Desert 88 'Trench Art' ashtray

[Martin Bull]

Here's something I found in a long-defunct Essex junk shop, 30 years ago. I've always liked it. 'Benghazi 1946' it says - most likely sold to post-war garrison troops in the local bazaar.

But it's cut down from an honest-to-gosh '88' casing, dated 1939 with primer dated 1940. There must have been a lot of these lying around for the locals to collect for scrap.

It travelled all the way from Germany to the Western Desert and then to England - I wonder if it was one of 'Rommel's 88s'.....?

[BrodieBartfast]

These 'trench art' pieces are often overlooked, and I do wonder why. Very often, they're completely unique, and are much more interesting to look at than a plain old shell case.

A nice find!

B.B.

[M.E.E.]

I think it is a matter of a lot harder to tell when something like this was made. With most militaria you buy the item not the story and with trench art you buy the story not the item.

BTW very nice piece. Thanks for showing.

[BlackCat1982]

Rhienmetall Sommerda primer, great item.

[rra227]

Nice trench art piece. Rich A. in Pa.