Vintage Kent Felling Axe Head found on River Thames - ID help please.

[oldfatherthames]

Hi Everyone. I'm a mudlark on the River Thames. I recently found a pretty bashed up and pitted axe head, and have tried to clean it up as well as possible. I think it was made in the late 19th century, and has since been used as a tool during WWI or II by the War Dept., or similar.
I think it is a Kent Felling design. It has a crudely marked broad arrow next to four counter stamped maker's marks reading 'W.DLA'. I think this is either a maker or acronym for Crown Property/War Dept, or similar. What do you guys think? Any help at all much appreciated. Thank you!

Images here: https://thamesmudlarkdiary.wordpress.com/kent-felling-axe/

 

[Broch]

Well, without trying to decipher the markings, all I will say is that it's not a Kent pattern axe!

Welcome to the forum BTW

 

[Dave Budd]

If you are on facebook, try the axe junkies group or better still the billhook junkies group. There are lots of folks on there that are i to their 19th century tool makers and might have an idea.

 

[Wander]

As said above, that's not a Kent pattern axe.
The arrow head does suggest military use. I don't know when that symbol came in to use, but I'm sure a quick Googling will answer that. That will give you a maximum age for it.

 

[Ystranc]

I’m not sure of the maker but WDLA stands for War Dept. Land Agency and these axes were government property for use on the land as part of the war effort. It’s an axe head from a small 5lb felling axe.

 

[Nice65]

There’s only one reason anyone would chuck that in the Thames, woz you darn the East End when you found it?

 

[Ystranc]

My best guess from its construction is that it’s from around the time of the Great War (1914-18) almost certainly used on land under the control of the WDLA who were responsible for creating many of our air bases and gunnery ranges that are dotted around the UK. Tools often went “Walkies” and ended up in civilian hands In the following years. There is no telling how it ended up in the Thames.