A fascinating
World War One
Trench-dug German Infantryman's Water-bottle
uncovered in German Trenches around the
Chemin des Dames
sector of the River Aisne on
The Western Front
Between 1914 and 1918
the Aisne sector of the Front saw 3 great battles:
First Battle of the Aisne - Sept 13th to 28th 1914
(which ended the 'mobile' war and set the tone for the static Trench War)
Second Battle of the Aisne - September April 16th to 15th May 1917
(in which the French suffered 108,000 causalities)
and
Third Battle of The Aisne - 29th May to June 6th 1918
(With 127,00 Allied and 130.000 German casualties)
In this Third Battle known as the
Great German Spring Offensive
the Kaiser's army focussed on capturing
Chemin des Dames
on the River Aisne.
In the ferocious fighting that ensued,
both sides took a very heavy toll
as a result of this last
big German 'push' of the Great War.
It is therefore quite likely that
this German Infantryman's water-bottle relic
(measuring approx 8.5" high),
was used in that great
Third Battle of Aisne
having since been excavated,
brought back from France.
and professionally treated with a rust-inhibitor
Part of an on-going acquisition of