WW1 Replica Coffin build, advice needed please.

[Grizz1963]

Some of you may know my wife is an undertaker.

The are planning to do an honour memorial type display at work to the fallen in World War 1

Central to the display will be a "replica" coffin, possibly a bit like what would have been found on the front line.

Clearly we know that the trenches were much more terrible than most could imagine, and possible most burials were done in a blanket, or less as the war progressed.

I am going to convert the packing crate into something possibly resembling a field built coffin.

I need ideas on what else to add to make the display hit the right note.

We have a knackered WW1 helmet, and a Poppy type Union Jack.

Other ideas and advice appreciated as we want this to be a great memorial and reminder.

This is what I have.



Plan is to reduce it by 30% in height and to invert the planks, so it looks more hand made.

[sparkydog]

Whoa you just took alternate tinkerings to a new level!

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by sparkydog

Whoa you just took alternate tinkerings to a new level!

LOL !!

Thanks buddy, I guess its just about keeping busy, and also the fact that my wife and I work as a team.


Today I took the box apart, the reduced the height and length..... serious PITA. But now done.

It is not really what I had envisaged, but once the rest of the decoration is added, like Union Jack, Bible, some clothes etc.

The base was left on, as the shop has a 400mm high window sill. And once decorated that space will be filled up.



Shorter, and less height.



Woodwork side done.



Keep in mind, most of the casualties in the war were buried at a maximum in a blanket or some canvas, wood was in very short supply.

Now the next step is to "age and decorate" the wood.

[ERASER5]

You do know better than to play golf with your wife right? The undertaker is always on top at the last hole.

Just a little undertaker humor from a skit/play called "Trigger mortis, frontier mortician." I have more, lots more...

[67ChevyRedneck]

Did they drape flags over them in WWI? I know it's supposed to be in the field, but maybe a tattered looking 48 star flag draping over it would look neat and help people recognize it better as a field made coffin? I can see people walking past and not knowing quite what that was. Great job on the build though!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Old-Glory-48...item58934c9508

[Grizz1963]

Not quite wood turning, but wood makes the difference.

Yesterday evening Nicola and I went for a walk along the Medway river, this is where her pipe collecting thing started as there used to be a lot of prison ships on the river, and clay pipes were tossed overboard when used.

I love walking there, as there is always some interesting debris that the river washes up.

Yesterday there was a mini TV tube, which I nearly brought home to incorporate into something..... no idea what though, but I let it be.

Further on, there was a 6 foot, very rotted and old wooden post, with a 12 inch spike through it. ( I wanted the spike) so carried it a long way back toward the car, but then stopped at a guy who had just pulled a large houseboat out of the river onto dry moorings for maintenance,

I stopped there, and asked him for a hammer, once he understood what I wanted to do, he disappeared for about 3 minutes and came back with a selection of tools, and we proceeded to remove said spike with its crust of rust.

Back home I cleaned it up with a large ball pein hammer, and also cleaned a shorter 6 incher, followed by a quick weld up on both sides.

I then mounted it on a bit of wood I also found yesterday alongside the river.

Still have to see what Nicola thinks, but I quite like it.



We collect random religious icons, but if the boss says no, then it's out to the scrap pile with this one.

[Keith Seymore]

A somber task, to be sure.

I thought that WW1 era caskets would have the more elongated "diamond" distinctive shape, as shown in this footage from the funeral of Baron Manfred von Richtofen (aka the "Red Baron").

http://aso.gov.au/titles/historical/...hthofen/clip1/

K

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

A somber task, to be sure.

I thought that WW1 era caskets would have the more elongated "diamond" distinctive shape, as shown in this footage from the funeral of Baron Manfred von Richtofen (aka the "Red Baron").

http://aso.gov.au/titles/historical/...hthofen/clip1/

K

Thanks for the reply.

Remember he was nobility so a different class to the millions of kids blown up and shot up in the trenches.

Most did not even see a coffin. Mostly blankets, canvas or whatever was available.

This "coffin" is more symbolic and to be a centrepiece for a Funeral home's display.

[Grizz1963]

PS Keith, take a look in this link at the photos.

http://freepages.military.rootsweb.a.../74th_arty.htm

There were 137 bodies onboard.

[Lippyp]

Get the old galvanised barbed wire and stick it in a bonfire and the galv should burn off and the wire will rust almost instantly. A simple wooden cross would be accurate too for the grave marker, you could also hang the helmet on it.

Have a look here at some period photos.

http://www.flandersfieldsmusic.com/ww1-photos.html

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Lippyp

Get the old galvanised barbed wire and stick it in a bonfire and the galv should burn off and the wire will rust almost instantly. A simple wooden cross would be accurate too for the grave marker, you could also hang the helmet on it.

Have a look here at some period photos.

http://www.flandersfieldsmusic.com/ww1-photos.html

Great idea...... Guess what ??

Health and Safety says NO.

Been looking for stuff to add to the stuff Nicola can use.

I did find an old paraffin lantern that will be added to the display.

Plan is to go set up the window this weekend.

Unfortunately, it has to conform to corporate policy etc.

[Grizz1963]

Took the box down to the shop this afternoon after work and helped Nicola do the basic set up.

Some fine tuning to be done.



Outside view..... (yes, the building needs a load o attention)

Size of display is limited by the size of the building and reception area.



Sister in Law Margaret sat and crocheted 60 poppies as well to help with the decoration.




Some finer details to be added, but I am pleased and impressed with how it has turned out.

I suspect some of the branches will not make the same effort, and wait to see what others have done.

"LEST WE FORGET"


Thank you to everyone who commented and helped with advice and additions to the display.

Unfortunately, barbed wire and other "dangerous" objects were banned, in case someone hurts themselves.

[Grizz1963]

Seems most people get it. One "lovely chap" on UKGSER did not get it. And managed to stall the thread with a hugely negative reply. But eveywhere else people appreciate it.

Whats nice is that Nicola's manager shared it with her regional manager who shared it with the zonal manager and they all were blown away that she made the effort.
She was also approached by "Funeral Service Times" an industry publication for August to write up a short article and submit photos to go with it. She was shocked but I was really pleased that someone saw fit to escalate her efforts.

Too many people these days are too lazy and cannot be arsed to make an effort.
Its always easier to break down than build up or go the extra mile.

Thanks for all the support.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Great job!

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

Great job!

Thank you very much.

My father in law called earlier to say that a photo of the display and Nicola's name was featured in a local newspaper article today.
She was also asked by two funeral trade magazines to do a write up about Chatham's contribution to WW1 and to submit some high resolution photos for publication in the August and September issues.
I am glad many people are "getting it"


During September Nicola will be doing "Coffee Mornings" at work to help generate funds for www.macmillan.org.uk which is a cancer support charity her company supports.
Last year the made a few hundred pounds, this year she is alone managing the branch on her own.

We have decided on a logo for her drive TIME TO GIVE .... ? which could be asking for time or for a donation toward this worthy charity.

With the time theme, we started looking for various clocks and timepieces at the bootfair today.
We set the ideal limit at 50p with £1.00 being the maximum to spend on a clock. These do not have to be working.

I suggested we suspend many of them from thin fishing line in the front window and do some other creative window dressing.

These were the first lot, The large wooden clock was free from a trader, I brought it home, dismantled, cleaned and gave it a coat of Danish oil to make it look good. The very large round one next to it was free from the same trader and I needed to backfill quite a lot of the glass with paint where it was damaged.



We need to find quite a lot more clocks to get the theme all ready and set up, bit will keep looking at the bootfairs.