| Place | Europe: Western Front |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | REL37319.002 |
| Collection type | Technology |
| Object type | Munition |
| Physical description | Steel |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | United Kingdom |
| Date made | c 1916 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
6 pdr QF Mark XIII AP Shell
Description
6 pdr QF Mark XIII AP Shell for the 6 pdr, 57 mm Hotchkiss cartridge case. The projectile is made from cast steel. There are two steel driving bands near the base of the shell. There are no markings.
History / Summary
This projectile was recovered from a Mk I Male tank on 15 September 1916 by Lieutenant Malcolm Macfarlane at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette. At the time of the battle, four tanks advanced through the village of Martinpuich. Only one tank managed to progress beyond the Allied trenches before finally breaking down in no-man's land. Macfarlane took a detachment to set up a barbed wire entanglement around the tank and to recover it to behind Allied lines. To lighten the tank before recovery, all moveable items were removed, including the Hotchkiss shell. Macfarlane rendered the shell safe and kept it as a momento.