The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
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 in the wheel to assist the grip of the hand wheel. The role of the hand wheel is to rapidly lower the gun barrel to aid in the ejecting and loading of the artillery piece during the firing procedure. Markings - BSC 1/1917.
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 to the Memorial in 1998. It is probable that this particular howitzer was used in action by the 55th Siege Battery in France in 1917.
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
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 f
Handwheel used to tether odometer measuring vane to ship's side. The handwheel has a rope and shackle attached to it. The hand wheel is made from mild steel and is painted light green. The shackle is
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
This sectioned shell has a 75mm thick copper driving band at bottom. Although scratched in part and revealing the brass underneath, traces of the original mustard yellow paint are still visible. Stamp
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
