Information on the First Howitzer

Captured by the 4th Division, 12th Infantry Brigade, 45th Battalion AIF, near Villers-Bretonneux, France on 8 August 1918, during an Allied advance. On the day after its capture it was used by the 4th Division Artillery, 10th Field Artillery Brigade, 11th Australian Field Artillery (Howitzer) Battery against the retreating Germans. A Howitzer is a type of artillery piece characterised by a short barrel and the use of small propellant charges to propel projectiles over high trajectories with a steep angle of descent.

The Howitzer stood between the “cannon” (characterised by a longer barrel, larger propelling charges, smaller shells, higher velocities and flatter trajectories) and the “mortar” (which was meant to fire at even higher angles of ascent and descent).

The Commonwealth allocated this German Howitzer Field Gun to Goulburn via the State Trophy Committee in October 1920. After being unloaded at the Railway Yards, it was placed in Belmore Park before being moved to Rocky Hill sometime prior to 1930.

The two German WW1 Howitzers underwent major restoration work between 2007-09. The Friends of Rocky Hill War Memorial and Museum wish to thank ken Ainsworth for his generous gift of the time, materials and expertise, thanks also to the Veolia Mulwaree Trust for its donation of funds to complete the work.

In 2017 the Howitzers were again removed from the site for further conservation, repair and reconstruction. This included the manufacture of tampions (plugs) for the barrels by a specialist wood turner to prevent debris from entering the barrel. The paper scroll, pictured right, was found in the barrel during this conservation work.

The wheels were removed and sent to Sovereigh Hill in Victoria where the wooden wheel rims were completely replaces (see images above). Treatment for corrosion followed by painting with a weatherproof and long-term conservation paint was carried out in Sydney. This work was completed with grant funding of $55,000 received through the NSW Government’s Community Development Fund.