Souvenir of a souvenir

The Battle of Amiens which began on 8 August 1918 in north-western France is considered the greatest allied victory of the First World War, an action that ultimately led to Germany’s surrender three months later. British, Australian and Canadian ground forces advanced over 11 kilometres on that first day (one of the greatest advances of the war), in the process capturing 29,144 prisoners and 338 guns, and liberating 116 towns and villages.

One of the guns captured during that now famous opening advance was subsequently brought to Australia and gifted to the citizens of Sherwood (Brisbane) in 1921. A century later, and all that remains here in Queensland of that war trophy is its bronze dedication plaque…itself having been souvenired. 

This souvenir is all that remains locally of Sherwood’s trophy gun, which is thought to have been removed from Graceville Memorial Park and disposed of by City Council’s Parks Department sometime between 1946 and 1962. The gun was a 105 mm (4.2 inch) LFH16 made by Bochumer Verein in 1917. Its ownership has changed at least four times since, and it is now thought to be with a private owner in South Australia. (Queensland Museum H14572)

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