The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Sign board made from a pair of planks from an 18 Pounder shell case box lid, held together by a pair of timber battens. There are remnants of a pair of leather straps at the lower edge. The face of the sign is painted with gloss black enamel with the words 'WIND DANGEROUS' in white lettering. Black stencils on the rear of the sign, which has a whitewashed finish, show the date '4.8.16' and 'HE 18 PDR'. The words 'PONT D'ACHELLES' are also faintly written in pencil on the rear.
This is one of a pair of signs, 'WIND SAFE' and 'WIND DANGEROUS', which would have indicated the probability of gas attack to soldiers in a section of trench. The sign was made from a box which had originally contained High Explosive shells for an 18 Pounder field gun.
The name 'Pont D'Achelles' written on the back probably indicates that they originated in this area, which was in the Armentieres - Nieppe sector, occupied by British forces for most of the war.
Pont D'Achelles was the site of a combined dressing station and collection post during the battle of Messines in June 1917. In the two weeks of June 6 -15, the Pont D'Achelles dressing station treated 433 soldiers of the Third and Fourth Australian Divisions who had been gassed during the Messines Battle.
Sign board made from a wooden plank taken from the side of an ammunition case, painted gloss black with enamel paint and the words 'WIND SAFE' in discoloured white lettering. At the top of the notic
Sign board made from a wooden plank taken from the side of an ammunition case, painted gloss black with enamel paint and the words 'WIND SAFE' in discoloured white lettering. At the top of the notic
Khaki cotton hinged fan, reinforced with cane rods threaded through sewn-in pockets. The fan is collapsible, the sides folding inwards and then in three for compact storage. When folded, the canvas se
Sign constructed of single plank of wood painted black with bevelled edges. 'MEDICINE HAT TRAIL' is stencilled in white letters. The white paint is considerably faded with black starting to show thro
Improvised sign made from a pair of planks held together by five timber battens. The raw timber sign, which is extensively damaged, has been painted with the words 'PEG TRENCH' followed by a left faci
Wooden sign constructed from two wooden planks and braces fastened together with iron nails. There are faint pencil outlines and the number '3' in the top right hand corner. 'VC CORNER' has been writt
Raw timber sign board, made from a section of wood cut from a single plank. The sign has the words 'Verband Stelle' [dressing post], painted in black, separated by a white circle, with a black border,
