After completing more research with the assistance of some French collectors, we can revisit this French cannon shooting prize of 1914. The watch itself was made in France. It is of good quality.

The restoration required a new Christal, hands and complete overall of the movement.

On the back of the silver case is a gun crew firing a French 75mm gun. This is the work of the Swiss artist Franier.

The interesting part is the engraving on the covet. The watch was given as first prize to a cannoneer named Vexiau. Unfortunately, we do not have his first name. French military records contain three men with this last name who died for France in WWI, one of whom was a 2nd Lieutenant. Since this is a list of those who died, it is possible that our Vexiau survived the war.

When I posted this watch for discussion several years ago, there was a theory that the contest was for shooting toy cannons. This theory was incorrect.

At the 1900 Paris Olympics, the French conducted a cannon shooting competition (real cannons, not toys). All of the competitors were French and it was not an officially recognized Olympic sport.

Although I was unable to locate any documentation of the 1914 Paris Cannon competition, I did find an article regarding the same competition in 1912 (attached). This article mentions who attended the competition and specifically mentions two cannoneers one of whom was Vexiau. It would appear that he came back two years latter and won first prize. This competition would have been quickly forgotten upon the declaration of war in with the axis powers in August of 1914. All cannons were needed to stop the German invasion.

So, we don't know exactly who Vexiau was, if he was the 2nd lieutenant who died in 1917 or if he survived this most horrible conflagration. But at least he prize watch is now ticking away and telling the time of day.