I found a relic today that sent chills down my spine! Seriously!

[creskol]

Searching an old house foundation today in Albemarle County, Virginia, I dug a very special, unique relic that gave me the chills. I am guessing it is a match box cover, made out of copper, that measures 2.5 inches long x 1.5 inches wide x .875 inches thick. It says WORLD WAR 14 18 on the front and GERM. PRIS. on the back, which I am assuming means GERMAN PRISON. The idea that I am holding a special memento lost by a hero who may well have spent his time in a German Prison gives me a feeling that I can not describe.

 

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[MetalArchSC]

Oh wow! Now that’s really cool.l!

 

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[l2hunt]

Wow, absolutely amazing, congrats on such a wonderful find! The soldier must of been so bummed losing it.

 

[JerV3]

Nice find,

That is a really neat relic and makes you wonder what someone may have really gone through.

Jer

 

[Squirrel322]

I believe that would have been made by a German POW, rather than in a German Prison camp.

https://www.pritzkermilitary.org/explore/museum/digital-collection/view/oclc/946887997

Really cool find!

 

[Tnmountains]

This story is just getting better and better. I am always amazed by the history and members research on really neat found items.

 

[tinpan]

Hi So servicemen on Western Front making trench art or in a POW camp while the war was still going knew when the war was going to end . 1918 is clearly engraved which means this item was not marked until the war was over.
IF this is marked 1914 and the USA first battle was May 28 1918 which trench or German pow are you suggesting ? British made many different patriot items with crown on it as the German did . TP

 

[CRUSADER]

Very Cool! The emblem is a little bit different, but the concept is the same. Thanks for posting that.. I really appreciate it!

The Crown on yours looks Prussian/German to me.

 

[Donnie B from VA]

Wow! I would call it Trench Art but I'm not sure what to call it if it was made in a POW Camp.

 

[CRUSADER]

Wow! I would call it Trench Art but I'm not sure what to call it if it was made in a POW Camp.

It's my understanding that when this happens, its still sold under the same broad category. (Pretty common that items got made in POW camps) In the Napoleonic British POW camps, some made more money selling their items than they would in their previous careers. Records show that some made up-to £1000 by the time they were released. A huge sum at the beginning of the 19th C.

 

[creskol]

It's my understanding that when this happens, its still sold under the same broad category. (Pretty common that items got made in POW camps) In the Napoleonic British POW camps, some made more money selling their items than they would in their previous careers. Records show that some made up-to £1000 by the time they were released. A huge sum at the beginning of the 19th C.

Interesting information, Cru .. What or who was the market at the time? I didn't realize that prisoners were allowed to profit.

 

[CRUSADER]

Interesting information, Cru .. What or who was the market at the time? I didn't realize that prisoners were allowed to profit.

The Market was right next to/in the Camp, they could purchase & sell things:
https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1006782

''A market, in which prisoners could purchase local produce or sell craft items, was held in the enclosed space at the east gate''

I've often wondered how this would work, because it's very possible that some made more money than the poorly paid Guards & how did you protect all that money in a Prison. They must have had gangs with a similar set up as today.

 

[Carolina Tom]

Now that’s a sweet find. Congrats!

 

[swimmer]

Might be from a German POW held in the US. German POW's worked on farms through the Eastern Seaboard during WW2. My dad was captured in Italy and spent a few years near and at Ft Gordon GA......where I went to MP school in the early 70's while in the US army. My dad was in the Luftwaffe.

 

[creskol]

Thank you all for looking, sharing your thoughts, and for all the nice replies.

 

[Steve in PA]

1918 is clearly engraved which means this item was not marked until the war was over.. TP

Not necessarily since the war didn't end until November 1918, although I also believe it is slightly post war.