Trench watch presented to Private E. A. Thompson
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1916
This trench watch features a Swiss movement and is housed in a small metal case measuring 38 mm in length, 12 mm in depth, and 40 mm in height. The watch includes a glass face, a metal winder, and wide lugs intended for a strap, which is currently missing.
The white enamelled dial displays large numerals originally featuring fluorescent paint, with a smaller subsidiary seconds dial located at the bottom. The piece is equipped with a hinged front and back cover. The hour hand is present, though the minute hand and the seconds hand are missing. An inscription on the back of the case documents that the watch was presented to Private Edgar Allan Thompson on 20 April 1916 by employees of the Clerical Department at Moran and Cato in Melbourne.
The watch is associated with Thompson's military service during World War I.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Type
- Military & trench watch
- Origin
- Switzerland
- Recipient
- Private Edgar Allan Thompson
- Dimensions
- 38 mm x 12 mm x 40 mm
- Place recorded
- Australia (association), Switzerland (movement origin)
- Inscription text
- PRESENTED TO PVT E.A. THOMPSON BY HIS FELLOW EMPLOYEES CLERKICAL (sic) STAFF MESSR. MORAN & CATO PTY LTD 20 - 4 - 16
- Presentation date
- 20 April 1916
- Registration number
- HT 25371
Design
- Visible features
- • White enamelled dial with subsidiary seconds dial at the 6 o'clock position • Engraved presentation inscription on the hinged case back • Missing minute hand and subsidiary seconds hand • Wide lugs for attachment of a watch strap
- Historical Context
- Trench watches, also referred to as wristlets, gained popularity during World War I. They are categorized as a transitional design between the pocket watch and the modern wristwatch, as they utilized pocket watch-style movements while being adapted for wrist wear. These items were frequently presented to soldiers upon enlistment. The colloquial name for these watches refers to their common location of use during the war. The specific movement within this object is identified as being of Swiss origin.
- Case and Dial Construction
- The trench watch is constructed with a metal case and a glass face. The design incorporates wide metal lugs positioned at the top and bottom of the case to facilitate the attachment of a strap. The watch features both a hinged front and back cover, allowing for access to the internal dial and the movement. The white enamelled dial is marked with large numerals around the outer edge. These numerals were originally finished with a fluorescent paint. A smaller seconds dial is positioned at the bottom of the main dial. The watch retains its hour hand, but the minute hand and the small seconds hand are currently missing.
- Provenance and Presentation
- The watch was presented to Private Edgar Allan Thompson on 20 April 1916. The presentation was made by his fellow employees in the Clerical Department of the grocery firm Moran and Cato, located in Melbourne. Private Thompson subsequently served in France between October 1916 and April 1918. An inscription on the hinged back of the case records the presentation details. The provenance records indicate that the watch was donated to the collection in 2010. Research into the owner includes the procurement of his military service record from the National Archives.
Identification
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: Specific manufacturer of the Swiss movement is not identified
- Research required: Originality of the fluorescent paint is not confirmed beyond historical account