WWI trench watch presented to Harold Evans Barnett

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c. 1915

Overview

Swiss made, silver cased, sidewinder trench watch presented to Canadian Expeditionary Force soldier, Harold Evans Barnett.
The circular, white, vitreous enamel dial has skeleton Arabic numerals and skeleton hands called “poire squelette” to take radium based luminous paint. Much of this paint has fallen off over time and there is some damage to the enamel on the lower right of the face.
On the reverse, details including rank, name, service number and address are engraved in cursive writing.
It would have had a leather strap which was threaded through the two lugs on either side.

Historical information

Harold Evans (Barney) Barnett was born on 24 May 1897 in Moncton, Westmorland, New Brunswick, Canada. He was an engineering student aged 20 when he enlisted with the First Depot Battalion, New Brunswick Regiment in April 1918. He had the rank of Gunner and his service number was 3257077. He was transferred to #9 Overseas Siege Battery Draft III, and embarked on the H.M.T. Nellore for England on 4 August 1918 .
He was taken off command in October 1918 to attend 'Khaki University' at Witley Camp, England. He returned to Canada on 6 September 1919.

The First World War began as a war of movement, with the opposite sides trying to outflank each other during late 1914 in the so-called “race to the sea”. Once the coast was reached in Northern France and there was no possibility of either side outmanoeuvring the other, it changed into a static war as the opposing sides dug into trenches. In the trenches activity continued day and night, and attacks were generally started in the early morning darkness to take the other side by surprise. It quickly became apparent that a luminous dial was a necessity for an officer's wristwatch in the dark confines of the trenches, and a luminous dial became an essential feature of a trench watch.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-119-RoW00177

Item type

Collectibles

Personal Effects

Watches

Themes

War and Conflict
War and Conflict > World War 1

Material

Enamels

Metal