WW1 Military Motors - 1916 set x 50 cards

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Although the Second Boer War period Amoured Train shown in the attached photograph is outside of our WW1 time period, it does have an important connection to the 4.7 inch Field Guns used during WW1, in that the Naval officer shown standing in the middle of the photograph in front of the wagon's open doors, is thought to be Capt. Percy Scott, R.N. of HMS Terrible, who invented the ' Percy Scott ' gun carriages used on the 4.7 inch Field Guns.

The Imperial War Museum's photographs caption is as follows :-

" Royal Navy bluejackets of HMS Terrible pose by an armoured train at Durban during the Boer War. Mounted on the flatbed carriage is an improvised signal lamp consisting of a searchlight and shutter mechanism, powered by a dynamo attached to the train. The officer to the right of the image is possibly Capt Percy Scott RN. The tower of Durban Post Office can be seen in the background. "

Chalked on the front of the railway wagon is " H.M.S. Terrible to talk to Ladysmith ", which I assume refers to the large signalling lamp mounted on the Armoured Train's flatbed wagon, which was to be used to communicate with the besieged British Ladysmith Garrison.

LF

IWM 115145 This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Some nice details of the WW1 4.7 inch Field Gun are shown in the following two 1915 dated photographs of Canadian Gunners with their 4.7 inch Field Guns.

Their 4.7 inch Field Guns have the ' Woolwich ' gun carriages, and are also fitted with the 12-inch Recoil Buffers.

LF

The first photograph shows Canadian Gunners hauling their 4.7 inch Field Gun into position.

Canadian National Archives. This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Canadian Gunners ' Laying ' their 4.7 inch Field Gun.

LF

Canadian National Archives. This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

With reference to post #3296, here is a clearer image from a WW1 period picture postcard entitled ' cooking on an armoured train ', which shows a British Royal Naval Division sailor aboard one of the H.M.A.T. Armoured Trains teaching the Belgian troops how to ' peel spuds ' ready for the cooking pot, which is suspended from a metal rod between the train's armoured walkway over a cooking stove.

LF

This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

[PeterHarrison]

In a similar vein the National Railway Museum has published a piece on 'Armoured Trains in the First World War'.

You can read the article, with photos, at http://blog.nrm.org.uk/2015/02/26/armoured-trains-first-world-war/

Something I was totally unaware of and very interesting.

Peter

[Lancashire Fusilier]

In a similar vein the National Railway Museum has published a piece on 'Armoured Trains in the First World War'.

Peter,

Thank you for the link to a very interesting article.

The topic of the WW1 Armoured Trains is extremely interesting, and is one which I shall be re-visiting.

For those interested in WW1 Armoured Trains, here is a link to a free download of an excellent book " Deeds of a Great Railway " by G.R.S. Darroch, published in 1920 :-

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/45563/45563-h/45563-h.htm

This book has a section on a superb WW1 Armoured Train built at Crewe in 1914, which was designed to be able to travel throughout Britain using the rail network and deal with any threat from a German Invasion.

Here is an extract from the book describing the ' Crewe ' Armoured Train :-

" Drawings were accordingly prepared, providing for a train which should consist of two gun vehicles, two infantry vans, and a "side-tank" locomotive; the latter a 0-6-2 type engine, with 18 inches by 26 inches inside cylinders, and 5 feet 8 inches diameter coupled wheels, supplied by the Great Northern Railway Company, was placed in the middle of the train. Both gun-vehicles and infantry vans were carried on ordinary 30-ton wagons with steel underframes and 4-wheel bogies. On each gun-vehicle at each end of the train was mounted a 12-pounder quick-firing gun (having an approximate range of 3 miles) which was fixed midway between the bogie wheels, thus ensuring an equal distribution of weight on each axle.

Apart from the gun platform, which was protected by 1/2-inch steel plate (rolled in the mills at Crewe) with loopholes for maxim gun and rifle fire, the vehicle had two further partitions, one an ammunition store, the other fitted up as officers' quarters.

The infantry vans were nothing less than luxuriously appointed caravans on (flanged) wheels, fitted with folding tables, lockers, hammocks, rifle racks, cooking stove and culinary apparatus complete, equipped with acetylene lighting and an extensive telephone installation. Loopholed with sliding doors near the top, these vans were also protected by 1/2-inch steel plating.

