Trench Watch - Swiss Movement, Presented to Private E. A. Thompson, 1916

Summary — Museums Victoria

Small metal trench watch, missing band, with glass face and metal winder. It has a hinged back, on which is engraved presentation details. This watch was presented to Private Edgar Allan Thompson on the 20th April, 1916, by his fellow employees in the Clerical Department of Melbourne grocers Moran and Cato. Thompson left for France in October, 1916 and served there until April 1918, when he suffered severe leg and foot shrapnel wounds and was hospitalised in England. He returned home to Australia in October, 1918. It is probable that the watch travelled with Thompson during his time in the army. Wristwatches became popular for the first time during World War I. In contrast to the prevailing pocket watch, they allowed wearers to check the time while their hands were full. Their colloquial name 'trench watch' literally referred to their place of use. Trench watches still included the bulky pocket watch movements, which were refined after the war as the use of wrist watches grew.

Physical description — Museums Victoria

Small metal trench watch with a glass face and metal winder. There are wide metal lugs at the top and bottom to attach the wrist strap, which is now missing. It has a white enamelled dial with large numerals around the outside, which were originally painted with a fluorescent paint. It has a large hour hand, but is missing the minute hand. There is a smaller seconds dial, situated at the bottom of the dial, which is also missing its hand. It has a hinged front and back covers, which gives access to the dial and the movement. On the back is engraved details about where and when the watch was presented to the owner.

Significance — Museums Victoria

Statement of Significance: This watch is significant as an example of a presentation trench watch, also known as a wristlet, which were often given to soldiers after they enlisted in the armed forces during World War One. It is seen as a transitional design between pocket watches and the wrist watch, as it was designed to be worn on the wrist but had features common to the earlier pocket watch. It has added significance as the owner of the watch, Private Edgar Allan Thompson (RN 5419) is known, and a copy of his service record has been obtained from the National Archives. It is also significant due to its links to the long established grocery store chain Moran and Cato Pty Ltd which traded until 1969. It was established in 1881 Charles Cato invited his cousin Frederick Cato to join his business, which consisted of two grocery stores in Carlton and Fitzroy. In fifty years the business grew to include 140 stores throughout Victoria, Tasmania and New South Wales.