TOPIC:

Returning to the 12-pdr 6 cwt BL Mk I Royal Horse Artillery Gun, here is an example of a 12-pdr Shrapnel Mk V Shell with good provenance.

These shells could be used with both 12-pdr BL and 12-pdr QF guns. The number of rifling grooves (18, opposed to 16) indicates that this example was fired by a breech-loading gun. For more on driving bands, see: British 12 and 15-pdr Shells and their Driving Bands.

Copper plaque inscribed: "ANGLO BOER WAR / 12lbs SHELL FROM KLERKSDORP / 25 Feb. 1902 / Given to P.B. Davies-Cooke / (of Gwysaney) / by Corporal James Bevan / Vol. Co. R.W.F. / Sep. 1902".

Base of shell stamped: "12 PR V / BL 6 CWT / OR Q.F. / FS [Forged Steel] / R.L. [Royal Laboratory]"; wall of shell stamped with date of inspection: "26/1/1900 /|\ 1/1900".

Presented to Philip Bryan Davies-Cooke, JP (1832-1903), of Gwysaney Hall, by 7473 Private [Corporal] James Bevan, 2nd Volunteer Active Service Company, Royal Welsh Fusiliers.


Although there was an action near Klerksdorp (Yzer Spruit) on 25 February 1902, where an empty convoy belonging to Lt-Col. von Donop's column was captured by De la Rey, none of the published reports indicate that the Royal Welsh Fusiliers were present. However, the shell could well have been picked up by Corporal Bevan after the engagement. The two guns captured by De la Rey on the 25th both belonged to the 4th Battery R.F.A. If this shell is from the Yzer Spruit action it was therefore fired by a 15-pdr. Does this indicate that the 4th Battery were using 12-pdr ammunition with their 15-pdr guns? The Treatise on Ammunition (1902. p. 217) states that "On emergency the 15-pr shell (but not the cordite charge) may be fired from the 12-pr B.L. gun". However, no mention is made of 12-pdr shells being fired by 15-pdrs. More research required.


Question asked in the House of Commons regarding the "Klerksdorp Disaster" (Hansard):

HC Deb 04 March 1902 vol 104 c347347

MR. JAMES O'KELLY (Roscommon, N.): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he will state the actual number of the forces engaged at Klerksdorp when Von Donop's convoy was captured; and if he will state the reason why so many details of different companies and different battalions were comprised in the British forces; will he say whether all the wagons and carts captured were empty; what has become of the guns; and whether any account has reached him of the fate of the remainder of the force besides the 653 men already accounted for.

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE WAR OFFICE (Lord STANLEY,) Lancashire, Westhoughton: I have no information beyond what has already been published.



















.Courtesy of Strutt & Parker



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This cast iron 7-pdr R.M.L. studded shrapnel shell (Mk VII) lacks the provenance of the piece above, but there is a very good chance that it is a souvenir from Mafeking. The two Armstrong guns that were captured by the Boers at Kraaipan were turned against the British garrison, and their shells were keenly sought by trophy hunters. Examples in Mafeking Museum are similarly marked with late-1870s dates.

Base marked: "RL .7|PR . 6|3 D"; wall of shell: "R/|\L VII" "U.C"; and one of the six studs: "3/79".

For further information, see: The Armstrong 7-pdr (200 lb) Mark IV RML





























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More outstanding contributions, Neville!
thank you for your characteristically fascinating detail and accuracy.
Rob