mtaylor Posted 16 December , 2013 Share Posted 16 December , 2013 Does anyone know the locations of any surviving trophy guns in the UK? [Outside IWM, Firepower, Ft Nelson, Tank Museum, Enniskilllen, Beamish, Lincoln, Eilean Donan or Achnacarry]. Most were scrapped - not primarily in WW2 but during the 1920s early/30s. One was recovered from a pond at Dornoch in 1991 and then scrapped see http://www.historylinksarchive.org.uk/groups.asp?id=2, one was supposedly located in a quarry in Aberdeenshire see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-15003303 but no-one seems to have thought to photograph it despite the very public excavation! Rumour has another in Cumbria. Any info very welcome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 16 December , 2013 Share Posted 16 December , 2013 One was pushed into a lake in Cumbria by revelers one night and recovered years later but don't know if its still around. There was a thread on the forum about one that was dug up and is now at an open air museum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Haselgrove Posted 16 December , 2013 Share Posted 16 December , 2013 Hi mtaylor, In Chepstow recently I came across the deck gun from a U-boat in the square near the town centre. I'm afraid I too failed to take a photograph. Regards, Michael H. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtaylor Posted 16 December , 2013 Author Share Posted 16 December , 2013 Thanks Both - the open air museum is Beamish - and I'd forgotten about the Chepstow U-Boat gun - so thanks for the reminder. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtaylor Posted 16 December , 2013 Author Share Posted 16 December , 2013 More info on Chepstow here: http://www.forest-of-dean.org.uk/downloads/Stories_Articles/Chepstows_Unique_War_Memorial.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sepoy Posted 16 December , 2013 Share Posted 16 December , 2013 Hi mtaylor, In Chepstow recently I came across the deck gun from a U-boat in the square near the town centre. I'm afraid I too failed to take a photograph. Regards, Michael H. Here are a couple of photographs of the Chepstow Gun which I photographed a few years ago. Sepoy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aradgick Posted 16 December , 2013 Share Posted 16 December , 2013 I have come across references to the War Office offering captured German Field Guns to communities after the War. Bracknell in Berkshire had one for a while (although I don't know what happened to it), and Sandhurst were considering having one as well. Andrewr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 16 December , 2013 Share Posted 16 December , 2013 I have come across references to the War Office offering captured German Field Guns to communities after the War. Bracknell in Berkshire had one for a while (although I don't know what happened to it), and Sandhurst were considering having one as well. Andrewr Hundreds of towns had them. The mayor of Lampeter was very peeved that his demand for a German tank was not met and he had to settle for some minnenwerfers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtaylor Posted 16 December , 2013 Author Share Posted 16 December , 2013 Indeed, just so. Thousands of guns were spread across Britain in towns and villages. Broadly speaking the bigger the settlement, the bigger the gun (or guns) but what is so striking is how few have survived. Any other suggestions for survivors? Does anyone have any info on the Cumbria example? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 16 December , 2013 Share Posted 16 December , 2013 I'll try and trace where I got this from http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=166532&page=4#entry1625751 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchtrotter Posted 16 December , 2013 Share Posted 16 December , 2013 A private trophy MG 08/15 can be seen at Ragley Hall in Worcs. Also some other items. The contempory resident ws an officer in the Guards. Some interesting militaria can be sen in a nice stately home. TT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jay dubaya Posted 16 December , 2013 Share Posted 16 December , 2013 The "Statistics of the Military Effort of the British Empire During the Great War" HMSO 1922 records: "The War Trophies Committee was formed in November, 1916, the terms of reference being "to deal with all questions in regard to the distribution of trophies and watch the interests of the Imperial War Museum." When a claim for a gun etc, had been substantiated, the unit in question was asked its views as to the destination of the trophy, with the proviso that it went to a Regimental Depot, a recognized public body, or museum; up to present some 3,595 guns, 15,044 machine guns, 75,824 small arms and 7,887 other trophies had been distributed. Large numbers of applications were received for allotment from County Authorities, Mayors and Corporations of cities and towns, Urban and Parish Councils and other communities. The Committee decided that allotment of the trophies to which no claim had been substantiated, had to be recommended by the Lord Lieutenant of the County. Scotland still boasts a few trophies, This artillery piece was captured by the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders at the Battle of Loos, during World War I. The regiment suffered significant casualties, with Colonel Sir Donald Walter Cameron of Lochiel, XXV Chief of Clan Cameron being wounded in the action. Also the Clan Macrae Memorial at Eilean Donan Castle The Tutbury Mueseum Have a Maxim - The Tutbury Parish Council Minutes for 7th June 1920 record that 'the German Machine Gun be deposited at the Boys School if the managers consent' and that 'the German Field Gun be deposited at the Little Bridge on a site lent by Mr. Newton'. In the Tutbury Village News of July 2010 it was reported how a machine gun was found in the cellar of the Charity House many years ago. This gun is on