Beneath the frames were four reserve water tanks, each of 200 gallons capacity, feeding to the engine side-tanks, and in one of the two infantry vans were two coal bunkers, holding each 1 ton of reserve coal supply for the engine.

Access from one end of the train to the other was obtained by the provision of a suitable platform alongside the engine, but protected by armour plates, and by similarly protected connecting platforms from one vehicle to another.

Formidable "fellows" as they were, cleverly camouflaged too with grotesque daubs and streaks of dubiously tinted paint, these armoured trains, although continually on the qui vive within easy reach of the East Coast, were fated to be denied all opportunity of showing their mettle, and of giving the wily Hun "what for," for the very reason that the Hun was seemingly too wily ever to risk exposing himself to the sting likely to be forthcoming from such veritable hornets' nests. "

Also, attached is a photograph of the ' Crewe ' Armoured Train.

Regards,

LF

Deeds of a Great Railway by G.R.S. Darroch. This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

[johnboy]

Macine gun carts

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Macine gun carts

johnboy,

A nice WW1 picture postcard showing Russian prisoners of war with their M1910 Maxim Sokolov machine guns fitted with blast shields on wheeled mounts, being escorted by German guards.

Regards,

LF

[Lancashire Fusilier]

More photographic evidence of the British 4.7 inch Naval Gun in action on the Western Front at the start of WW1, this time, seen mounted on a steel barge, presumably a Royal Naval Division vessel, firing from a canal ( Yser canal system ) near Nieuport ( Nieupoort ) in the coastal West Flanders region of Belgium. This photograph, is dated December 1914.

LF

IWM This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

[horatio2]

An interesting picture but the RND had no artillery or barges, was not in that area and was back in England by 12 October 1914.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

An interesting picture but the RND had no artillery or barges, was not in that area and was back in England by 12 October 1914.

Many thanks for the reply. Unfortunately, the photograph's caption gives no details as to who was operating the 4.7 inch gun barges in Flanders, which were apparently former shallow draught Belgian barges used to transport horses, i.e. horse barges. These barges had no engines and were towed.

Back on November 12, 2012, Forum member Siege Gunner posted a reply to a question relating to gun barges, which indicated that the Flanders gun barges were manned by the Royal Navy, as follows :-

" The British horse-boats were commanded by Commander Henry Halahan RN, later CO of the RN Siege Guns on the Belgian coast "

Regards,

LF

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Commander Henry Crosby Halahan's entry in the D.S.O. Recipient's Book :-

HALAHAN, Henry Crosby, Commander, Royal Navy, son of the late Colonel S.H. Halahan, of Chiddingfold. He entered the Navy in 1896, becoming Lieutenant in 1900. Lieut. Halahan was made a member of the Victorian Order in 1907. He served in the European War, and in November 1915, was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order ( London Gazette 19 November 1915 ) for his services in command of the Royal Navy Heavy Batteries attached to the Belgian Army since 1 January 1915. In operation on the Belgian front, from 25 September onwards, he displayed a gallantry and devotion to duty worthy of the best traditions of the Royal Navy. He was promoted Wing Commander, Royal Naval Air Service, in 1917, and he was killed in action 23 March 1918.

LF

[Lancashire Fusilier]

A nicely detailed photograph of a 4.7 inch Field Gun in action near Contalmaison during the Battle of Pozieres Ridge, fought as part of the larger Battle of the Somme from July to November 1916.

The photograph dated in August 1916, shows a 4.7 inch Field Gun of the London Heavy Battery receiving ammunition, which has been brought up by a horse-drawn General Service Wagon.

The 4.7 inch Field Gun has a ' Woolwich ' gun carriage, which has been partially buried, and recoil buffers.

The town of Contalmaison is 3 miles N.E. of Albert and 1/2 mile South of Pozieres in the Somme, Picardy region of Northern France.

LF

IWM4090 This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Another photograph taken of a 4.7 inch Field Gun in action during the Battle of the Somme, this gun is positioned in ' Sausage Valley ' located NE of Becourt Wood, and South of the village of La Boisselle.

