"Taken from a Dead Boche"

[Erickn]

Here is one from the trenches - scratched on the lid "Taken from a Dead Boche"
Zigarette anyone??

[Erickn]

inside

[TerryG]

Very nice although it is difficult to see the EK clearly.

[Tony & Kaiser]

Rather sad isn't it? At one time, a man's property, possibly a gift from a loved one; removed from his body. Now just an unknown collectible. Here is one I have with the "removed from" theme.

[Erickn]

Kool helmet Tony. If we only knew what these veterans went through 25 hours a day, 8 days a week struggling in the mud & blood. To walk a mile in their shoes
so to say, take the dead mans case-smoke his cigarettes... He would not need them any longer.

A few more images of the EK on the lid for TerryG

[Erickn]

Crown

[Erickn]

Ges.Gesch or pat.pending

[torstenbel]

Very interesting items gents...sadly I cannot contribute any similar items to this thread, but just wanted to say that I always get a little feeling of anger/sadness (not directed against you or anyone in particular, just a general feeling ) rising up when I see things like this...I am German and both my great-grandfathers got killed in the Great War...but of course, these items are collectables and I would also gladly have them in my collection.... Cheers, Torsten.

[Adrian Stevenson]

It is a nice item and one that is very evocative of the Great War. I know how you feel and can understand the sadness in seeing this.

I recently found a German pocket watch case that my Grandad took from a German soldier (most likey dead) I know he also took a Luger. I have had the case since I was 16, but never examined it closely before until the other week. My Grandad had placed a peice of leather inside it with his name and address on. I took this out to discover that the watch case had been padded out with some scraps of postcards. These were all German and have some parts of the writing intact and were sent from a field hospital.

Cheers, Ade.

[Demianthedog]

Just because I didn't know...

Boche also boche (bsh, bôsh) n. Offensive Slang Used as a disparaging term for a German.

<hr class="hmshort" align="left"> [French, alteration of <tt>Alboche</tt>, blend of <tt>Allemand</tt>, German; see allemande, and French dialectal <tt>caboche</tt>, cabbage, blockhead; see cabbage.]

[Erickn]

Boche also boche (bsh, bôsh) n. Offensive Slang Used as a disparaging term for a German.



<HR class=hmshort align=left>[French, alteration of <TT>Alboche</TT>, blend of <TT>Allemand</TT>, German; see allemande, and French dialectal <TT>caboche</TT>, cabbage, blockhead; see cabbage.]

I find it interesting that the inscription was written in English but used the French slang term "Boche". I suspect that this piece may have been "liberated" by a Brit since they too used this word during this era. (My 2 cents)