Australian Army Museum of Western Australia > Records

Propellor Tip Trench Art

Overview

Trench art is a term used to describe useful items or unique souvenirs made by soldiers using discarded battlefield materials, like these two propeller tip photo frames. These examples of trench art incorporate images of Sergeant Arthur Francis Oldfield, No 1 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps of Kalgoorlie and his brother, Private Douglas Hyde Oldfield, 28th Battalion, AIF of Blackboy Hill The aircraft type of the propellers has not been determined.

Historical information

Actioning Britain’s request to form flying squadrons for service with the British forces, No 1 Squadron Australian Flying Corps (AFC) was formed at Point Cook in Victoria in January 1916. It sailed from Melbourne on 16 March, and arrived in Egypt on 14 April. The squadron was designated as 67 (Australian) Squadron, Royal Flying Corps (RFC), and would not revert to its original name until January 1918.

The squadron began flying operations in June 1916. Initially the squadron's main role was aerial reconnaissance and its aircraft operated both out across the Sinai desert in search of Turkish forces, and across Egypt's western desert to monitor activity by the rebellious Senussi. Increasingly, though, its aircraft were involved in attacks against Turkish ground forces. From December 1916, the squadron supported the British advance into Palestine carrying out reconnaissance, photography, ground attack and liaison missions, in addition to having to fight off aggressive German adversaries.
The arrival of new aircraft in the second half of 1917, enabled gradual control of the air from the German squadrons. allowing them to range over Turkish territory with virtual impunity. Airpower contributed greatly to the success of operations in 1918, particularly the Battle of Megiddo on 19 September 1918. 1 Squadron returned to Egypt in February 1919, embarked for home on 5 March, and was disbanded upon its arrival in Australia.

Details

Details

Registration number
cwa-org-32-990
Inscriptions and markings

One frame shows the brothers in uniform and the other in civilian clothes. The pictures are surrounded by a wreath incorporating the Australian Flying Corp colour patch.

Contextual Information

Both Sergeant Arthur Oldfield, and his brother, Private Douglas Oldfield, were wounded during the war and returned to Australia, Douglas in 1918 and Arthur the following year. They settled again in Western Australia; Arthur died in 1987 aged 92 and Douglas in 1980, aged 84. These two examples of trench art are exhibited in the World war 1 Gallery.

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Biography - Wikipedia
Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

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pROPELLOR TIP TRENCH ART
Propellor tip trench art
No 1 Squadron
No. 1 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps next to their Bristol F.2 fighters, at Mejdel. The officer in the foreground (with stick) is commanding officer Lieutenant-Colonel R. Williams, 1918.

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