|
| C031 - Collector's item: Carved mahogany stick/cane, a very interesting relic of World War 1 Approx. dimensions:Overall length 36.5" / 93cm. Thickness of shank 1.25" x 1" / 32mm x 25mm tapering to 0.5" / 13mm diameter |  |
| Audruicq is a small French town located near Calais. In 1914 it became an
important railhead for British (and later for Canadian and American) troops
despatched to the battlefields of the Somme. It was also the location of the
British Trench Warfare Research Unit and a large ammunition dump.In April 1917
Audruicq suffered a heavy bombing raid by German planes. The ammo dump was hit
and there were many casualties. To prevent a repeat performance, the Royal
Flying Corps turned its attention from reconnaissance to dealing with the
German airforce, which it did with considerable success.
You can see a map of the area here.
But why am I telling you all this? Because... |
|
| ...as you can see above, the name of the town is carved on one side of the
stick. On the other side is carved "14.C.B.J.19". Both sides also carry the Maltese
cross, the insignia displayed on German aircraft of the time. It's interesting to note that the propellors on early planes were made of
Honduras mahogany. I'm told this stick is made of the same stuff. I have seen a
number of walking sticks allegedly made from salvaged WW1 propellor blades, but
I have never before seen one of this style or quality. To me, this all suggests that the stick was made by or for someone (C.B.J.) who
was stationed at the British base in Audruicq from 1914 to 1919. (The Armistice
was signed on 11 November 1918, but it was well into 1919 by the time many of
our troops returned home). The Maltese crosses suggest the stick may well have
been fashioned from the remains of a shot-down German plane. (In fact I can
think of no other reason why anyone present in Audruicq from 1914 to 1919 would
want to put German insignia on their walking stick!) |
 
|
| Getting down to the nitty-gritty, the plain top of the stick is oval in shape.
This shape tapers down to a slim circular cross-section at the tip. The
mahogany wood is very light in weight - the whole stick weighs in at just under
7oz / 200gm (your kitchen scales may vary) - but very strong. One can see why
this material found favour among aircraft manufacturers. The whole stick has a superb patina, obviously the result of many years of use
and polishing. It has acquired a fine collection of little nicks and "dings"
along the way, but these have smoothed over with time and been amalgamated into
the patination. All very consistent with the apparent age of the item. | 
|
| This brass collar really puts the finishing touch to the stick. Like the wood,
it's been smoothed and polished with age. I would think it very likely that
this collar and the ferrule were made from old shell or bullet cases, which
would have been readily to hand at the time. Below, you can see the lower part of the shank. The open-ended ferrule is
certainly consistent with the suggested "trench art" construction. | 
|
   
|
| Myself, I am convinced that this is a genuine relic of the First World War.
Everything about it appears to be completely consistent. I don't suppose
anyone happens to know who (or what?) C.B.J. was? |
SOLD Return to "Collectors' Sticks" page Return to "Sticks for Sale" page |