A pocket Bible carried close to the chest did exactly that for one British soldier in World War I, stopping a bullet in France in 1918.
The regulation-issue Bible belonged to Private John William Webb, who was carrying it in his tunic pocket when he came under machine-gun fire. The bullet was stopped at page 685, and the hole is still clearly visible.
Now, 108 years later, the book is set to go to auction at Hansons Auctioneers in Etwall, Derbyshire, on May 27. It is expected to fetch about £1,200, more than $1,600.
Hansons militaria expert Matt Crowson said: “Private Webb went on to survive the war.
“He returned home to Gloucestershire, living a long life that spanned both world wars, and died in March 1963 at the age of 85.
“But without that Bible, his fate might have been very different.”
Webb joined the army in 1916, and his service number 26700 is stenciled into the Bible’s pages. Crowson said those markings were common, so personal belongings could be returned if lost or if their owner was killed in battle.
He said: “Bibles like the one owned by Private Webb, were known as ‘soldiers’ Bibles’, most were pocket-sized New Testaments, often just a few inches tall, designed to fit into a uniform pocket or kit.
“Every British serviceman was issued with his uniform, helmet, boots and a Bible. Many were prized as a lucky talisman as much as scripture.”
Webb served with the 2/6th Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. On Oct. 24, 1918, his battalion took part in an attack on the German-held French town of Vendegies, near Cambrai, where it came under sustained machine-gun fire.
During that action, Webb’s service record says he suffered a “G.S.W. Chest” , a gunshot wound to the chest.
He survived, continued serving until 1919, and was then discharged because of his wounds. He received the British War Medal, Victory Medal and the Silver War Badge, which was issued to those honorably discharged as a result of injury.
The Bible’s current owner bought it 20 years ago from an elderly collector who was not thought to be related to Webb and had owned it for decades.
Read more from Talker News.
