Height: 6.5cm (2.5in)
Silver mounted brass. A German H.Z.14.15 howitzer percussion fuse cap, the flared decorative mount inscribed ‘Champagne / Sept 1915’. Maker’s mark of Samuel Blackensee & Son Ltd. Hallmarked 1915.
A relic of the Second Battle of Champagne launched by the French on 25 September 1915 using their new tactic of 'attack in echelon’. Despite the new approach, some French regiments attacked with bands playing and their regimental flags flying. They made rapid gains but only until the Germans to stripped reserves from elsewhere and rush them into the line. The French suffered 145,000 casualties, against 72,500 German casualties. On 22 October, General Joffre claimed that the autumn offensive had resulted in important tactical gains, inflicted many casualties and achieved a moral superiority over the Germans. Nevertheless the French artillery had been unable to destroy the German artillery, often situated on reverse slopes of the Champagne hills.