' Sausage Valley ' was apparently so named after the German ' Sausage ' shaped Observation Balloon which previously regularly flew in the area, and also gave name to the the area North of La Boisselle ' Mash valley ', hence Sausage and Mash Valleys.

Note the ammunition boxes stored in the dug-out below the gun.

LF

IWM This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

A diagram map of the La Boisselle Somme battlefield area showing both the Sausage and Mash Valleys.

LF

This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

A coloured picture postcard version of the photograph shown in post #3313 is captioned as " Australian Heavy Gun at work ", whereas the original photograph taken by an official war photographer Lieutenant Ernest Brooks is captioned " 4.7-inch gun of the 1/1st London Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, in Sausage Valley, Becourt Wood, September 1916. "

The error in the captioning of the coloured postcard may have been due to the photograph apparently showing Australian horse-drawn limbers galloping past the British 4.7 inch Field Gun, rather than the gun being ' Australian '.

LF

This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Two panoramic views of Sausage Valley showing the intense activity in the area in the months following the start of the Battle of the Somme, the first photograph taken on 26th May 1917, also shows the much higher ground above Sausage Valley.

LF

IWM This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

British and Australian troops gathering around the many mobile kitchens, which have been set in Sausage Valley.

LF

IWM This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

A nice ' Stereograph ' photograph of British troops in the Firing Line before La Boiselle, awaiting the signal for the dash up the " Sausage Valley ", at the start of the Battle of the Somme.

LF

This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

The only photograph I have seen so far, of a British 4.7 inch Field Gun captured by the Germans, this 4.7 being on display in Ypres.

The photograph also shows good details of the 4.7's ' Woolwich ' gun carriage and the recoil buffers.

LF

U.S. Library of Congress 19654 This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

[GRANVILLE]

A nice ' Stereograph ' photograph of British troops in the Firing Line before La Boiselle, awaiting the signal for the dash up the " Sausage Valley ", at the start of the Battle of the Somme.

LF

This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

I have to be honest and say that I suspect this image is staged. To me the chaps look far too 'clean-cut' and the uniforms look far too new - even pressed dare I say?

David

[johnboy]

If they were 'going over the top' would they have had barbed wire at the edge of the trench?

[Lancashire Fusilier]

I have to be honest and say that I suspect this image is staged. To me the chaps look far too 'clean-cut' and the uniforms look far too new - even pressed dare I say?

David

If they were 'going over the top' would they have had barbed wire at the edge of the trench?

The staging of photographs from ' The Front ' was not unheard of, as was probably the case with some ' Stereograph ' photographs used in conjunction with a hand-held 3-D viewer, which were designed to bring the action at the Front directly into the Living-rooms back in Blighty.

Here is another example of a ' Stereograph ' photo from the Front, entitled " A Bosche Sniper worries a Section of Seaforths who are snatching a moment's rest ".

Again, we see uniforms and kilts in very nice condition for the trenches, complete with the pet dog !

Regards,

LF

This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

A version of a ' Stereograph ' 3-D Viewer, popular during WW1.

LF

This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

In addition to the 4.7 inch Field Guns deployed on the Western Front, and at the request of the Field Artillery Brigade on Gallipoli, who had urgently required long-range guns to deal with Turkish targets outside of the range of their 18 pounders, one 4.7 inch Field Gun ( Ex Second Boer War ) and still mounted on it's old wooden ' Percy Scott ' gun carriage was landed at Watson's Pier, ANZAC Cove, Gallipoli in July 1915. The 4.7 inch Field Gun was hauled inland, and set up in a 1st Heavy Artillery Battery emplacement, where the gun remained in action on Gallipoli until the British and ANZAC withdrawals, when the gun's barrel was deliberately destroyed to prevent it falling into Turkish hands.

The Turks attempted to remove the damaged 4.7 inch Field Gun's barrel for display, and later after WW1 ended and the Australians returned to Gallipoli, the damaged 4.7 inch Field Gun's barrel was found, and returned to Australia, where it is now on display at the Australian War Memorial.

In the attached series of photographs we see the ex Second Boer War 4.7 inch Field Gun mounted on its ' Percy Scott ' gun carriage being landed at Watson's Pier at ANZAC Cove, Gallipoli in July 1915.

LF

Australian War Memorial. These images are reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.