The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Large circular drum consisting of an external brass cylinder, with two vertical rows of engraved ranging measurements (1 to 45 and 2 to 108), attached to a smaller internal steel drum which incorporates a heavy-duty central pivoting point and a line of cog teeth along the left hand circumference. A very large screw-bolt secures the two together. The internal base of the brass drum is impressed '563'. There are two large impacting tears and a spray of smaller impact damage marks on the external drum, which is also dented. Dried mud is evident in the teeth, and corrosion inside the steel drum and on the screw-bolt.
Damaged range drum from a German anti-aircraft gun salvaged from the Warfusse-Abancourt area by members of 2 Pioneer Battalion on 15 August 1918. For the week prior to this date, 2 Pioneer Battalion had been involved in active support of the 8 August Offensive, having been tasked with clearing and repairing roads in the wake of the advance; A and B Companies were detached to 3 Division to assist in clearing the roads of obstacles and wire, filling shell holes and (in the case of Lieutenant Henry Edwin Rich's platoon, from A Company), capturing three German machine guns and 40 prisoners as they found themselves working closely with the mopping up parties. The purpose of their work was to ensure that the guns of 13 Artillery Brigade could be moved up rapidly to enable them to continue supporting the assault as it moved east. C Company cleared the way for general wheeled traffic, while D Company opened an overland track towards Warfusse.
On 9 August, 200 men from C and D Companies were loaned to the Canadians to assist in pushing forward a broad gauge railway line from the south of Villers-Bretonneaux. By 15 August the companies were repairing roads to the north of Warfusse-Abancourt, which is where this damaged range drum was recovered. This is one of seventeen items collected by 2 Pioneer Battalion in the week following the 8 August Offensive and handed over to the Australian War Records Section on 27 September.
Colour Patch of 2/4 Pioneer Battalion, AIF. Triangular felt colour patch, showing a purple triangle inside a grey border. A smaller inverted white triangle is set in the centre. Unknown.
Large (823 mm diameter) bass marching drum with a varnished plywood shell, half of which has been left in its varnished state, while the other half is painted brick red, with a regular pattern of red,
Gold painted wood and vellum side drum with steel frame, wires and adjustment screws. A small gold and enamel badge, in the shape of a shield surmounted by a king's crown, is attached to the side of t
Side drum with the main body of the drum made from brass. A brass ring has been added to the top and bottom of the drum, each with 5 points attached to fit the drum tensioning screws. The outside of t
Black square colour patch for 2 Australian Pioneer Battalion, AIF, with a crossed pick and axe above the numeral '2' embroidered in purple. This is a right shoulder colour patch. Worn as a distingui
Rectangular chrome-plated cigarette case with rounded corners, internal hinge and a spring clip release. A small black painted brass German Iron Cross is soldered to the top left corner of the lid. Th