exhibition at the Museum now (7.92 Maxim, MG08/15 LMG). The Museum holds the original Carrier's note showing that a case of machine guns was sent to the Parish Clerk, by rail (GNR) from ASC officer i/c Transport, Lichfield on 6th May 1920. the NIWM also list the Archangel Gun at Penicuik Barracks but sadly I can find no picture of this at present, also the Chipping Camden german Field Gun - the following made me wonder if people just didn't want these 'relics' on their dooorsteps - A group of primarily younger local veterans did not want the gun. They removed it from it base twice. The first time, the gun was removed from its base during the night of 24 May 1920 by war veterans in the area and dumped in the middle of New Pool. The Parish Council had it returned and it was placed back on its base.It was removed for a second time, this time in a festive torchlight procession. The participants read 'military orders' and sang war time songs. It was dumoed in Sloshy Walker's mill pond at Berrington Mill.The council decided there was no point in retaining it so the Earl of Harrowby took it and had it removed to his house at Burnt Norton Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 16 December , 2013 Share Posted 16 December , 2013 There is a WW1 German howitzer on the roadside at Home Lacey near Hereford. I posted a photo about a year ago.Have no history on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtaylor Posted 17 December , 2013 Author Share Posted 17 December , 2013 Jon/Centurion - thanks both for the helpful replies. My 9nterest is in artillery pieces (I gave up on MGs 'cos almost every regimental Museum has at least one). Artillery however are very rare. Centurion - searched the forum for Home Lacey without finding it - do you have any other details? Penicuik is Glencorse barracks and I think the attached is it! Looks like a 13cm Kanone. Many thanks for the clue. Will go and see it! Mike This time with attachment! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 17 December , 2013 Share Posted 17 December , 2013 memory failing! Not a howitzer but it is on the Home Lacy road. http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=179628#entry1746374 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtaylor Posted 17 December , 2013 Author Share Posted 17 December , 2013 Thank you Centurion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IRC Kevin Posted 18 December , 2013 Share Posted 18 December , 2013 One was pushed into a lake in Cumbria by revelers one night and recovered years later but don't know if its still around. There was a thread on the forum about one that was dug up and is now at an open air museum. Jimmy Hewitson V.C. and a couple of his pals used the steam launch 'Gondola' to tow one into Coniston in the 1920's. The gun is believed to have been recovered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtaylor Posted 20 December , 2013 Author Share Posted 20 December , 2013 Thanks - so that's the Cumbria incident identified. Anyone know what happened to it? Any more examples of surviving German Artillery pieces? Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtaylor Posted 20 December , 2013 Author Share Posted 20 December , 2013 Cumbria Magazine Nov 2011 "but when a German field gun landed in Coniston Jimmy and his pals took great exception. One night they trundled the object down to the lake, and with the aid of the Gondola it was dragged into the water and submerged, although there is speculation that it is no longer there." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 20 December , 2013 Share Posted 20 December , 2013 AFAIK it was salvaged post WW2 and sold to a local collector but has since disappeared from the ken of man. Trying to remember if there were any Trophy guns in the Rotunda at Woolwich. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtaylor Posted 20 December , 2013 Author Share Posted 20 December , 2013 I guess that items from the Rotunda would have found their way to 'Firepower'? So, the grand total in England and Wales (outside of the collections listed at the start of the thread) so far is just three: Herefordshire - 77mm Field gun; Beamish - 15cm Kanone M16 and Chepstow- submarine gun. Any more? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtaylor Posted 6 January , 2014 Author Share Posted 6 January , 2014 More on the Coniston Gun. This is from http://cumbrianwarmemorials.blogspot.co.uk/2011_01_01_archive.html 'The Coniston gun had an interesting history. It was placed outside the Ruskin Museum in the village until one dark night when Jim Hewitson, the village's VC, came out of the pub with a bellyful of Hartley's Best Bitter and together with other veterans dragged it down to the lake and chucked it in with the observation that they had seen enough of such things in France. It was raised by local divers about the 1960s and eventually ended up in the private collection of the late 'Happy' Wilks at Ulverston Drill Hall. No idea where it is now.' Anyone any post-Ulverston sightings? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtaylor Posted 17 January , 2014 Author Share Posted 17 January , 2014 I don't suppose that the gun by the Herefordshire roadside might be the Coniston Gun as it seems to have passed into private hands and (unlike the USA) there can't be too many private pieces of artillery in the UK.? Or is that a case of 2+2=5? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Pegum Posted 17 January , 2014 Share Posted 17 January , 2014 I understood that the trophy guns were recycled during WW II Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 17 January , 2014 Share Posted 17 January , 2014 I understood that the trophy guns were recycled during WW II MichaelI A simplification, many had gone to scrap before then and some may have survived until later or even still be around Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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