Barbed Wire Picket

[Flying10uk]

An item that has recently resurfaced and which I inherited from my father is this barbed wire picket. I don't know where it came from but it has been owned for as long as I can remember, although it has only recently come to light again. It was most likely purchased or obtained post WW2 in the late 1940's and could have either come from the East Coast beach defences when they were being cleared/dismantled or perhaps it came from an army surplus shop that use to exist in Clacton on Sea?

Can we date it to WW1 or WW2 and what is the country of origin, please? The information online is a bit contradictory.

Many thanks for any information.

Information

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[Mk VII]

These screw picquets were used in huge numbers by both sides in WW1. Made of wrought iron. With a tommy bar through the loop it was possible to screw them into the ground at night instead of making noise hitting them with a hammer. After the war many farmers in Flanders used them as fence posts, and they can still be seen there sometimes.