Dark and Macabre Trench Art Canteen & Gas Mask named to Robert Ray Ritchey, Co. L, 112th Infantry, 28th Division

[Michael the Young AEF Guy]

Hi again everyone, I'm hoping this great trench art set will spark some discussion and inclusion of other similar items. The gas mask in this set is great and well marked, but the real story is in the canteen.

 

Robert Ray Ritchey - 1249294, 112th Infantry, Company L, 28th Division, AEF.

This is the canteen and gas mask of Robert Ray Ritchey, a Private First Class in the 112th infantry, Company L. Robert first enlisted on March 15th, 1916, in Bedford, Pennsylvania, in Company L of the 8th Infantry, Pennsylvania National Guard. On February 13th, 1917, he was promoted to Private First Class. 

Robert went overseas with his regiment on May 7th, 1918. He participated in several engagements, including the Marne Aisne 7-14 to 27-1918, Adv. Ourca Vesele 7-28 to 9-7-1918, Meuse Argonne 9-26 to 10-7-1918,  Thiacourt Sect. 10-15 to 11-11-1918.

On October 28th, 1918, Robert was gassed at Thiacourt Sector in the line of duty. The gas mask included in his grouping is dated 11/4/18, likely issued to him after returning to the front. His record card in the gas mask bag reads on the right side "Pvt. Robert Ritchey, Hands Off, Nuff Said." This may be a reference to his wound just days earlier, as perhaps he didn't have access to his gas mask when he was gassed. The real prize in this grouping is his canteen, however.

Robert Ray Ritchey's canteen is among the most macabre I've ever seen. His engravings are crude, but show a great deal of effort. On the canteen are seven references to friends of his who were killed overseas. Two are names:

"James Scali, Kiled Sept 29-1918"

"Hobert Twigg September 26th, 1918" I was able to find this young man's burial card, showing him as having died in action on September 28th, 1918.

Five are sets of initials, all surrounded by symbols of death, hearts with swords through them, crossed revolvers, wooden crosses, skull and crossbones, and the worst of it, a depiction of a soldier's head being decapitated by a knife, with another knife piercing through his heart, blood spouting from the wounds. 
The initial sets are JFK, CAM, OIV, GBNF, and JBP.

[everforward]

Thanks for posting these pics- while not a 'work of art' like many pieces of trench art we see, this is one of the coolest canteens I've seen...so much going on with it, and it surely does give an insight into who his buddies were, and also what was on his mind when he felt like 'expressing it' on his canteen. What a great artifact.

[Michael the Young AEF Guy]

19 minutes ago, everforward said:

Thanks for posting these pics- while not a 'work of art' like many pieces of trench art we see, this is one of the coolest canteens I've seen...so much going on with it, and it surely does give an insight into who his buddies were, and also what was on his mind when he felt like 'expressing it' on his canteen. What a great artifact.

Thank you for your comment! Everything about this canteen led me down different rabbit holes, then finding the photos of him before and after the war really dug me deeper. It's definitely one of my favorite canteens in terms of depth and character. It's one of my all time favorites as well.

[manayunkman]

When it comes to Folk Art this is a work of art.

 

An awesome acquisition.

[WarBaby]

What a cool piece, thanks for sharing!