To: Great War List Re: Somme bullet id Can someone help with this please? I have been given a bullet casing found on the Somme (where my grandfather fought with the 19th Manchesters). On the base are several numbers and letters. Looking at it as a circle, in an arc at the top are the letters I A R T D I, and in an arc at the bottom the letters E B S I. Separating these two arcs on the right are the numbers 02 or 92 horizontally together, and on the left what look like the numbers 1 (with a tail as in continental writing style) and possibly 2 (or it may be a Z). The casing looks to be about 12mm across at the base, narrowing gradually at first then more so in the top 10mm, and about 50mm total length, with the opening at the top about 8mm in diameter. I'm guessing it's French or German but have no experience of these things. Also found in the same area were several small, heavy ballsabout 12mm in diameter which look like grape shot. Would this be the case, or could they be musket balls perhaps from an earlier conflict? Thanks and best wishes, Tony Holkham Researching 19th Manchesters PALS (Cpl Ernest Briggs)