The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
German MG34 Machine Gun. The breech is marked BSW over 1937 and the serial number 2462. The barrel has an air cooled barrel jacket. The butt is wooden and is marked with the serial number. The pistol grips are black plasic and the trigger is marked E for single fire and D for continuous fire.
The weapon is complete except for the firing pin.
This German MG34 general purpose machine gun was captured during a dawn attack on post R33, Libya on 14 April 1941 and was in close proximity to the point where Corporal Edmondson won the Victoria Cross during an attack on enemy forces. It is believed that this party had been in position during the counter attack in which Edmondson was wounded. The whole crew of the gun was found dead alongside it. The machine gun was salvaged and was also pressed into service against enemy forces. This weapon was a highly prized trophy by the 2/17 Australian Infantry Battalion.
The MG34 was designed by Mauser-Werke at Oberndorf and was intended as a dual purpose squad, vehicle and anti-aircraft machine gun. Later it was employed with even greater flexibility and was used as a light machine gun with a bipod and as a sustained fire machine gun using a sturdy buffered tripod and a dial sight. A total of over 350,000 units are believed to have been produced.
The costly and complex production process and the weapon’s sensitivity to mud and dust, saw the German army seek to replace the weapon with a simpler, more robust gun, using many stamped sheet metal components. This was the MG42. Nonetheless, production of the MG34 continued throughout the course of the war, with 61,396 guns manufactured in 1944, and 20,297 in 1945.
1939-45 Star. Unnamed as issued. NX15705 Corporal John Hurst Edmondson was born in Wagga Wagga, NSW on 8 October 1914. The only child of Joseph William and Maud Elizabeth Edmondson, John was educate
Africa Star. Unnamed as issued. NX15705 Corporal John Hurst Edmondson was born in Wagga Wagga, NSW on 8 October 1914. The only child of Joseph William and Maud Elizabeth Edmondson, John was educated
Australia Service Medal. Impressed around edge with recipient's details. NX15705 Corporal John Hurst Edmondson was born in Wagga Wagga, NSW on 8 October 1914. The only child of Joseph William and Ma
British War Medal 1939-45. Impressed around edge with recipient's details. NX15705 Corporal John Hurst Edmondson was born in Wagga Wagga, NSW on 8 October 1914. The only child of Joseph William and
German MG34 Machine Gun Tripod (Lafette 34). Tubular construction with the front legs folding backwards at the traverse arc position and locked by serrated wing nuts. The feet are flat plates and ther
Rectangular ammunition box of welded and pressed steel construction. The box is finished in original wartime dark green paint, with red oxide primer showing through in some areas. The lid is impressed
Victoria Cross. Engraved reverse suspender with recipient's details and reverse cross with date of award. NX15705 Corporal John Hurst Edmondson was born at Wagga Wagga, NSW on 8 October 1914. The on
German MG34 Machine Gun Tripod (Lafette 34). Tubular construction with the front legs folding backwards at the traverse arc position and locked by serrated wing nuts. The feet are flat plates and ther
German MG34 light machine gun. Breech top marked dot, 1944 and the serial number 4285. All blued steel construction apart from the brown bakelite butt and ribbed wood pistol grip that has a double fin
MG34 light machine gun. Gas operated, belt fed, equipped with a bipod and a perforated barrel shroud. Fires a 7.92mm Mauser round. Serial number 2054, Flash suppressor and recoil booster welded in pl
German MG 34 light machine gun. The weapon is air cooled, recoil operated gas assisted, and belt fed by a flexible metallic link containing 50 rounds. Receiver top marked dfb 41 and the serial number
German MG34 light machine gun. Breech top marked dot, 1944 and the serial number 5180. All blued steel construction apart from the brown bakelite butt and black plastic ribbed pistol grip that has a d
German MG34 light machine gun. Receiver top stamped dfb 42 and the serial number 7385k. All steel construction apart from the brown bakelite butt and black plastic pistol grip. The air cooled barrel h
