War time pieces as essential survival items



 

Returned time piece: Watch worn by L/Corpral Harold Flower of Maungaturoto, who served in WW1 with the 7th Reinforcements, 4th Batallion H Company, New Zealand Rifle Brigade, killed in action at Belgium on 7th June, 1917 - Generic photo - courtesy Mathew Ward @History Needs You and The Kauri Museum, Matakohe, Northland, New Zealand. www.nzmuseums.co.nz



 



I've been trying to find heartening and uplifting stories for this year's ANZAC commemorations, which marks the 100-year anniversary of the Gallipoli campaign in WW1 and the ANZACs that were involved there.

http://www.anzacsite.gov.au/2visiting/tgallipoli.html

But one general war story, which has been etched in my mind, is about a New Zealand gunner - a relative of mine by marriage, and his treasured time piece (not the soldier in the above photo).

His watch as I understand it, was a treasured item and had, of course, travelled with him to the battle fields with both surviving various combative events for a while before the soldier, sadly, eventually didn't survive but the watch did and was recovered some time later ... still ticking perfect time and given to family members ... still ticking perfect time, it had been hanging on display, on a nephew's dining-room wall for years ... still ticking perfect time and I understand it still keeps perfect time today.

We often talk about not trusting mechanical things but you can't help thinking this watch must have been created out of really sturdy stuff!

The website below has some interesting information about time pieces that survived wars, including  the watch worn by Maungaturoto soldier, L/Corpral Harold Flower, in the photo above:

http://www.timeforremembrance.com/

Do you have any heartening war stories about any soldiers' possessions that managed to be returned to family?

 

We would love you to tell us about them in the comments section!