Month: July 2014

Quebec City heavies!

Morser no. 85 was captured by the 42nd Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada) South-East of Demuin during the Amiens Offensive, Aug. 8th, 1918. The relevant war diary notes that three of these guns were firing point-blank at the 42nd, who charged them and overwhelmed their crews. Photo by Author
Mörser no. 85 was captured by the 42nd Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada) South-East of Demuin during the Amiens Offensive, Aug. 8th, 1918. The relevant war diary notes that three of these guns were firing point-blank at the 42nd, who charged them and overwhelmed their crews. The gun is locked in full recoil. Photo by Author

Two of Canada’s trio of captured First World War German 21cm Mörser siege howitzers are both located in historic Quebec City, on display in the Citadel, and under some trees in the Plains of Abraham battlefield park. These, along with one in Ottawa (featured elsewhere on this site along with an in depth analysis of this type of canon), are all that is left of the more than two dozen of these monsters that were brought back by the Canadian government. Quebec also boasts a nice sample of lighter German FWW canon, amongst the hundred or so British and French canon, mortars, and carronades. Both pieces have nice provenance from “Canada’s hundred days” advances of 1918.

Morser howitzer no. 825 was captured by it was originally captured by elements of the 11th Infantry Brigade, Sep. 5th, 1918, on the road North-East of Villers-lez-Cagnicourt. The War Trophies Commission sent it to Laval University. Today, accessible by guided tour of the Van Doos head-quarters, it is Canada's only 1916 pattern (longer barrel) Morser howitzer. Photo by Author
Mörser howitzer no. 825 was originally captured by elements of the 11th Infantry Brigade, Sep. 5th, 1918, on the road North-East of Villers-lez-Cagnicourt. The War Trophies Commission sent it to Laval University. Today, accessible by guided tour of the Royal 22e Régiment’s home station, it is Canada’s only 1916 pattern (longer barrel) Morser howitzer. Photo by Author