Nundah Memorial Park Krupps War Trophy
Jean BromhamThe World War I Krupp Field Gun was captured in France by the Australian 41st Infantry Battalion in 1918 and was despatched by rail to be shipped to Australia on 5 September 1918.
It was donated to the Nundah & District Historical Society Inc by Mr Bob Godbold and was unveiled with the War Memorial by the then Governor of Queensland, Lt Col Sir Matthew Nathan in 1921. The gun is under joint ownership of the Brisbane City Council and the Nundah Northgate RSL Sub Branch.
The wooden wheels of the gun rotted and by 1999 the gun which was in need of repair was sitting flat on the ground in Nundah Memorial Park. In 2000, the Nundah Northgate RSL Sub Branch received grants from the Department of Veteran Affairs, the ANZAC Day Commemoration Committee (Queensland) Inc. and the Gaming Community Benefit Fund, together with contributions from business and members of the community to fund the required restoration work.
The gun was dismantled and transported for restoration. Wheels were replace with those cast in steel rather than wood to prevent future deterioration, and the gun and its carriage were painted in camouflage colours, as it would have been painted by the German army.
In 2016, a shade structure was installed to cover the gun to help reserve the paintwork from the elements.
We understand that this gun is one of only two left in the world, the other being in Brussels.
