WW2 Canadian 25 Pounder Trench Art Ashtray and Lighter Dated 1942

The WW2 Canadian 25 Pounder Trench Art Ashtray and Lighter, dated 1942, is an artifact created from components of a 25-pounder field gun shell. Trench art refers to objects made by servicemen, often from salvaged military material. This piece functions as both an ashtray and a lighter, reflecting common practices among soldiers during wartime. The item shows distinct features characteristic of the era, including brass construction and period markings, with an engraved or stamped 1942 date indicating its origin during the Second World War. The design incorporates elements from 25-pounder ordnance, a widely used artillery piece within the Canadian and Allied forces. Such objects offer insight into the daily lives of military personnel, who transformed surplus or spent materiel into practical or commemorative items. This ashtray and lighter combination serves as a representative example of wartime ingenuity and the adaptation of military hardware into personal artifacts.