Search to dig up Howitzer history

By PTE John Wellfare

One of the Howitzer artillery pieces found, at front left, and the anti-tank gun.

CONSTRUCTION workers have discovered a piece of Australian military history while developing a new hanger site at RAAF Base Williamtown.

Two six-inch Howitzer artillery pieces and a two pound anti-tank gun had been in the ground since the late 1940s or early 1950s, when the out-dated weapons would have been disposed of as landfill.

Ground Liaison Officer for No. 2 Squadron Major Michael Leichsenring said both the RAAF Historical Unit and the Army History Unit had been notified of the find, which occurred during construction of the new 2SQN hangers.

“The Artillery Museum at North Head is investigating the history of the guns based on the serial numbers,” he said.

The two Howitzers had serial plates identifying them as having been manufactured in 1918, one by Vickers and the other by W.B. & Co.

“Most of these types of guns – because it was 1918 when they were made – went to militia units between the wars. Then during World War II, a lot of them were deployed to North Africa.

“But, of course, pieces would have had to be left in Australia to do continuation training for the follow-up forces.”

MAJ Leichsenring said the squadron was still in the early stages of researching the weapons and finding out how much history was involved in them before coming up with a solution.

2SQN CO Wing Commander Tracey Friend has expressed an interest in restoring one of the pieces for display at the unit, while the fate of the others may rest on the research underway and how much interest its outcome generates.

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