{"product_id":"original-u-s-wwi-pow-coblenz-prison-trench-art-with-scrapbook-42nd-infantry-division","title":"Original U.S. WWI POW Coblenz Prison Trench Art with Scrapbook - 42nd Infantry Division","description":"Original item: Corporal William C. Reekie was a member of the 117th Field Signal Battalion in the 42nd Infantry Division and fought in World War One. At some point during the war he was captured and put into a Prisoner of War camp in Coblenz Germany. While in prison he elaborately carved his mess tin. On the top in the center it reads:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003ccenter\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eW.C. ReeKei\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e117 F.B.S.C.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e42 Div\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/center\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAround the circumference of the lid:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eCHAMPAIGN - BACARRRAT - ST MICHEL - VERDUN - CHATEAU THIERRY\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe bottom reads:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003ccenter\u003e\n\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSEATTLE Wash.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eU.S.A.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWm C. ReeKie\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCoblenz\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRAINBOW\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eU.S.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/center\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003eAround the circumference of the base:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003ccenter\u003e\n\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEngraved in COBLENZ Prison December 17, 1918 GERMANY\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCARL LEFT - CELL 105 - 12\/19\/18 - MEMORIES - GOT OUT - CELL 105 - DECEMBER 20\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/center\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe tin is also engraved with flags, iron crosses vines, stars, arrows, insignia, etc.. It is the most ornate and detailed trench art mess tin we have ever encountered.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAlso included in this breathtaking set is a scrap book that begins on page one in the following manner:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003ccenter\u003e\n\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePictures and notes of my sad army life. I am through this time but if anything ever comes up again I will be with them. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProperty of \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCorporal WIlliam C. Reekie\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e117th Field Signal Battalion\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e42nd Division\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStarted April 13, 1919\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Famous Rainbow is all gon\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003ee\u003c\/center\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe scrap book is full of notes, memories, dried flowers, insignia, tickets, news articles business cards, stamps, paper currency, correspondence, orders, photos, postcards and more. Almost everything is accompanied by a personal caption. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis is one of the most personal views into the life of a soldier during and after the Great War that we have ever encountered, truly one-of-a-kind.","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":63523684357,"sku":"ON4511","price":595.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/products\/ON4511__1A.jpg?v=1599417157","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-wwi-pow-coblenz-prison-trench-art-with-scrapbook-42nd-infantry-division","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}