pancakes were the most popular items offered, with 1000 sold every day, as well as 13-15,000 ice creams per week during the summer.

“The hut was run by 800 volunteers – most of them women – and included 410 beds for servicemen staying overnight. It also had a billiard room, and other games were played.”

The role of Mrs Braund, named on the knife, remains elusive, although the surname, interestingly, is firmly rooted in the Westcountry and in particular, North Devon.

Liz Chilcott said: “She clearly had a close association with the Eagle Hut, so perhaps she was one of the volunteers helping out.” The 10-inch long trench art knife will be sold in the Chilcotts sale on September 9 in the Honiton’s Silver Street (next to the cattle market) on September 9. The estimate for this unusual item is £80-120.