Slouch Hat Trench Art View 1

Trench art brass slouch hat with Rising Sun badge made from shell parts. The crown of the hat is hinged and opens to form a small container, possibly used as an ashtray or trinket box. The container may be lifted out for cleaning. Trench art was made from the debris such as bullets, shell casings and metal fragments. Most trench art was made by soldiers to pass the time when away from the front line. Prisoners of war also produced trench art, as did local civilians for sale to soldiers. This item was collected by Sister Constance Keys, Australian Army Nursing Service, as a First World War souvenir.