Sculpture
Halton Region Heritage Services
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| Nom de l'objet : | Sculpture |
| Catégorie de l'objet : | 8: Communication Artifact |
| Sous-catégorie de l'objet : | Art |
| Discipline : | Local History |
| Matériaux : | Brass, steel |
| Technique de fabrication : | HAND CRAFTED |
| Numéro de catalogue : | 1990.2.1 |
| Numéro d'accession : | 1990.2 |
| Date absolue : | 1912 SEP |
| Description : | Brass vase constructed from a World War I gun shell. The mouth of the vase has been worked into a scalloped opening. On one side, dents have been punched in random order around a maple leaf. The other side is marked "Somme 1916 Vimy Ridge 1917". Construction date "Sept 1912" is stamped on base. |
| Commentaires : | Shorter shell casings were used in standard British field guns operated by Royal Artillery and Royal Canadian Artillery. The guns were of British manufacture but the majority of ammunition was made in Canada. The ammunition was referred to as "shells" and being shot at with it was referred to as "being shelled". During World War I men, shells, horses and ammunition were among the main Canadian contributions. Longer shells were Canadian and fired out of an 18 pound Field Gun Mark II (1916). They were fixed ammunition like a bullet. Shrapnel shells were filled with led balls. Projectiles included shrapnel shells, smoke bombs, gas bombs, explosives (blew hole in ground) and propaganda leaflets. The shell consisted of the casing, projectile and fuse. The casing contained the propellant for the projectile and stayed in the gun. Taller casings included the “French 75” (mm diameter). The French and Americans denoted shells by diameter rather than pounds. The British 18 pd. and the French 75 were standard field guns used for much of the fighting. The Americans bought guns from the French when they entered the war. The Germans used a 77 mm "Whisbang". When creating shell art, soldiers also used German shells and made objects such as vases, ashtrays, hats and match holders. |
| Fonctions : | This vase was one of four brought back by Trooper Donald Gregg in 1918 for his mother and sisters at their farm on present day Wyecroft Road, in the former Township of Trafalgar. This vase was made from a German 77 mm shell by one of his friends in his unit and brought back for his mother. The Gregg family farm, called Wyecroft Farm, was purchased in 1910. Wyecroft Road in Oakville was named after this farm. Wyecroft Road (4th Line to Dorval Road) was named by Angus Gregg, when he served as chief building inspector and zoning administrator for the Township of Trafalgar. Following the war, Donald Gregg married and moved to Toronto. After his death his wife, Mabel Gregg, gave the vase to her nephew. Vases and other items were constructed by soldiers during quiet times in the trenches. Trooper Donald Gregg was with the ammunition transport column of the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps (RCASC). He was a truck driver and drove the British Mandsley truck. He transported information to forward positions from a rear supply area. |
| Hauteur : | 21.000 |
| Diamètre extérieur : | 13.700 |
| Unité de mesure linéaire : | CM |
| Établissement : | Halton Region Heritage Services |
| Ville de l'établissement : | Milton |
| Province de l'établissement : | Ontario |
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