This paper knife was made from the drive band of an artillery shell. It was collected by King George V after a visit to the 63rd Division on the Western Front at Soissons on 26 October 1915. The King wrote in his journal:
 

We left at 2.00 & motored via Pierrefonds, Montefontain, Sommiers & Chandin to Bellen from where we walked up a hill to an observation post close to the Batteries from where I got a splendid view of Soissons just below us which is held by the French & I could see the German trenches & all the ground they are holding behind Soissons. Their artillery is not active, but one of their shells burst fairly close on our right.

King George V, journal Royal Archives, GV/PRIV/GVD/1914-1917