shippingsteel Posted 7 July , 2012 Share Posted 7 July , 2012 Here are some photos from my latest "fact finding mission" - you don't have to go far to find something that is GW related.! Any interesting information that can be provided regarding the IDs and background etc would as always be most appreciated. Cheers, S>S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiegeGunner Posted 7 July , 2012 Share Posted 7 July , 2012 German 21cm howitzer? Have you got the bayonet that goes with it ...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shippingsteel Posted 7 July , 2012 Author Share Posted 7 July , 2012 Now that would be a find.! I can already see the write-up on ebay ... "incredibly rare and never before seen" ... should bring a good premium.! Yes it's one huge sized field gun - the most impressive of its era that I have come across - looks to be of Krupp manufacture and has been dated with 1916. Cheers, S>S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shippingsteel Posted 7 July , 2012 Author Share Posted 7 July , 2012 And here is the other end of the spectrum - a pair of Minenwerfer captured by the 40th Inf. Bttn. AIF, near Clery in 1918 (still in nice condition) Cheers, S>S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieBris Posted 7 July , 2012 Share Posted 7 July , 2012 Is it the 21cm at Anglesey Barracks, Hobart? The 21cm at Childers, Qld is in better condition (http://www.ammsbrisbane.com/home.html?L0=7&L1=1&L2=33), it has the original wheels without the steel plates to stop kiddies from climbing on the gun. Nice pair of lMWs though. There was a sale of a 21cm from a private collection in South Australia last year. The asking price was $A30,000 which was way too high considering the state of the gun (it had sat outside in Hindmarsh, SA until declared dangerous from corrosion). It was bought by the Jackson collection in New Zealand. Very few restorers would have access to the heavy engineering workshop needed to handle a 21cm. Regards, Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shippingsteel Posted 7 July , 2012 Author Share Posted 7 July , 2012 Is it the 21cm at Anglesey Barracks, Hobart? The 21cm at Childers, Qld is in better condition, it has the original wheels without the steel plates to stop kiddies from climbing on the gun. Nice pair of lMWs though. Yes thats the location Charlie, I did wonder about those steel plates on the wheels and wasn't sure exactly what they were about, so thanks for that info. From the same collection here is another for you to identify. There was a plaque attached but I must admit that I didn't have time to read through them all.! Cheers, S>S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieBris Posted 8 July , 2012 Share Posted 8 July , 2012 It's a 7.7cm Feldkanone 96 n.A. Fairly average restoration - the wheels aren't right, on the original the spokes were morticed into the felloes. There are pieces missing around the breech - the sight bar, elevation wheel, breech opening lever, etc. The gunners seats look like they came from a tractor. Much better restoration at: http://www.ammsbrisbane.com/home.html?L0=7&L1=1&L2=12. The gun may be serial #6933 captured by the 3rd Div. Regards, Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shippingsteel Posted 8 July , 2012 Author Share Posted 8 July , 2012 Thanks Charlie - yes the Anglesea Barracks holds quite a special place in Australian miltary history, the oldest base still in operation. It was first established in 1814 and has a record of producing many fine soldiers that fought in support of the Empire over many wars. As a special treat for the "historical gun connoisseurs" here are some old ones (the mortar being used at the siege of Sevastopol) EDIT. I believe the cannon in the lower photo was also a Crimean War capture from the Russians, as it still shows the cyrillic markings. Cheers, S>S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shippingsteel Posted 8 July , 2012 Author Share Posted 8 July , 2012 And some memorials to just a few of those fine soldiers - a couple of medal winners that helped make a difference during the GW. Cheers, S>S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shippingsteel Posted 8 July , 2012 Author Share Posted 8 July , 2012 And the historical centre-piece of the collection presenting two vastly different vistas - the colonial barracks in sandstone & the inter-war barracks in brick. Cheers, S>S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cnock Posted 9 July , 2012 Share Posted 9 July , 2012 Hi, thanks for sharing! Cnock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andalucia Posted 9 July , 2012 Share Posted 9 July , 2012 Enjoyed seeing these. Thanks for posting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shippingsteel Posted 10 July , 2012 Author Share Posted 10 July , 2012 Thanks for the comments - here are some more. While the losses occurred on the battlefield, the impact was being sadly felt a whole world away. Cheers, S>S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shippingsteel Posted 10 July , 2012 Author Share Posted 10 July , 2012 A different location but the message remains the same - they served, they fought and quite often they did not return ... Cheers, S>S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shippingsteel Posted 10 July , 2012 Author Share Posted 10 July , 2012 It is a popular misconception that the great Australian military traditions were first born at Gallipoli - that is clearly not the case. Well before that many men served abroad. This is one of the first guns fired in anger by Australian troops during the Boer War. Cheers, S>S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shippingsteel Posted 10 July , 2012 Author Share Posted 10 July , 2012 While they may have fought in a different age and on the other side of the world ... the sun has not yet set on their memory. (Sorry for sounding all emotional, but it was somewhat of a sentimental journey, and I for one have not forgotten their sacrifice) Cheers, S>S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David B Posted 10 July , 2012 Share Posted 10 July , 2012 Thanks for sharing those photos SS. Ones I have not personally seen before either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jscott Posted 14 July , 2012 Share Posted 14 July , 2012 Great photos S>S - its fascinating how many reminders there are of ww1 around the world (often in unexpected locations). I've just returned from a trip to France (the Alps - not WW1 related) and found the long lists of names of WW1 casualties in all of the small village churches a very poignant reminder of how the war affected these communities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shippingsteel Posted 14 July , 2012 Author Share Posted 14 July , 2012 Yes Jonathan, the signs are all around us ... still to be seen. Sadly many are far too busy nowadays to stop and remember the loss and sacrifice of that war. I have just been reading about that gun in the OP - one of the most devastating weapons of the war - and the purveyor of 'whizz-bangs' and 'Jack Johnsons'. The enormous concussive force obliterated all in its path - it still makes my skin crawl when I think of how many good men it would have 'reduced' in that time. Cheers, S>S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David B Posted 14 July , 2012 Share Posted 14 July , 2012 SS, An interesting howitzer in your first post - the German 210 cm one. I don't know what you think of it but with the extremely narrow (for the size) track, it would have been rather hard to move on a rough road - and weren't they all - it would tend to tip rather easily I would think. Also interested in the avenue of honour comments. There is one just coming into Mortlake (on the Hamilton highway) which is all of 2-3 Km long and the trees are in magnificent condition. Considering that this area is a small farming community the number of young men who didn''t make it home from there is horrendous. I always fill with emotion when driving along there.t Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shippingsteel Posted 15 July , 2012 Author Share Posted 15 July , 2012 Yes it sure is huge - standing next to it you just feel "wow this is a monster" - but then later upon sombre reflection it really hits you - "it is truly monstrous". You can really see why the GW was known as the "war of artillery" - the sheer size and capacity of the industrialised war machines made it so horrendous. When you think of that kind of destructive force ... versus the outdated infantry tactics of the time ... the carnage of the Somme etc becomes understandable. Cheers, S>S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shippingsteel Posted 22 April , 2015 Author Share Posted 22 April , 2015 I am just bumping this old thread back to the top, as my personal contribution to the forum as part of the upcoming 100 year commemoration of Anzac Day. No comments required, I thought just quiet contemplation would suffice. This is what it is all about - remembering the incomprehensible loss and sacrifice ... Cheers, S>S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts