WW1 Borgel case wristwatch used in WW1 at Gallipoli campaign.

[River Rat1]

I collect mainly military timepieces but also anything with military history. Saw this grouping with a watch. The watch by itself was worth what the seller wanted but the grouping that came with it was a plus. The WW1 veteran was Frederick Cooper he was in the British Army and was on a boat crew that most likely brought troops and supplies ashore at Gallipoli. And also drove trucks later in the war. The printout I posted will tell more. There's a button stick did not know what that was we don't use that in the US Navy when I was in its next to the show horn, used to polish your brass buttons on your uniform you put it under the button, so polish don't get on your uniform. Also had the original watch strap but it was beat up and a cheap one so got a strap from David Boettcher who makes the best strap for WW1 era trench watches. The watch was sold from a store in Scotland the company on the dial there still in business today. The photo has a X that's Mr. Cooper with this watch on his wrist how cool is that. And a diary of his time in the military. I can post photos of pages out of it if anyone wants to read some of it. The Borgel case on this watch was an early type of waterproof case.

 

[River Rat1]

A few pages of his WW1 diary. The last page said they got towed by a monitor I found a photo of one on the net to give you an idea of what it was like.

[Gear Fanatic]

That is an amazing watch is also very impressive,  it the diary is the main center piece in my opinion. Just curious, what was the price??

 

-Gear Fanatic 

[River Rat1]

Got everything for 800 bucks the watch alone worth that. Deals can still be had on eBay they are getting less. The last deal I got was a deck clock from the HMAS Australia from the captain's cabin this month got a great price on that.

To learn more about Mr. Cooper during WW1 there a society called the Salonika campaign society I joined it for their newsletters to learn the history of it. Mr. Cooper was also in this campaign. 

Here is the original strap and the one I got to replace the odd strap that was on it. David makes the most authentic close to the original straps the buckle even has silver marks on them. 

Got it from another collector.

[River Rat1]

One reason I got this was what he did during his military service, I did sort of the same thing being a combatant craft crewman in a Special Boat Unit XI where we operated river patrol boats (PBR) so felt kinsman ship to this. Came with a lot of stuff even his WW1 puttees.