Rare Prisoner of War POW Matchbox cover Tin-Can Candas Somme 1919 RFC RAF Ypres WW1

This is an extremely rare and highly desirable World War One work of art in the form of a matchbox cover made by a Prisoner of War (POW) in 1919.

This is not the usual, common brass piece often made using spent shells but a greyish metal most likely tin from a tin-can such as those in the image provided above.

This is a genuine handmade Prisoner of War artefact made in the prison camp with scarce materials available.

It is an absolute rarity & historical piece from the First World War.

It has been hand etched/inscribed as follows:

“Candas 1919”

on one side and on the other

P.O.W. Comy 261”

Please note the following information about the RFC/RAF base at Candas during World War One:

Candas during World War One – RFC/RAF base

In December 1915 it was decided to convert St Omer and Candas into fixed supply and repair depots and to create three new air parks in the army rear areas to provide mobile support to the flying squadrons. St Omer was retitled No 1 Aircraft Depot (AD) and Candas No 2 AD.

The importance of St Omer and its sister depôt 2 AD at Candas in maintaining the operational effectiveness of the RFC during the Battles of the Somme and Third Ypres cannot be exaggerated. In the face of rapidly growing attrition, every aircraft that the depôts could repair or rebuild and every component or engine that could be salvaged was crucial. Thus, during September 1917, at the height of the Third Battle of Ypres, St Omer and Candas, working day and night, issued 930 aircraft, reconstructed 116 and erected 113. By October of that year, the volume of new aircraft deliveries (then averaging 400 a month) and the quantity of repair and salvage work had reached a level that necessitated the creation of a separate Aeroplane Supply Depôt (ASD) alongside the main depôt, responsible solely for aircraft receipt, issues and repairs

The other side was a bit more difficult to work out as Comy is a Scottish name and the Scots were present in the Somme. However, I believe that the “Comy” is a reference to “Company” hence Company 261.

Company 261 was a unit of the British Army during the First World War.

It consisted of several Divisions including the 17th (Northern) Division.

Army Service Corps Mechanical Transport Companies worked as Divisional Supply Columns.

Each Division of the army had a certain amount of motorised transport allocated to it, although not directly under its own command. The Divisional Supply Column Companies were responsible for the supply of goods, equipment and ammunition from the Divisional railhead to the Divisional Refilling Point and, if conditions allowed, to the dumps and stores of the forward units

Early 1918 saw the 17th Northern Division resting after the battles of the previous year, again as part of V Corps. The division fought in the German Army’s Spring Offensives, followed by the Battle of Epehy and the Battle of Cambrai, both part of the attempt to smash the German Hindenburg Line during the Hundred Days Offensive which saw the end of the trench warfare and brought the war to an end on 11 November 1918.

This amazing artefact measures 5.8cm tall x 4cm x 1.7cm

It is in remarkable condition as shown despite being over 100 years old – probably sat in a drawer for several decades!

Please note that the shape is irregular in the folding/bending due to it being made by hand.

Just imagine who might have been using these towards the end of the First World War.

I have included for information only an aerial view of Candas and some of the personnel that were based there.

The £2 coin is NOT included in this sale.

I am always coming across rare and unusual antiques through my contacts and networks of dealers and collectors built up over 30 years. Keep checking my listings of feel free to drop me a message if you are looking for anything specific.