World War I US Navy Trench Art Mess Kit Canteen Set - Work of Art!

[Michael the Young AEF Guy]

Sorry if the too many new posts is spammy, I wanted to share another trench art set that I believe to be one of the best out there. I acquired it about a month ago, and it's now on display in the navy exhibit of the American War Museum in Fairfield, PA.

 

The set is that belonging to Mahlon Lewis Milstead, Fireman First Class, US Navy. It is an extremely ornate set including a mess kit, with both the lid and bowl very well decorated with the lid showing a depiction of what I believe to be the USS Arkansas, with stars and "OUR NAVY" above it, and the bowl showing the national seal, eagle and motto together, surrounded by rope. The canteen cup is also full of rope surrounding the entire cup, along with popular knots learned by sailors, a ship wheel, a shield in front of an anchor, and CHOW decoratively engraved around the handle on the bottom. The canteen, however, is the most impressive piece. It is completely covered, cap and all, in checkered marks. The front showing the USS Arkansas with "A-GOB'S HOME" written underneath with 1918 above it. Stretching around the top is the sailor's name, "L.M. Milstead". This perplexed me, but I believe he went by Lewis instead of Mahlon, hence why the initials are backwards. There were no other sailors found matching the name, so I'm confident this is him. The back of the canteen has a giant anchor wrapped in ribbon reading Liberty with an eagle flying behind it. E PLURIBUS UNUM sits above it, with USN below. Despite that I've just written the entire set's description out, the photos speak for themselves. This was most interesting being to a sailor, as navy trench art is something you see far less often, but with all the time they had aboard the ship, it makes sense as to why this set is so ornate.

[manayunkman]

I don’t think anyone will complain about seeing some top shelf trench art.

 

Amazing art work.

[30thguy]

That shows how much time he had on his hands. Amazing work of art.

[eaglerunner88]

Just wow. I assume it's just on loan to the museum, correct? Great place for it to been seen rather just sitting in a display case in your bedroom! I have found it very common for WWI and even WWII vets go my their middle name, making research down the read a bit more difficult haha

[gearhead1968]

Wow! thanks for sharing! 

[CAC1901]

I'd give that a 5 / 5 star rating. Maybe even 6. 

[The Iron Brigade]

Absolutely stunning! Thank you for sharing it with us.

[Michael the Young AEF Guy]

On 12/16/2022 at 9:53 AM, eaglerunner88 said:

Just wow. I assume it's just on loan to the museum, correct? Great place for it to been seen rather just sitting in a display case in your bedroom! I have found it very common for WWI and even WWII vets go my their middle name, making research down the read a bit more difficult haha

Yes sir! My colleague who owns the museum splits the prices of certain items that we each buy. I would have bought it on my own but something like this needs to be on display. And thanks for the insight!

[1st Sgt CES]

all I can say is wow !!!!!!!!!!