An unidentified Australian soldier standing on top of the carriage of the wrecked 15 inch naval ...

Accession Number E04407
Collection type Photograph
Object type Black & white - Glass original whole plate negative
Maker Unknown Australian Official Photographer
Place made France: Picardie, Somme, Bray Proyart Area, Chuignolles
Date made 28 February 1919
Conflict Period 1910-1919
First World War, 1914-1918
Copyright

Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain

Public Domain Mark This item is in the Public Domain

Description

An unidentified Australian soldier standing on top of the carriage of the wrecked 15 inch naval gun, at Arcy Wood, near Chuignolles, captured by members of the 3rd Battalion in a bayonet attack on 23 August 1918. The big gun was found separated from its carriage and the great barrel blown off at the breech, which is visible, half buried on the far right. It had been wrecked by an explosion, either accident or design. A note, 'Little Bertha - visitors are kindly requested not to take the barrel', is chalked on the side of the gun (centre) and several signatures are visible chalked on the far left side of the gun.

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