Item of the Month From David Gray

Item of the month for September is a German issue Spade, or entrenching tool, I recovered from the WWI battlefields of the Somme. I picked this up many years ago and only recently pulled it out to have a closer look. To my surprise I noticed quite clearly the jagged teeth that had been cut down one side of the spade by its original owner.

I have pictured it here (below), next to an ordinary issue spade from the period discovered on the same battlefields. We can only assume the reasons why the soldier spent time cutting these teeth, clearly it would be a formidable weapon in close, hand to hand fighting. However, it may have been done to assist in chopping wood, or cutting away roots while digging foxholes. I am sure you will have your own opinions!