A few WW1 shell casings

I have a small collection of shell cases; most of which are WW1.
This being France; the 75mm Canon de Compagne is the most common. But I have been lucky to find a few rare 75mm versions of this type.
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On the left is an 1898 production; which has fine cracks in the base from firing.
Middle is a 1907 CASTELSARRASIN; apparently extremely rare with the full name stamp.
On the right is a Remington made 1916.

There are a couple of 18 Pounder British and a 13 pounder Schrapnel shell from the fields of Ypres. (yes it is empty!)
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Three similar German field gun cases and one that I've recently got, and not identified yet; it is 57mm diameter and 230mm tall.
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I 'm not a big fan of Trench Art; but have a couple of nice examples; made from 75mm casings. Also a lighter made from a 37mm case; shown with an example of the original shell.
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The Cross of Lorraine was my unit crest when I was in the Army Reserves, 79th ARCOM. 79th division in WWI and WWII. Now it's the 79th Sustainment Support Command. and moved from the East Coast to the West Coast. Which kind of sucks because it was always formed around Pennsylvania personnel prior to this. We wore the shoulder patch during Desert Storm but as each unit was placed under the command of another command, it is not our combat patch.

Be curious for more details on the two shells with the cross.

These cases are French 75mm field gun. Each one carries the name of a village from the "Chemin des Dames" battle ground in the Lorraine region.
Cerny* and Craonne. The "Chemin de Dames" was one of worst battles for the French in WW1. the villages were both totally destroyed during the battle.
The cross of Lorraine is quite a popular theme on trench art pieces. It was also used by the Resistance in WW2.
The other case, with the tulip is also marked" Craonne" at the upper rim and "Lucy"; obviously made for a loved one. The workmanship

* Actually now CERNY-EN-LAONNOIS.
The villages were rebuilt after the war; but a kilometre or two from the original site of the village. Probably as a mark of respect.

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Originally Posted by 30Three

the villages were both totally destroyed during the battle.

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It's amazing how much damage the French people managed to rebuild and repair after WW1 and before the start of WW2.

nice. thanks for posting

Costly WWI French battles was for the Forts ~ Douaumont & Vaux were pretty bloody affairs with Germanys bleed France white policy in the battle of Verdun appalling losses suffered by both sides well above what was the norm in that era.
I put it alongside the other battle for massed casualties the Somme.

Pierre Henri Clostermann DSO, DFC & Bar flew Spitfires, Typhoons & Tempests in WWII a free French fighter pilot his aircraft carried the Cross Of Lorraine and code JF-E, he called his aircraft "Grand Charles" whether this had anything to do with de Gaulle I do not know.

The auto biography of Pierre Closterman is an excellent read.

And that it is an air epic masterpiece "The Big Show"