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Friday, 16 January 2009

Comments

MC Heunis

Sir, you are correct. This gun is a 75mm Krupp Quick Firing Field Gun L24. It is one of 8 imported by the Transvaal Republic before the Boer War. It was used by the 1st or 2nd Mounted Battery of the "Staatsartillerie" during the war. We suspect this specific piece was the one surrendered at Paardeberg on 27 Feb 1900 and that it was alotted to Australia as a war trophy by the British Crown.

Note. It is the only surviving example of its kind. Pity it is rusting away the way it is...

Regards

MC Heunis
Onderofficier
Oranje Vrijstaat Artillerie Corps
Historical Study and Re-enactment Group
www.heilbroncommando.com
kruppgun@yahoo.co.uk

Bob Meade

Thank you MC Heunis for that valuable information.

Perhaps it will ease your mind to know that the rust is not so bad. Most of what you see in the photographs is just surface dirt. It struck me at the time that it has held up remarkably well for a piece which was made 110 years ago and which has probably been exposed to the elements for 70 years. With a good clean and unfreezing of the breech it could probably fire a few salvoes if suitable ammunition could be made.

Kerry Emerson

This may be of interest.
http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/rare-war-trophy-fired-in-wanganui-3533091

lifeasdaddy

Kerry Emerson - Thank you for the link. That's a nice news piece. Great restoration work and a wonderful ceremony.

Geoff Lawson

Sir, MC Heuis is right and you are too. The 75mm L24 was drawn by horses and had wheels the same as the L27 Krupp in Wanganui, New Zealand, that Kerry Emerson talks about. The chief difference between the two is that the L24s were known as 'quick loaders' because they used self contained 'cased' ammunition. The L27 in New Zealand is an earlier 'bag'gun,which uses separate powderbag and shell, which need to be manually loaded individually into the barrel for firing.

Geoff Lawson

The Krupp L27 in Wanganui, NZ, is now the subject of a book. After seven years of research the book "Our Gun' is now a reality. This gun is NZ's only blackpowder Krupp, our only 19th century Krupp, our oldest Krupp,(of course)and the first artillery gun trophy to be brought home by returning NZ troops. Gifted by General Kitchener to the 4th New Zealand Mounted Rifles for exemplary service in Western Transvaal, Krupp Number Four is a military icon and a national military treasure.The story of Krupp Number Four is not without drama and hope, success, defeat and loss is all a part of it. Copies can be ordered via geofflawson@live.com

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