The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
15 Pounder Mark II shrapnel shell made from forged steel. The head of the shell is missing, exposing the inside of the shell where 200 metal balls would have been housed. At the top of the shell are six small holes for the screws that would have attached the head. A fuze, time and percussion No 56 Mark IV would have been screwed into the threaded portion of the head of the shell. At the bottom of the shell case is a copper driving band. An inspection stamp featuring an arrow and '13/4/86' is present on the centre of the shell. See Handbook for the 15-Pr B.L. Gun Mark I (field batteries) 1896 for particulars of the gun and projectiles.
This shell was fired by a British 15 Pounder Breech loading artillery piece during the battle of Modder River on 28 November 1899. The battle was part of an early attempt by the British Army to relieve the besieged town of Kimberley. For most of the battle much of the British force was pinned down by Boer fire in open ground, but a flanking action in the afternoon led to the Boer force withdrawing that night. Although a British victory, the battle forced the British to halt their advance on Kimberley for ten days. After renewing the advance the British were badly defeated in the battle of Magersfontein. Modder River was a costly victory for the British, with over 400 casualties suffered. After the battle this shell was retrieved from the field. It is not known how it was brought to Australia.
Quick Fire 13 Pounder artillery projectile with Number 80/44 fuze as used by the 13 Pounder Quick Fire Mark 1 Gun during the First World War. The body of the shell is made from forged steel and has be
Nosecap from a naval shrapnel shell. The nosecap is made of steel with a brass end, over which there would have been a pointed tip. The extrerior has the remains of black paint. The interior is natura
Nosecap from a naval shrapnel shell. The nosecap is made of steel with a brass end, over which there would have been a pointed tip. The exterior has the remains of red and black paint and there is a b
Fragment of a 6 pounder shell, marked 'III / C'. This piece of a shell was found on 1 March 1919 at Pine Ridge by the Australian Historical Mission to Gallipoli. The ridge was the location of fierce
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
Late 19th century breech loading field artillery piece on a box trail with two wooden spoked wheels. Breech: Welin screw with a three motion action. Firing Mechanism: Friction igniter. The gun fir