Original, silver WWI watch engraved to Norfolk Regiment soldier. Trench watch.

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Solid silver trench watch, 1915, retailed by Kendal & Dent of London Engraved case-back to a named soldier of the Norfolk Regiment This very interesting World War I silver wristwatch is engraved with the name of its original owner, one R. A. Turner of the Norfolk Regiment. The engraving is dated for 1915. The watch itself has many good points. It has a silver case which is in nice solid condition. The hinged case-back is working well and snaps shut nicely. The bezel also snaps on and off properly. The case-back has import hallmarks on the inside for London 1915, placing it squarely in the First World War. It is therefore a true “trench watch”. The watch has an enamel dial which has no cracks or hairlines. The dial has the “red twelve” that many collectors believe denotes a watch made specifically for military use. The dial also has the signature of Kendal & Dent of London. The watch has a nice, clear crystal. It has a modern strap that has been improvised to fit the narrow fixed lugs that are standard on watches of this period. Reproduction straps to the World War I design are available on eBay. The watch does however have a single bad point, which you might have already guessed – it doesn't work properly. It winds and sets normally and the (single jewel) movement runs perfectly well for over 24 hours at a time. However, although the subsidiary seconds hand works properly all the time that the watch is running, the minute and hour hands remain stationary for most of the time. Sometimes they will randomly engage for half an hour or so but then they will eventually come to a standstill again. Sometimes the hour hand will engage and move around but not the minute hand. I'm not expert enough to know what this fault it but – because the movement runs reliably – I imagine it wouldn't be too difficult for a watch-mender or amateur horologist to sort out. The only other problem I can see with it, is that the movement seems rather loose in the case. It does not have the usual screws to grip the case and as far as I can see, it was not made to have them, so it looks possible that it intended to be like this. I bought this watch at auction and did not receive any history with it but, as you can see, it is engraved to the case-back “R. A. Turner. India. Norfolk Regiment”. Interestingly, the watch also appears to have a star and crescent symbol on the winder, which suggests it may have actually have been made to be sold to the colonial market, and was perhaps actually bought in India. AMENDMENT 14, 8, 15: When I originally listed this watch I suggested that it had probably belonged to Private Reginald Arthur Turner from Sheringham on the North Norfolk coast who was the only R.A. Turner I could find in the records who served with the Norfolk Regiment during the Great War. Reginald Turner was killed in action at the Second Battle of Gaza on April 19th in 1917. I have since been contacted by a helpful fellow eBayer who knows more than I about the history of the Norfolk Regiment. He suggests that the watch is more likely to have belonged to Robert A. Turner who is known to have served in India with the First Garrison Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment during World War I. . . . . . . and just a reminder that the watch is in need of repair. It is sold on that basis. UK Postage and packing: £5.00 International postage and packing: Postage charges to international destinations are given below. All postage prices quoted (UK and international) are maximum charges. If postage and packing costs less than these estimates, I will refund the difference after posting (subject to the difference being 50p or more for UK buyers and £1.00 or more for international buyers). I hope this description has given you enough to go on but should you require any further information, or more images, please do e-mail. Please also look carefully at the hi-res photos – they are part of the description. Thanks for your interest in this auction and good luck if you decide to bid. <... read more

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