Trench Catapults

[T8HANTS]

Hi

In one of the strings I have just been browsing (on 54 Div I think) there was mention of the Brigades using a Trench Catapult. This would have been the locally produced version of the Leach-Gammage Trench catapult, the Gallipoli version being some 12 feet long, made by the RE company of the Royal Naval Division. The Western Front version being only7 foot long. If you want to see an original the IWM have a 7 foot one hidden away at Duxford, or if you are lucky you might catch a glimpse of my full size working replica. It was last seen at the Royal Gunpowder Mills, at Waltham Abbey. It is a wonderful beast to shoot (not fire) and we stretch elastic technology to its limits

My honorary Uncle, Sgt Albert Dimmer of Princess Beatrices Isle of Wight Rifles used one in anger during their sojurn on the penninsular, and it was his tales of the wretched thing that inspired me to build one in his memory. I have built a web site dedicate to it, but have had no luck getting it hosted.

Is there anybody out there with unpublished photographs that I could use in my site (full credit give) or could offer advice as to where I could get an anorak's subject like mysite on the Leach published.

Gareth Isle of Wight Rifles Living History Society