The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
This was the standard British and Commonwealth heavy howitzer used on the Western Front during the First World War. It was a very stable, accurate weapon, with quick traversing gear, rapid rate of fire, and heavy weight of metal. It was seen as a valuable weapon for counter-battery fire as well as for fleeting opportunity targets. Its great accuracy and the high bursting effect of its shell saw it being used to destroy strong points, pill boxes and machine gun nests. These guns were also the largest calibre weapon used by Australian land forces during the war. It was the first allied weapon to use the hydro pneumatic recoil system, which became the basis for many future recoil systems.
It is probable that this particular howitzer was used in action by the 55th Siege Battery (which later became the 2nd Australian Seige Battery) in France in 1917 and 1918 – the only Australian battery which used such weapons. Our example shows elements of battle damage on the right hand trunnion and splash on the barrel.
This howitzer was received by the Australian War Memorial in 1939 and subsequently made available for proof purposes to the artillery proof range (Proof and Experimental Establishment) at Port Wakefield, South Australia (SA). It was returned to the Memorial's Sydney store in April 1949. The howitzer was then loaned to the Royal Australian Artillery at Holsworthy, where it remained on display until recovered by the Memorial in 1998. It is probable that this particular howitzer was used in action in the later part of the war.
Rectangular Watkin Mekometer Mark I, used for range finding and position location in the field. The Mekometer is manufactured from brass, with the top plate secured by three small brass bolts. There a
Projectile laoding tray made from steel. The loading tray is designed to support a projectile on a loading hoist to aid the projectile being loaded into the breech before the artillery piece is prepar
4 Spoke, quick loading gear hand wheel made from brass. The handwheel is located on the right side on the craddle. The hand wheel rim is of a hollow folded design which has four wooden inserts located
105 mm howitzer, with a two wheel carriage, split trail folding trail and a splinter-proof shield. Recoil system is hydro-spring controlled. Rate of fire: 5 rounds per minute, with a crew of 7. Breech
British Q.F. 4.5 inch howitzer Mk II. A breech-loading artillery piece fitted with a sliding breech block, axial recoil system, splinter-proof shield, and steel box carriage. The gun is fitted with t
Sectioned 9.2 inch Shrapnel Howitzer shell. At top are two 23mm thick lines in light brown paint. Also stamped in white paint is "9.2". There is a 45mm thick copper driving band at the bottom. The sh
Although 'Australian 9.2 howitzer' was painted in 1919, immediately after the war, it clearly represents a scene from the last phase of the fighting. The centrepiece is a large howitzer, the heaviest
