The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Steel barrel 590mm in length. with internal diameter of 65mm. Fastened to a clamp on the mid-point of the barrel is a steel stirrup, fabricated out of 6mm steel bar. This stirrup would have engaged a large brass breech block and held it in place against the breech, forming the primary means of obturation. The brass block was secured to a wooden base, with the barrel fixed at a 45 degree elevation. A number of parts are missing from this example.
The 65 mm Grenade Howitzer Mark 1 (also known as the Garland Trench Mortar) was used by Australian and British forces during the Gallipoli Campaign during the First World War. This example was apparently used in the Australian Trenches at Lone Pine, Gallipoli. The weapon was devised by Herbert Garland, and manufactured in Cairo.
This mortar was found at Lone Pine in January 1919 by Lieutenant William Hopkins James, who headed a small party to Gallipoli for the Australian War Records Section (the precursor to the Australian War Memorial). They arrived at Gallipoli in mid December 1918, and remained there until late March 1919. With the assistance of members of the 7th Light Horse Regiment stationed in the area, they collected items, and photographed the battlefield. In February 1919 they were joined by the Australian Historical Mission, lead by Official Historian C E W Bean, who remained at Gallipoli until mid March.
Smooth bore trench mortar with fixed barrel set at approximately 45 degrees. The barrel is made from steel which is attached to a brass breech piece with powder recess, bolted onto a wooden block that
Smooth bore trench mortar with fixed barrel set at approximately 45 degrees. The barrel is made from steel which is attached to a brass breech piece with powder recess, bolted onto a wooden block that
Remains of a Garland mortar grenade. It consists of the cast iron case of the grenade, similar in shape to a mushroom. This example retains its shipping plug still screwed in place. Prior to firing, t
Improvised Turkish trench mortar made from a fired 18 pounder shrapnel projectile and wooden stock shaped like a rifle butt stock. The projectile barrel is made from hardened steel and has been discol
This pencil sketch of a Turkish trench mortar in use in the battle at Lone Pine, Gallipoli peninsula. The Mortar consisting of empty schrapnel case mounted on a stock to which it was secured by two me
Remains of a Garland mortar grenade. It consists of the cast iron case of the grenade, similar in shape to a mushroom. The metal is corroded and retains some of the soil in which it was found. This
Fired brass shell casing from a breech loaded Japanese trench mortar used by Australian forces at Gallipoli in 1915. The fired primer is still attached to the brass shell casing. This shell case wa
