Hello all, Not the best photos I know but does anyone have any idea what gun would have fired these? Quite a few in the Westleton Walks firing range/training area in Suffolk. My guess is one of the larger mortars. Thanks Dave
Dave, It's really not my field but it's possible they may be WW1 mortar bombs, many of which were fitted with wooden 'tails': WW1 Heavy weapons, Allied CS
The nearest WW1 ordnance they look like is a Newton bomb, but a very, very rusted one. I suspect they aren't WW1. I've never seen any Great War British mortar rounds fitted with wooden tails, I must say.
Hi all Found these two slightly better remains today. Managed to read most of the stamp on the ignition cartridge on one - it had an ICI badge, the number 12 stamped twice and Kynoch. The photos confirm the remains are mortar rounds but am still in the dark to which type of mortar.
Difficult to assess the scale but they look like WW2 period 4.2-inch mortar rounds. They aren't WW1 with the remains of those fins I can see.
Have you got any dimensions? I have a memory that 4.2" mortar bombs looked less streamlined than they ought to, I'll see if I can find a pic. Too slow...
Definately 4.2in mortar rounds,,well the remains of in various states of decay,be wary of these as even in this condition they can bite you...they can often contain traces of phosphorous,,heres couple pics i took at work,,one looks exactly like one of the ones you found ..Twins ?
Hi all Just to thank everyone who has taken the time to reply, but esp Paul Reed and Spotter - yes they are 4.2" rounds. The following story may be of interest to you all. At the North Warren RSPB reserve (which I work on), in 1971 a phosphorus mortar round was discovered by a local walker. Capt Stewart R.A.O.C, Colchester attended and placed the round in a nearby pillbox and detonated it with plastic explosive, causing damage to the pillbox. As a result, the pillbox had to be boarded up for at least three months due to the risk of contamination with white phosphorus. Finally a question for Paul - is it ok to use the images you posted of the round for my own website/blog? Attached photo shows the pillbox (a 'Suffolk sq') in which the bomb was detonated in.
