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World War 1 carvings, Bakewell railway bridge
An artist and historian, David Kelsall, is reported by the Peak Courier newspaper to have discovered carvings on the bridge parapet relating to the First World War. They depict a tank, a Lewis Gun, and aeroplane, a howitzer and the head of a Red Indian with head-dress.
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describes how
"The 2nd Infantry Division "Indianhead" patch is one of the most recognized unit emblems in the U.S. Army because of its distinctive design...
The origin of the patch goes back to the earliest days of the division's history. While training with the French in 1917, Col. Herringshaw of the Service and Support Supply of the 2d Infantry Division Noticed that the French trucks were marked with symbols representing the unit which it belonged. He sponsored a contest among his men to design a symbol for his trucks. There were three winners: first prize winner was a design featuring an Indianhead; second prize went to a plain white star and the third prize is lost in history.
The Colonel was not completely satisfied and it is believed that, by chance, he combined the two symbols of the white star and Indianhead and liked what he saw. Some theories say that the single star represents the state of Texas, while others claim the star is from the American Flag".
The carvings can be seen best in low,but bright sunlight.
Mr Kelsall's theory is that they were done by troops convalescing in the Red Cross Hospital, about 1/4 mile away, (formerly the workhouse, and now Newholme Hospital)
The year in which they were done ?
In World War 1 tanks first appeared at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette in September 1916. It was the first time tanks had ever been used in a military conflict.
The British sent 49 tanks into the battle.
The introduction of the "Indianhead" markings on US vehicles came in 1917.
The date 1918 is incised into one of the slabs on the parapet, just below and to the left of the tank.
They may have been done over a period of time, but unlikely to have been done before 1916.
Link
describes how
"The 2nd Infantry Division "Indianhead" patch is one of the most recognized unit emblems in the U.S. Army because of its distinctive design...
The origin of the patch goes back to the earliest days of the division's history. While training with the French in 1917, Col. Herringshaw of the Service and Support Supply of the 2d Infantry Division Noticed that the French trucks were marked with symbols representing the unit which it belonged. He sponsored a contest among his men to design a symbol for his trucks. There were three winners: first prize winner was a design featuring an Indianhead; second prize went to a plain white star and the third prize is lost in history.
The Colonel was not completely satisfied and it is believed that, by chance, he combined the two symbols of the white star and Indianhead and liked what he saw. Some theories say that the single star represents the state of Texas, while others claim the star is from the American Flag".
The carvings can be seen best in low,but bright sunlight.
Mr Kelsall's theory is that they were done by troops convalescing in the Red Cross Hospital, about 1/4 mile away, (formerly the workhouse, and now Newholme Hospital)
The year in which they were done ?
In World War 1 tanks first appeared at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette in September 1916. It was the first time tanks had ever been used in a military conflict.
The British sent 49 tanks into the battle.
The introduction of the "Indianhead" markings on US vehicles came in 1917.
The date 1918 is incised into one of the slabs on the parapet, just below and to the left of the tank.
They may have been done over a period of time, but unlikely to have been done before 1916.
by Peter Barr
Created: Tue, 8 Apr 2014, Updated: Wed, 9 Apr 2014
5 images use this description: (all images taken in 2014)
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