Trench Art Lighter

[Brian Wolfe]

Hello Everyone,

A friend has given me a piece of Trench Art he picked up in the UK this summer. It is a lighter and was made during or just after WW II. As the photos show it has coins with both HRH King George V and HRH King George VI decorating the lighter. That places the object after WWI and the fuse is marked No. 28 BII PL. 1940. So no question as to age. The piece has been cleaned in the past and there is residue from a liquid cleaner, not unlike Brasso that we can get here in Canada. There was also a red paste-like substance in the grooves that I recognize as jeweller's rouge. I have decided to leave it alone and enjoy the patina that has been gained over the years.

I would like to know more about the fuse that was used to make this table lighter. There are graduations around the base and numbering from 5 to 22. There are graduation marks before the number 5 that would seem to indicate the fuse could be set from one to five though no numbers are present. A short fuse is a little scary .

Other markings other than those already mentioned are as follows. LOT No. 21 (this number is marked out and the next number is in its place) 29, VAD 7/40 (possibly the date of an inspection?). Down near the base and after the graduation marks is an arrow with the word SAFE marked below it. There are no markings on the bottom.

Is this is a fuse for a high explosive shell or perhaps an anti-aircraft round?

Your comments would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Brian

[Brian Wolfe]

Here the other side showing HRH King George VI.

[Brian Wolfe]

Here is a shot of some of the markings.

[Brian Wolfe]

At last, here is a shot of the bottom. Sorry it has taken me a while to post all of the photos. I am using Photo Shop on my computer and there are a lot of steps to follow for each photo.

Thanks for any help you can give me in the identification.

Cheers

Brian