Krupp guns of the Boer War.

As I mentioned, Observatory Park contains the South African War Memorial to those people and animals from the Colony of New South Wales who served in the Boer War (1899 - 1902)

It has a Krupp field artillery piece mounted on blocks behind it.  It seems to have orignally had wheels on either side, implying that it was designed to be horse drawn.

The breech block shows the markings of Krupp and that it was manufactured in 1895 at Essen.

The internal diameter of the barrel measured 75mm.

I've been able to find this Order of Dedication Service for the ceremony on Sunday June 2nd, 1940. The official register of War Memorials in New South Wales shows this information but it doesn't say much about the gun.

My friend Nico added a useful piece of information about the stampings on the breech block.  The "Fried." stands for Friedrich, as in Friedrich Krupp.  "Friedrich Krupp" makes up the first part of the name of the manufacturing company.  The three interlocking circles in a triangle pattern were part of the company's mark.

(There is a useful wikipedia article about the Krupp firm here, but itmay be subject to some bias from time to time since it deals with matters pertaining to War Crimes in World War Two.  Such Wikipedia articles are prone to be hacked or subverted from time to time.)

War memorials and ex-service clubs around Australia can be found adorned with various artillery pieces and even naval guns, some formerly used by Australian forces, some used by our wartime enemies.

 So, from where did this artillery piece come?  Was it one of ours, or one of theirs?

I can't find any direct evidence at the moment, but a search of the holdings at the Australian War Memorial reveal just three items relating to Krupp during the Boer War.  They are three photographs, two photograph show Krupp guns captured from the Boers, and the other photograph shows Krupp guns being used by the Boers.

The Australian War Memorial photographs are here,   here,  and  here.

It seems likely then that Krupp supplied the Boer side in that conflict, and therefore the piece shown at the memorial on Observatory Hill was captured.

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