Steven Broomfield Posted 11 June , 2014 Share Posted 11 June , 2014 Continuing my stately progress through Cornwall, today found me in Marazion, the charming little town across the bay from St Michael's Mount. Adjacent to the town's war memorial is the stone pictured. OK: what was the gun and where is it now? (I've checked the extensive library to no avail). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HERITAGE PLUS Posted 11 June , 2014 Share Posted 11 June , 2014 Steven I wonder if it went the same way as many Crimean War Trophy Guns to help the War Effort during WW2? Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 11 June , 2014 Author Share Posted 11 June , 2014 I imagine so, but it would be nice to know what it was. 77, possibly, though not sure where it would fit in the space available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IPT Posted 11 June , 2014 Share Posted 11 June , 2014 Cornishman - West Cornwall News - January 1920 "Through the influence of Brigadier General Lord St. Levan, a German field gun has been presented to the town of Marazion by the War Office, in recognition the very high percentage of the men of Maraz who voluntarily joined H.M. forces in the early days of the war. The gun bears evidence of active service, and will eventually be placed in the new Recreation Ground" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 11 June , 2014 Author Share Posted 11 June , 2014 Thanks. St Levan is the name of the Baronial family who own St Michael's Mount. 77 it probably is, then. I wonder if the stone was moved to its current location when the gun went, assuming the gun was in a the local Rec. I might check and see if there's a Local History Society. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HERITAGE PLUS Posted 11 June , 2014 Share Posted 11 June , 2014 You might get some details form here: http://www.marazion.info/what-to-do-in-marazion/marazion-museum/ Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Wood Posted 11 June , 2014 Share Posted 11 June , 2014 When I was in Marazion a few years back the lady on duty in the museum was researching the town's WW1 dead - she may know a bit about the gun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jay dubaya Posted 11 June , 2014 Share Posted 11 June , 2014 Postcards from 1931 and the 60s don't show the gun by the war memorial. I suspect you're correct in thinking the stone was moved to its current location when the trophy was scapped Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Khaki Posted 12 June , 2014 Share Posted 12 June , 2014 I recall reading that in New Zealand at the outbreak of WW2 numerous old guns displayed in city parks and dating from the Crimea etc were buried to avoid being bombed by Japanese aircraft. I think they were later recovered in the 1960/70's and returned to display. Is it possible that GW trophy guns in the UK suffered a similar fate and still await their recovery. ( I would like to think so anyway) khaki Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kath Posted 12 June , 2014 Share Posted 12 June , 2014 The Victorian railings of the Keigwin Arms, Mousehole, were buried to save them. Kath. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 12 June , 2014 Author Share Posted 12 June , 2014 Thanks all. I think an e-mail to the Town Museum might be forthcoming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 12 June , 2014 Share Posted 12 June , 2014 Almost all trophy guns from WW1 were scrapped many well before WW2 and most of any survivors during that war - much the same story as the presentation tanks. Typical places where they used to be sited included The local war memorial a local park outside the town hall outside the public library with the presentation tank (if the town had one) Unusual that the stone was preserved however There are various stories of presentation tanks being buried as the council didn't want to pay to have them removed but none have been found and this appears to be another urban myth, in the UK I suspect the same would apply to buried guns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Strawbridge Posted 12 June , 2014 Share Posted 12 June , 2014 If of interest, and if you are still in the vicinity, there is a street lamp overlooking Newlyn harbour in memory of Louisa McGrigor, Commandant, VAD, who died in a London hospital. Or, perhaps, the gravestone of a Roman legionaire, at Trevarrack - both on the edge of Penzance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeyH Posted 12 June , 2014 Share Posted 12 June , 2014 Have distant memories of seeing a gun on a site overlooking the sea at Marazion. This on a Cornish holiday around 20 or even 30 years ago, seem to recall it in a fairly neglected garden area. Did not take any photos sadly and unable to recall if of WW1 or WW2 vintage, sorry to be so vague. Mike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 12 June , 2014 Author Share Posted 12 June , 2014 Ben to Bodmin today. Relevant photos to be posted elsewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Simulcrum Posted 17 December , 2016 Share Posted 17 December , 2016 I also remember seeing a gun when on holiday in the late 70s/early 80s, I asked about it at the local museum a year or two ago, but they didn't have any details. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Elliott Posted 19 December , 2023 Share Posted 19 December , 2023 Could this be the field gun in question?….Next to Marazion Folly Field toilet block. Not sure what year they were built? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dai Bach y Sowldiwr Posted 20 December , 2023 Share Posted 20 December , 2023 The block pavers date the image to the mid 1970s or later. The 4 digit area code for the builder's phone number, 0736 (Penzance) predates 16th April 1995. Judging by the rubber tyres, I don't think that's an original Great War German gun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TDH50 Posted 7 January Share Posted 7 January That’s a British 5.5” field gun. In service from 1941 to 1980, so definitely not the gun in question . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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