Shell Casing Identification

[Blackblue]

Can anyone ID this shell casing? It's 85mm calibre and 292mm long - I suspect it's a British 18 pounder?

It looks to have a lot/batch number in black in around the base.

The impressed markings include:

GF or similar over 1917,

A broad arrow over 42,

OTB over 9408,

EEO (or similar) over B,

JM in a diamond,

18PL over _ over II,

s.s.m. and a broad arrow on the primer.

Rgds

Tim D

[MikeyH]

Tim,

You are correct, British 18 pounder cartridge case Mark 2.

Mike.

[Blackblue]

Thanks Mikey. Likely fired in 1917/1918 then?

[MikeyH]

Tim,

Yes to the date, the only maker I can find with the initials JM is the Jenckes Machine Co. (Canada), but unsure if they used a diamond as their logo.

Mike.

[Michael Haselgrove]

Hi Tim D,

What I see is EOC which is Elswick Ordnance Corporation which, according to the list I have, means the cartridge was made at the Armstrong, Whitworth, Birtley Factory, Durham. The CF mark indicates the cartridge filling - cordite full charge.

Your cartridge is nice in that it has the original stencilling on the base. Mostly this is absent having, on most of the examples I have seen, faded or been polished off over the years.

Regards,

Michael.

[MikeyH]

Michael,

Well spotted (EOC), I didn't pick up on that.

Mike.