Original Fantastic WWI U.S. Folk Art Presentation Shovel Attributed to Major G.S. Foden, Commander Base Hospital No.10 Original Items

Original Item: One of a Kind. An incredible piece of folk art! Tastefully painted M-1910 Entrenching Tool (which we are certain is an inside joke of sorts in itself) which was made into a presentation piece which was then awarded to Major George S. Foden, who served as Commander of Camp Hospital Number 10 in Praughtoy, France during WWI.

The front of the 22 inch long shovel is painted in green and gold gilded paint. The first ⅔ of the shovel blade is painted with an American flag Motif. Within the stripes of the flag are painted the verses of a poem which was penned by Major Fodden himself. The lines of the poem obviously dictated the motifs painted on the shovel, with the card suite painted above the flag, and the words “Taps”, and “Bullet In” written on the shaft in gilded paint. The fact this is painted on a shovel itself is reference to the line “diggin’ in”.

The reverse is painted with the presentation to Dr. Fodden on the reverse of the spade head. A U.S. Army Advance Sector Insignia is painted above the presentation. On the same side there are signatures by the artist who painted the shovel, the designer, and a nurse, along with a date that this was painted, 1939. Obviously this piece was painted by veterans to present to their former commander, most likely on the occasion of a veteran’s reunion.

Equally as attractive as the artwork itself, is the patina which has developed on this piece over the years. An excellent piece to add to a WWI AEF collection!

CAMP HOSPITAL NO. 10
Camp Hospital No. 10 was established in April, 1918, at Prauthoy, DepartmentHaute Marne, advance section, and began to operate April 20, 1918. It was a standard type B, 300-bed unit, with emergency expansion to 360; it served the tenth training area, which was successively occupied by the 32d, 29th,79th, and 82d Divisions. During the months of April and May, 1918, the hospital was operated by the medical staff of the 32d Division and upon departure of that division was operated temporarily by Evacuation HospitalNo. 5. On June 28, 1918, the permanent personnel of Camp Hospital No. 5arrived, and took charge July 1, 1918. The hospital ceased to function on March 23, 1919, and its personnel was reassigned to other organizations for duty.