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Hi all,

I have recieved this shell (fuze unscrews, totally empty and inert) which according to my research, mainly on this fine forum, was fired from a Krupp 75mm BL L/27 gun.

I believe this type of gun was used by the Free State Artillery and was referred to as the "Free State Krupp." I have seen photos of identical shells that were pitched into Ladysmith and Mafeking, sometimes being married up to Krupp 75mm QF cases for the purposes of the photograph.

My question relates to the colour of the shells. Does it bear and relevance to Boer use or is this the colour in which they would have been delivered. I have seen that the Dutch used these shells, but the fact that this came from an old British collection, has been fired and has the scars on the fuze to prove it, suggest to me that this is likely a Boer piece.

Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

Kind regards

James

Stunning. A rare find indeed, especially with the original paint.
I am most envious ...!!

As your shell came from a British collection and has the same type of fuze and colour combination as known Boer 75mm BL projectiles, I am confident that it is an OVS Artillerie shell. From the pitting to the exposed steel, I would say it was picked up a few years after the war. You rightly note that such shells were often married with Krupp or, less frequently, Creusot QF cases. I have a table lamp made from a Krupp projectile married with a Creusot cartridge.

Below is a shrapnel case with similar colours that I have in my collection. It was picked up after the battle of Magersfontein by Lieutenant Hugh Gladstone, 3rd Bn. King's Own Scottish Borderers (later attached to Field Intelligence Dept.). For many years it was displayed in a glass cabinet at Capenoch House, Dumfries, Scotland.
















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Thank you Neville. I am becoming more interested in Boer War Ordnance as it seems that each piece has its own character. From my reading I see that Krupp supplied the OVS Artillery with 14 of these guns and 9000 shells so not a vast number out there I would imagine.

Kind regards

James

Hi James,

I have just been in contact with MC Heunis, the foremost authority on Boer ordnance, and he is keen to see detailed photographs of the time fuze and its workings. Would it be possible to send me more images so I can pass these on? I have sent you a private message with my email address.

He thinks it is possible that the orange on the upper body of the shell started out as red. I think this is likely correct, as I have a piece of British 15-pdr BL shrapnel shell that retains remnants of red paint that have faded to a very similar hue.

Neville




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Hi Neville,

Happy to pass on more detailed photos. I have not recieved a message from you though. I don't know if I need a certain number of posts before I can send and recieve messages?

James