Darkman
Well-Known Member
A recent pick-up for me is this Australian made WW1 - 18 Pr HE presentation shell. Made at the Wallaroo workshops of the Wallaroo & Moonta Mining & Smelting Co. South Australia in May 1916.
A little-known fact is that Australia made a small number of both HE and shrapnel 18 Pr shells (projectiles) to help the British war effort in 1916.
In late 1915 and early 1916 there was a shortage of shells as the existing British and Dominion factories couldn’t keep up with demand - to the extent that it was hampering and hindering the war on the Western Front.
Ever patriotic, Australia was desperate to help out and sought engineering drawings and manufacturing expertise from the UK to start production. We formed a national body and various state committees that apparently produced a lot of meeting minutes and discussions but very little action. Existing engineering factories that had the manufacturing capability were selected and were keen to start work but the drawings took months to arrive by ship.
Eventually by the time we got into production the shell shortage had abated as Canadian factories stepped up production, and our shells were no longer required. Logistically it was also difficult and expensive for us to ship shells to the UK.
Records indicate that some 10,000 shells were shipped to the UK before they told us not to bother anymore.
Occasionally you see Australian made 18 Pr shells (usually Mk III HE, but sometimes Mk V shrapnel), distinctive by their mid-1916 manufacture date, unfired drivebands and sometimes unfinished. I’ve seen shells from WA, SA, NSW and Victoria, but there were probably others.
Graeme
A little-known fact is that Australia made a small number of both HE and shrapnel 18 Pr shells (projectiles) to help the British war effort in 1916.
In late 1915 and early 1916 there was a shortage of shells as the existing British and Dominion factories couldn’t keep up with demand - to the extent that it was hampering and hindering the war on the Western Front.
Ever patriotic, Australia was desperate to help out and sought engineering drawings and manufacturing expertise from the UK to start production. We formed a national body and various state committees that apparently produced a lot of meeting minutes and discussions but very little action. Existing engineering factories that had the manufacturing capability were selected and were keen to start work but the drawings took months to arrive by ship.
Eventually by the time we got into production the shell shortage had abated as Canadian factories stepped up production, and our shells were no longer required. Logistically it was also difficult and expensive for us to ship shells to the UK.
Records indicate that some 10,000 shells were shipped to the UK before they told us not to bother anymore.
Occasionally you see Australian made 18 Pr shells (usually Mk III HE, but sometimes Mk V shrapnel), distinctive by their mid-1916 manufacture date, unfired drivebands and sometimes unfinished. I’ve seen shells from WA, SA, NSW and Victoria, but there were probably others.
Graeme