Patrol Silver WWI Trench Watch (Canadian Forces) With Research
Offered is a fascinating WWI trench watch, owned by GNR Henry McDougal Innes of the 10th Artillery Brigade of the Canadian Expeditionary Force in France. Although in it self a fairly typical 30mm, ‘Patrol’ branded .935 silver Swiss 15-jewel mechanical wristwatch, this piece was inscribed on the back with the owner’s name and service number - a fairly unusual practice. This allowed for us to track down a fair amount of material relating to Mr McDougal and his service, amounting to around 50 pages of draft / enlistment documents, medical records, discharge papers, etc (these will be provided with the timepiece).
From the records we are able to ascertain that Henry McDougal Innes was a clerk with the Dominion Bank in Montreal, residing on what was then 286 St. James Street (now St. Jacques). In 1917, Mr Innes was drafted into the Canadian Armed Forces at the age of 18, indicating that he was willing to be deployed abroad, and listing his father (then living in St. Lambert) as his next of kin. After training, he was assigned as a Gunner to the Field Artillery Corps, and sent to France.
In 1918, while deployed, Mr Innes’ left hand was severely injured when his mule bucked and it became caught up between the mule’s fittings and an iron rail to which he was attaching the animal. At a later inquest, his colleague Corporal Coveney corroborated the accidental nature of the injury, having been present (he himself had been kicked by his own horse in the commotion). After treatment, Innes was honourably discharged in 1919. Although impossible to confirm, it is certainly tempting to think that the damage to the dial of this piece occurred as a result of the mule, as the watch would likely have been worn on the left hand wrist.
The watch is running, although (typically) not particularly accurate. Other than the dial, condition is good overall, and we have chosen to preserve the deep gunmetal tone which has blossomed on the case. This is a rare case of a watch which tells a fascinating story, being as much a piece of militaria as a timepiece - in all, a fascinating WWI artefact.
Offered is a fascinating WWI trench watch, owned by GNR Henry McDougal Innes of the 10th Artillery Brigade of the Canadian Expeditionary Force in France. Although in it self a fairly typical 30mm, ‘Patrol’ branded .935 silver Swiss 15-jewel mechanical wristwatch, this piece was inscribed on the back with the owner’s name and service number - a fairly unusual practice. This allowed for us to track down a fair amount of material relating to Mr McDougal and his service, amounting to around 50 pages of draft / enlistment documents, medical records, discharge papers, etc (these will be provided with the timepiece).
From the records we are able to ascertain that Henry McDougal Innes was a clerk with the Dominion Bank in Montreal, residing on what was then 286 St. James Street (now St. Jacques). In 1917, Mr Innes was drafted into the Canadian Armed Forces at the age of 18, indicating that he was willing to be deployed abroad, and listing his father (then living in St. Lambert) as his next of kin. After training, he was assigned as a Gunner to the Field Artillery Corps, and sent to France.
In 1918, while deployed, Mr Innes’ left hand was severely injured when his mule bucked and it became caught up between the mule’s fittings and an iron rail to which he was attaching the animal. At a later inquest, his colleague Corporal Coveney corroborated the accidental nature of the injury, having been present (he himself had been kicked by his own horse in the commotion). After treatment, Innes was honourably discharged in 1919. Although impossible to confirm, it is certainly tempting to think that the damage to the dial of this piece occurred as a result of the mule, as the watch would likely have been worn on the left hand wrist.
The watch is running, although (typically) not particularly accurate. Other than the dial, condition is good overall, and we have chosen to preserve the deep gunmetal tone which has blossomed on the case. This is a rare case of a watch which tells a fascinating story, being as much a piece of militaria as a timepiece - in all, a fascinating WWI artefact.
Offered is a fascinating WWI trench watch, owned by GNR Henry McDougal Innes of the 10th Artillery Brigade of the Canadian Expeditionary Force in France. Although in it self a fairly typical 30mm, ‘Patrol’ branded .935 silver Swiss 15-jewel mechanical wristwatch, this piece was inscribed on the back with the owner’s name and service number - a fairly unusual practice. This allowed for us to track down a fair amount of material relating to Mr McDougal and his service, amounting to around 50 pages of draft / enlistment documents, medical records, discharge papers, etc (these will be provided with the timepiece).
From the records we are able to ascertain that Henry McDougal Innes was a clerk with the Dominion Bank in Montreal, residing on what was then 286 St. James Street (now St. Jacques). In 1917, Mr Innes was drafted into the Canadian Armed Forces at the age of 18, indicating that he was willing to be deployed abroad, and listing his father (then living in St. Lambert) as his next of kin. After training, he was assigned as a Gunner to the Field Artillery Corps, and sent to France.
In 1918, while deployed, Mr Innes’ left hand was severely injured when his mule bucked and it became caught up between the mule’s fittings and an iron rail to which he was attaching the animal. At a later inquest, his colleague Corporal Coveney corroborated the accidental nature of the injury, having been present (he himself had been kicked by his own horse in the commotion). After treatment, Innes was honourably discharged in 1919. Although impossible to confirm, it is certainly tempting to think that the damage to the dial of this piece occurred as a result of the mule, as the watch would likely have been worn on the left hand wrist.
The watch is running, although (typically) not particularly accurate. Other than the dial, condition is good overall, and we have chosen to preserve the deep gunmetal tone which has blossomed on the case. This is a rare case of a watch which tells a fascinating story, being as much a piece of militaria as a timepiece - in all, a fascinating WWI artefact.