WW11 Trent art shell

[zephyr4]

I am not sure what the shell is but the case has been inscribed
ORTONA-XXX-111-MCMXLV-ITALIA.
The roman numerals don't make much sense to me, I know the Canadians had a hard fought battle at Ortona.

 

[TonyE]

Date translates to 30th March 1945.

Regards
TonyE

 

[zephyr4]

Thanks for that TonyE. I think the case is English, could you give me any more info.

Thanks z4

 

[TonyE]

Agree with Gunni, it is a 40mm Bofors L/60 made in 1942. It has been reloaded once ("CFF") indicating two loadings Cordite Full Charge. Icannot quite make out what is stamped around the primer. Is it "FIDDIAN"?

Regards
TonyE

 

[zephyr4]

It does say FIDDIAN, is this the maker.

 

[2pounder]

what nobody has pointed out is the primer adaptor from the old large Bofors design to the later smaller British primer, never seen one before, didn't know they existed.

 

[zephyr4]

i have checked the other 40mm cases I have and they are all small primer's.


Thanks for the help z4

 

[dano1917]

Very nice and ornate piece of trench art. This was done by a true artist. With trench art it runs the gamit from sloppy to beautiful. I totally agree with the idea someone came up with with a seperate catagory for trench art items. Much of the trench art items were made for soldiers by enterprising French artists right after the hostilities ceased (both wars). Some were home made by the soldiers themselves. Anyway back to the shell. she is beautiful....Dano

 

[zephyr4]

Thanks for the comment Dano, I have about 150 trench art shells but I have only checked a few for the caliber and maker of the cases.

I can understand that some think the shells would have been better left alone but you have to remember that people had to try and make a living the best they could after the war.

z4