Here we have a lovely and fascinating example of a 1915 Wilson & Gill, London, Silver Dennison cased trench watch. It has a detailed engraving to the rear of the case with the 10th Battalion The Rifle Brigade motif and text, dated 21st July 1915. The case is well proportioned, measuring just under 36mm wide. It has the coin edge screw front and rear with the silver wire lugs. The crown tube is chunky with the water-resistant design of onion crown to the tip. The dial is the bright white enamel with the outer railroad minute track with bold Arabic numerals. The Wilson & Gill signing is below 12 with the sub-seconds at 6. The hands are of the luminous cathedral style, with the thermally blued tone. Inside the case has the Dennison signing with the hallmarking from Birmingham assay office for silver, dating to 1915. The movement is a Tavannes 15 jewel manual wind calibre, which has been recently serviced and is keeping accurate time.
The 10th Battalion The Rifle Brigade
The 10th (Service) Battalion of the Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort’s Own) was formed in September 1914 at Winchester as part of Kitchener’s Second New Army. They were attached to the 59th Brigade in the 20th (Light) division and trained in England, before landing in Boulogne, France, on July 21st 1915.
They fought as a dismounted, fast-moving infantry. As a rifle regiment, they specialised in rapid tactical movement, high-volume rifle fire and trench warfare.
Once in France they entered the line for trench familiarisation near Fleurbaix. They fought at the Battle of mount Sorrel in June 1916 and had had significant involvement during the Somme Offensive in 1916 including Delville Wood, Guillemont, Flers-Courcelette, Morval and Le Transloy. In 1917 they fought during the German retreat to the Hindenberg Line, the Third Ypres (Passchendaele) campaign (Langemarck, Menin Road, Polygon Wood), and the Cambrai Operations.
They were disbanded on February 5th 1918 at La Clytte in Belgium, due to a reduction of brigades from four to three in British divisions. The remaining personnel were transferred to other units.
The watch
We love this classic trench watch due to the symmetry of the Dennison case with the coin edge screw front and case back. It is also a well sized watch with a case width of just under 36mm, without crown. Add to this the London retailer, Tavannes movement and 10th Battalion engraving, and you have an excellent WW1 trench watch.
The dial is the bright white enamel with the railroad minute track to the exterior. It has the thicker dashes for the 5-minute graduations and arrow markers to the quarters. It has the bold Arabic numerals with the black outline, which were in-filled with the luminous paint, which has mostly worn off. Below 12 is the worn retailer signing, which was for ‘Wilson & Gill, 139 & 141 Regent Street, London’. At 6 o’clock is the well sized sub-second register which is inset into the dial and has the classic railroad track. The sub-second hand is original and has the thin design with lollipop counterbalance. The hands are of cathedral style with the thermally blued tone and the aged luminous in-fill.
The case is well proportioned, measuring 35.5mm x 35.5mm. With crown, the total width is just under 40mm and the wire lugs take the total length to 43.3mm.
It is formed of silver and was manufactured by Dennison. It is their water-resistant case design of the era with the coin edge screw front and case back. It also has the chunky crown tube and onion crown capping the right-hand side. The lugs have the fixed silver bars which are strong, securing the strap. The 10th Battalion engraving to the rear is exceptionally well done. It is a beautiful engraving which serves as a symbol of unit identity and pride. It would also serve a practical use of differentiating the watches owner and also identification in the tragic event of death.
Inside it is marked to the inside with the Dennison name and hallmarking from Birmingham assay office. It carries the lion mark for Sterling Silver with the date letter ‘r’ for 1915/16.
The movement is a 15-jewel manual wind Tavannes calibre. It has been recently serviced and is keeping accurate time to within +60 seconds variation per day, with an amplitude of 275 degrees.
The watch comes on a vintage strap, which fixes on with metal fold over tabs. It is manufactured by renown Swiss maker AW, with his initial stamp to the clasp. It is also marked ‘Wristi’ which was likely a trade name during the period.
The watch is modelled on a 7” wrist circumference.
Please see the images as these compliment and aid the description provided below.
A further condition report is below.
Dial:
The dial is enamel and is in good original condition, with no chips or hairline fractures. The signing is clear to the dial. The retailer signing has worn with age below 12. The luminous to the hour markers has worn with age. What remains is original and is the darkened tone.
Hands:
The hands are of cathedral style and have the luminous in-fill. The luminous is original and has aged to the same rich tone as the hour markers.
Glass:
The mineral crystal is a replacement which is in strong condition. It has a couple of scratches which are visible.
Crown:
The crown is the original onion design and is in good condition, functioning well.
Case:
The coin edge finish to the bezel is well defined. The coin edge to the screw back is also good and well defined. The case is good with no denting and nothing more than light scratching. The front and rear screw on tightly with good threads. The rear has the engraving and a scratch to one side.
Strap:
The watch is on a vintage leather strap with fold over metal tabs for fixed lugs. It has been soaked in leather honey and is good to wear going forwards.
Movement:
The movement is a Tavannes calibre, which is manual wind and has a jewel count of 15. It has been recently serviced and is keeping accurate time to within +60 seconds variation per day, with an amplitude of 275 degrees.
Case dimensions
Case width: 35.5mm
Case width with crown: 39.5mm
Case length: 35.5mm
Case length lug to lug: 43.3mm
Case depth: 11mm
Lug width: 11mm