The 25th division, another mark of identity engraved on the jug, was mobilized as part of the Kitchener's Army formed in 1914. It consisted only of volunteers, and originated by the recommendation of Lord Herbert Kitchener, the Secretary of State for War. The division consisted of half a million men divided into five army groups. The 25th division was a subdivision under one of these groups and served on the Western Front until 1919.
The body of the jug is engraved with the battle honors of the 25th Division (British Army). From left to right, we read: 'PLOEGSTEERT', 'VIMY RIDGE', 'MAILLY-MAILLET', 'THIEPVAL', 'OVILLERS', 'MOUQUET FARM', and 'MESSINES'. These place names represent the five western Front battles of The First World War in which the division was involved.The battles:'PLOEGSTEERT': was controlled by the British from 1914 to 1915. During this time, the British and Germans fought pitched battles. In 1916, Winston Churchill took command in the area. It was briefly occupied by the Germans until 1918.'VIMY RIDGE': The Battle of Vimy Ridge, which took place in 1917, was the prelude to the Battle of Arras involving Canada, Britain and Germany. As an independent victory for the Canadian army, it served as great encouragement and provided a morale boost.'MAILLY-MAILLET': The German army attacked Mailly-Maillet at the end of March 1918. The village was heavily shelled, forcing the Allies to use the catacombs below the village for transport and anti-aircraft purposes.'THIEPVAL': The Battle of Thiepval Ridge was the first of the major offensives of the Reserves during the Battle of the Somme on the Western Front in World War I.'OVILLERS': The capture of Ovillers was a British operation. On July 1 1916, Ovillers was attacked by the 8th Division of the Third Army on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, but suffered heavy losses. The 8th Division retreated and was replaced by the 12th Division. The 12th Division continued to attack Ovillers on July 3. The 25th Division continued, and Ovillers was occupied on July 16.'MOUQUET FARM': The Battle of Mouquet Farm was also part of the Battle of the Somme, which began on July 23, 1916 under the attack of British troops. The farm was captured by the 3rd Division of the Canadian Corps on September 16, then lost in a German counterattack. It was recaptured by the 11th Division on September 26 at the Battle of Thiepval Ridge ( September 26-28, 1916)
As a whole, the jug is therefore more than the reconfiguration of war materials such as shell cases and bullets. It is also testimony to the experience and memory of an entire division of engineers, with reference to the places where they were stationed and bearing the lasting symbols of their wartime identities.