During the First World War, as in conflicts before and after, soldiers collected souvenirs - some items picked up from the battlefields, others purchased from local shops or craftspeople. However, some soldiers were artists and craftsmen who collected materials that they could transform into something else. These war souvenirs made of modified battlefield detritus or other locally-sourced material became known as trench art. However, trench art satisfied more than the souvenir-impulse. Creating such objects was an absorbing and imaginative pastime for soldiers caught in a situation that was frightening, demoralising and beyond their control but, paradoxically, often also boring.

Messines:

At Messines, Hill 63 lay to the south of the German-occupied ridge and the village, and was a key location in the allied line for observation, encampment and socializing (a large YMCA canteen was set up on the southern side of the hill). The New Zealand Division was sent to hold 1½ kms of frontline in November 1916, and spent the winter and spring of 1917 there. New Zealand 2nd and 3rd (Rifle) Brigades were among the first troops carrying the major offensive on 7 June 1917 that began with the detonation of mines under the Messines ridge. The New Zealand Division was responsible for taking Messines and pushing through beyond the village. The 4th Australian Division was then to pass through them to extend the attack further to the north & east. By the time the New Zealand Division was relieved on 9 June, it had 3700 casualties, including 700 dead.