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$148.50
Original: $495.00
-70%Original German WWI U.S. Captured Trench Periscope with Send-Home Address - 23rd Engineer Regiment - Master Engineer Edwin B. Lindsley—
$495.00
$148.50The Story
Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. This is a tremendous “send-home” periscope captured by Master Engineer Junior Grade Edwin B. Lindsley, Regimental Headquarters, 23rd Engineer Regiment. The periscope is almost certainly of German origin, but it could possibly be a French example given its crude construction.
The periscope is a larger example with a large wooden handle at the bottom. It measures roughly 34” in length and is 5½” wide at its widest. On both sides, it is inscribed:
MRS. L.D. LINDSLEY
OCEANA
VIRGINIA, U.S.A.
And on the other side at the top it’s inscribed:
E.B. LINDSLEY
REGT. HDQT.
23 ENGR’S.
The periscope shows heavy service use, and a small piece of wood near the base is loose as shown and is partially coming off. The glass of the periscope is still clear, however, and it works very well. There are small nail holes near the base from when it was attached to the walls of a trench. A fantastic “been-there” piece with great capture markings.
Truly the greatest periscope we’ve ever offered, comes ready for further research and display!
The 23rd was constituted on 15 August 1917, in the National Army by the War Department General Order 108, as the 23d Engineer Regiment (Road). In spite of the problems faced by the War Department and the Corps of Engineers since the declaration of war in the previous April, it took just three weeks to gather a nucleus of men and activate the 23d Engineers on 5 September 1917 at Camp Meade, Maryland. There they began their training. Very little has been recorded of these early days of the 23d Engineers except the terse entries in Army Records.
The 23rd Engineers began deploying to France in November 1917, and served in support of various allied actions, earning for itself the title "The Road Builders of the AEF." Based upon the written histories of other units in the same sections, we know that the 23rd Engineers contended successfully with building and maintaining highways destroyed by shell fire, areas contaminated by chemical warfare that had to be rehabilitated in order to be used by the support troops, and as in any war, the enemy of all armies, mud. The degree of success of the unit is measured by their nickname and earning three campaign streamers: Lorraine, Saint Mihiel and the Meuse-Argonne.
Details & Craftsmanship
Every detail has been carefully considered to bring you the perfect product.
Details & Craftsmanship
Every detail has been carefully considered to bring you the perfect product.
Details & Craftsmanship
Every detail has been carefully considered to bring you the perfect product.
Details & Craftsmanship
Every detail has been carefully considered to bring you the perfect product.
Details & Craftsmanship
Every detail has been carefully considered to bring you the perfect product.
Details & Craftsmanship
Every detail has been carefully considered to bring you the perfect product.
Details & Craftsmanship
Every detail has been carefully considered to bring you the perfect product.
Details & Craftsmanship
Every detail has been carefully considered to bring you the perfect product.
Details & Craftsmanship
Every detail has been carefully considered to bring you the perfect product.
Details & Craftsmanship
Every detail has been carefully considered to bring you the perfect product.
Description
Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. This is a tremendous “send-home” periscope captured by Master Engineer Junior Grade Edwin B. Lindsley, Regimental Headquarters, 23rd Engineer Regiment. The periscope is almost certainly of German origin, but it could possibly be a French example given its crude construction.
The periscope is a larger example with a large wooden handle at the bottom. It measures roughly 34” in length and is 5½” wide at its widest. On both sides, it is inscribed:
MRS. L.D. LINDSLEY
OCEANA
VIRGINIA, U.S.A.
And on the other side at the top it’s inscribed:
E.B. LINDSLEY
REGT. HDQT.
23 ENGR’S.
The periscope shows heavy service use, and a small piece of wood near the base is loose as shown and is partially coming off. The glass of the periscope is still clear, however, and it works very well. There are small nail holes near the base from when it was attached to the walls of a trench. A fantastic “been-there” piece with great capture markings.
Truly the greatest periscope we’ve ever offered, comes ready for further research and display!
The 23rd was constituted on 15 August 1917, in the National Army by the War Department General Order 108, as the 23d Engineer Regiment (Road). In spite of the problems faced by the War Department and the Corps of Engineers since the declaration of war in the previous April, it took just three weeks to gather a nucleus of men and activate the 23d Engineers on 5 September 1917 at Camp Meade, Maryland. There they began their training. Very little has been recorded of these early days of the 23d Engineers except the terse entries in Army Records.
The 23rd Engineers began deploying to France in November 1917, and served in support of various allied actions, earning for itself the title "The Road Builders of the AEF." Based upon the written histories of other units in the same sections, we know that the 23rd Engineers contended successfully with building and maintaining highways destroyed by shell fire, areas contaminated by chemical warfare that had to be rehabilitated in order to be used by the support troops, and as in any war, the enemy of all armies, mud. The degree of success of the unit is measured by their nickname and earning three campaign streamers: Lorraine, Saint Mihiel and the Meuse-Argonne.
