The Hat Pin Society Of Great Britain

Trench Art Hat Pins 1914 –1919

Lawrence Binyon

Trench Art is the term used to cover all sorts of artefacts made, supposedly in the trenches, during the First World War. Within this category there is probably only two sorts of hatpin: those using regimental buttons and those made of washers.

The popular view is that these were made by the front-line fighting men in the trenches as keepsakes to send home to their wives or sweethearts - part of a long-standing tradition of soldiers making articles and mementoes for loved ones. However, this is a very romantic notion, as the reality of trench warfare was that without access to the base materials, machinery and an aptitude for the task, making hatpins and other items in the trenches would have been difficult, if not impossible. It is more likely that the engineers, in workshops behind the lines made them for themselves and possibly their front-line comrades. Trench Art hatpins reflect the period very well. Although a very simple artefact they represent brief periods of sanity, and of soldiers yearning for loved ones back home, making these the most poignant of collectables; not in themselves, but for the self-sacrifice they stand for. The recipient would of course wear the hatpin with pride to demonstrate the regiment in which her loved one served and to show that ‘her man’ was doing his bit for King and Country. The reality of course would be very different, as the public back home had no idea of the realities of war.

‘The War to end all Wars’, was fought against the German Empire and its allies, mainly in the trenches of northern France and Belgium (Flanders), in the most atrocious conditions; the same piece of ground being repeatedly gained and lost. The death toll was colossal, the life through orange, yellow, green, and blue to violet.

At the start of the War, it was the British Expeditionary Force, dismissed by the Kaiser as `a contemptible little army', which had set off to support the French in repulsing the Boche. Later, however, to be an ‘Old Contemptible’ became a matter of pride to those who survived the initial onslaught in the first few months of the War. The ‘Mons Star’ was awarded to those who served between the 5th August and the 22nd of November 1914, to mark their special contribution. After the War, when they were also awarded the expectancy of an infantry officer being four weeks. Between August 1914 and November 1918, losses on all sides amounted to 8,020,780 dead and 21,228,813 wounded. On July 1 st 1916 alone, the first day of the Battle of the Somme, over 19,000 Allied soldiers died, out of a total of 57,000 Allied casualties. 8 Victoria Crosses were won, more than on any other day before or after, a total of 628 being awarded throughout the War.

A soldier's lot was to live in trenches full of mud, under constant bombardment, before being ordered ‘over the top’. Those who refused, or deserted through cowardice or shell shock, were brought before a court martial and, often with the barest formalities, sentenced to be executed by firing squad. Following conscription in 1916, conscientious objectors appeared before a tribunal and in many cases were exempted from active service on condition that they undertook noncombatant duties. Many distinguished themselves as stretcher-bearers, ambulance drivers and so on.

Unlike today, there was no media to tell the volunteers who so willingly signed up to the colours, what they were fighting for. Men left their home town with pals in local militia, cheered on by their friends, relatives and womenfolk, who thought it was their patriotic duty to enlist. ‘Your Country Needs You!’ was the cry. By the end of the War, whole villages were bereft of their men folk, and memorials were subsequently raised throughout the land in memory of the fallen. And it was not only in Britain but in all parts of the British Empire that youth, anxious for adventure and ignorant of the realities of war, `took the King's Shilling' and joined the fray. ANZACS from Australia and New Zealand, volunteer brigades from Canada and South Africa, and regular forces from India all rallied to the flag. The United States of America joined the Allies on 6th April 1917, providing the massive thrust of force that was to be the decisive factor in defeating the German Central Powers. Patriots from many countries had enlisted to fight for the Allied cause. At the end of the War, rather than all the Allies exchanging medals, it was agreed that each country would issue its own bronze medal in its own design and language, but all of a similar type. The winged figure of Victory would be on the obverse, with the reverse inscribed with the same general wording, ‘The Great War for Civilisation 1914-1919’. The ribbons were to be the same `double rainbow' of watered silk, with red in the British War Medal and the Victory Medal, the set was known as ‘Pip, Squeak and Wilfred’. This slightly deprecating term belied the deep pain and heroism of all who wore them.

The three regimental button hatpins shown here are British, Canadian and French. Surprisingly not all Trench art was made at the front, A great deal was made by the retail trade to meet the demand. Aspreys for example made some very high quality pieces. The British hatpin here was made by Lambourne’s, a Midlands manufacturer that specialised in items for gents, such as cufflinks and collar buttoners.

Another type of Trench Art hatpin is the ‘washer’ type. These were made from material scattered round the battle field and are usually associated with the Royal Flying Corps, as much of the materials; aluminium, brass, copper, clear and opaque plastics in a variety of colours, came from the aircraft of the time.

by Paul Moorehead