Trench Art

By Rose Smith

You may wonder what trench art has to do with quilting. 

I had always thought of it in terms of carvings or perhaps things made from shell cases and other hardware of warfare.

So I was amazed when I saw some examples of embroidery and quilting made during the First World War at a talk I went to recently.

Trench Art is defined as the handicraft of soldiers, prisoners of war or civilians directly linked to the armed conflict.  It is not confined to the First World War but can cover work done during conflicts from the Napoleonic Wars to today’s conflicts.

I saw some examples of cards sent home to family such as the one in the photo and other cards that were embroidered in the most extraordinary detail – far better than anything that I could do. 

Needlework was encouraged particularly among recuperating soldiers as it was considered to be therapeutic.  We all know how satisfying we can find our needlework.

Prisoners of war sometimes had little to do for long periods of time and they created amazing objects of trench art which they hoped they could barter for something they needed. 

When they could obtain the supplies, they would make embroidered or beaded belts either to barter or to send home to their families.  Embroidered postcards might have shown the regimental insignia or they might have been more personal, perhaps with flowers or other designs.

During the First World War America sent basic food supplies to Europe under a scheme called the Belgian Relief Fund.  At that time flour sacks were made of printed cotton and these were used in needlework much as they were used for quilting in America.  These would be more likely to be made by civilians involved in the supply chain.

Textile work may be only a small part of what is traditionally regarded as trench art, but it is a fascinating part of the whole and is just as collectable as other types of trench art.

Rose Smith is passionate about quilting and likes to share her quilting ideas through tutorials and free quilt patterns on her website: Learn How to Quilt

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