Wanted: 4.5” Shell case, fuzes etc

[chris vickery]

Looking for a WW1 4.5” howitzer shell case. Only complete, original damage free. I have an original 1915 HE shell that I would like to fit to complete it.
Also looking for original types of fuzes.
PM please

[r.morrison]

Hey Chris: Unfortunately, there is one for sale on "market place" (Face Book). Problem is , someone has "trimmed down the casing to 4 to 6 inches in length. Don't know if you are on face book. PM me if you are and I'll send it to you.

Robert

[David Burr]

Hi Robert, they are originally only about that short. So that will be full length.
Cheers,
David

Originally Posted by r.morrison

Hey Chris: Unfortunately, there is one for sale on "market place" (Face Book). Problem is , someone has "trimmed down the casing to 4 to 6 inches in length. Don't know if you are on face book. PM me if you are and I'll send it to you.

Robert

[chris vickery]

Just a tidbit of knowledge on these. The 4.5” howitzer utilized a 3 piece round made up of the shell, a bagged charge section and a case which contained a primer. These were loaded as separate components into the gun. The case does not fit the base of the actual shell.

[r.morrison]

Well Chris and David: Thanks for the enlightenment on the brass shell casing. This was definitely what Chris was looking for. I tried very hard to get the seller to send it to me via other means, in order to forward it on. But to no avail. DUUUUH! It's now gone.
There's a couple more units on market place I'll see if I can put you in touch with. Just not sure if they're 4.5 inch.

And as for the idiot who sold the other one, an old English friend from many many years ago would refer to him "as useless as tits on a frog's ass". Pass this around boys!

We'll keep looking......R

[Mike Cecil]

Robert/Chris,

If you locate another, what you are seeking is the 4.5 inch Howitzer (Howitzer, QF, 4.5 inch, Mk I on Carriage, 4.5 inch Howitzer, Mk I) brass cartridge case of 2.92 inches overall length, with an overall base diameter of 5.205 inches.

The fuzes you are seeking are: the No.82 Mk.II time fuze, the No.17 Mk.III Direct Action (DA), Fuze No.44 DA, the No.82 Mk.III time and percussion (T&P) fuze, or the No.86 T&P. Any of these will screw into the 2 inch diameter neck of the 4.5 inch How projectile.

As an aside, the cartridge case, when filled at the factory, had five sections of propellant, each enclosed within a cambric bag. The cartridge case was closed with a leatherboard lid (like an inverted cup) with a cotton tape becket (lifting handle) stitched to the outside, so that, at the gunline, the leatherboard lid could be removed temporarily and charges not required for the particular fire mission removed before re-inserting the lid and loading the cartridge into the breech after the projectile was loaded and rammed. It's called 'QF Separate' ammunition.

Mike

[Eric B]

My Grandfather 4 days before he passed away.
He was a gunner on the 4.5 inch in WW1.

He picked up the shell and laughed. One of his jobs was delivering the shells to the guns.

He was promoted to the guns before the end of the war. The photo is of the Victory Parade in Mons. He is taking the salute on the Limber. Prior to that he was the lead driver and the horses in the lead are Molly and Jock.

These are part of my prized collection.

Thanks

Eric