Wallaby Sniping Cage : Gallipoli

The front of the sniping cage is made from a rectangular piece of steel with a thickness of about 18 mm which has been curved and has the remains of olive green paint on the front. In the centre is a viewing hole 355 mm long by 68 mm high. The front piece sits on top of a thin steel base with a thickness of about 7mm. This piece has been cut to fit the curve of the front piece and has two 'tabs' at the front which have been bent down to form legs.Similar 'tabs' are also present at the back of the base, but these have not been bent and between them the base is shaped with a curve like the front of the base. At the back of the sniping cage, a piece of steel has been attached under the base to thicken it and to provide an area to mark out measurements. The area is marked out in inches at the top, half inches beneath that and in eight of an inch beneath that. A metal frame is secured to the base and the front piece.

In the centre of the base is secured a length of steel, with a butterfly nut to tighten and secure the rifle in place once the target has been acquired. At the end near the front of the cage, the steel has been bent up and the end shaped to form a 'U' to hold the barrel of a rifle near the tip. At the other end, a piece has been screwed into the piece of steel, with a larger 'U' shape which would hold the barrel further back. Beneath the 'U' is a metal pointer which lines us with the measurement markings on the back of the base.

On the reverse side of the front piece is a curve shaped thin metal 'curtain' rod which has several split rings on it with a scrap of fabric attached to one of the split rings.

Sniping Cage found in a Turkish Ordnance Dump at Ak Bashi Liman, Gallipoli. These were used to hold a rifle in a fixed position after aiming, so that it could be fired again at the same target without re-aiming, principally for night firing. The concept was invented at Gallipoli by Major William Thomas Charley of the 6th Light Horse Regiment.