Original Item: One-of-a-kind. This is a charming piece of Great War history. It is an original British Navy 1917 dated brass artillery shell case that contained a 6 LB projectile complete with full original markings including Broad Arrow on bottom.
Standing just 6.5 tall, fitted with a brass handle made from a brass re-enforcing strap and engraved on front with a flower motif and marked :-
52 ND. LT. INF.
The 52nd Light Infantry was made up of the Oxfordshire Light Infantry, formerly the 52nd. Regiment of Foot up until 1881, and the Monmouthshire Light Infantry, formerly the 43rd Regiment of Foot, which amalgamated in 1908 and became known as the as the 52nd Light Infantry which saw extensive service during WW1.
Since brass is unsuitable for drinking water we feel this was made as a watering jug for flowers however it may have been originally fashioned to pour water into a Vickers Machine gun water jacket which because of the small opening is not an easy task. Nevertheless, this is a charming piece of WW1 Trench Art.