More, More, Mortar’s

Mr Steve picks up where he left off on his look at some of the interesting weapons in the Royal Artillery museum collection at Fort Nelson, Portsmouth.

Mallets mortar - Fort Nelson

The picture above and below are the final ones that show Mortars from my visit to Fort Nelson, in the first one you can see in-situ one of the three batteries making up some of its defensive capability. If being under direct fire from the Ramparts themselves wasn’t trouble enough then these 13 inch Mortar batteries would helpfully lob indirect fire at you at the same time. A three Mortar battery was located on each side of the fort and they were placed in their own earth covered vaulted chambers; shafts behind them were designed to let the smoke disperse, although you do wonder how effective
that would have been.

I have added a link to a very helpful page which gives much more details on these mortars (see PDF at the bottom of the article).

http://www.victorianforts.co.uk/tour1/three.htm

However it is very likely that by the time it came around for Fort Nelson to be fitted with its Mortars, military opinion had changed somewhat on their usefulness.

“The mortar batteries at Fort Nelson were not fitted with their mortars due to the fact that they were considered obsolete by the time Fort Nelson was finished. Also the crews found it difficult to observe the fall of their shot and had to rely upon messages sent down from the main ramparts before adjusting the charges to alter the range of the mortar. The mortars were superseded by howitzers that were placed in a more favourable position on the main ramparts. “(www.victorianforts.co.uk)

And

“The Portsdown Hill Forts were originally designed for a total of 40 13-inch mortars, with nine at Fort Nelson in three batteries. However, Fort Nelson was never fitted with them, due to the reverberation around the battery in firing, and the introduction in 1883 of the more accurate 6.6-inch Howitzer.” (www.royalarmouries.org)

This concussion/vibration effect of firing them in such an enclosed space was very discomfiting to the crew; these mortars in my picture do still get fired and this effect has been confirmed by the modern day volunteers even when using the much reduced charges that such demonstrations use. (The latest firing was 13th May 2016)

My second picture is of a selection of Coehorn Mortars, unfortunately I cannot tell you the calibres as I am afraid that I didn’t cotton onto the fact that I should also be taking a photo of the accompanying description plate until I was almost half way around.

They were invented by a Dutch officer in the 17th c, who was fortuitously called van Coehoorn*, however Coehorn Mortars have always been something of a puzzle to me, let’s face it, it’s just a small block of wood with a stumpy barrel fitted into it, how dangerous can it be?

Baron van Coehoorn

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menno_van_Coehoorn

And yet most armies had them, starting in 1674 at the siege of Grave and continuing on well into the mid nineteenth Century. Whilst researching this weapon I was staggered to learn that it was actually aimed!

“Aiming was a basic procedure. The gun layer stood behind the mortar with a plumb line and would direct the gunners to move the base until the plumb line and the centreline of the barrel were in line with the intended target. “
The Coehorn Mortar by Ian Balestrino

The British army used it extensively in 2.5, 3.5 and 4.5 inch versions. I suspect that the ones in the picture are of these sizes

According to Historic Scotland , the first known use of coehorn mortars in battle by the British Army was at the Battle of Glenshiel in 1719 ( not one I have heard of)

“The Battle of Glenshiel was a battle in the West Highlands of Scotland on 10 June 1719, between British government troops (mostly Scots) and an alliance of Jacobites and Spanish resulting in a victory for the government forces. It was the last close engagement of British and foreign troops in Great Britain. The Battle of Glen Shiel is sometimes considered an extension of the Jocobite Rising of 1715, but is more correctly a separate rebellion and was the only rising to be extinguished by a single
military action..” Wikipedia

See also
http://data.historic-scotland.gov.uk/data/docs/battlefields/glenshiel_summary.pdf

Don’t bother to write in if this is wrong and they were used early, I have already lost interest.

Six Coehorns are also listed as part of the British forces that fought the Jacobites unsuccessfully at Prestonpans though the shells were said to be “damp and unreliable”

This seems to be a pattern, perhaps it was seen as an anti-scot weapon?

Still they seem very popular and every army had to have some, Coehorns were still being used in the American Civil War by both sides although by now they were a little more advanced, but not much

“The US Army had a 24-pounder brass Coehorn that weighed 164 pounds, or 296 pounds when mounted on its four-handled oak mortar bed. Two men could move this mortar, but four men could better manoeuvre and rush this mortar into position in unprepared locations. Explosive shells could be lobbed into masked targets from 50 to 1,200 yards with the Coehorn.

Although the Model 1841 24 pdr. Coehorn is the most widely used on the Union side, the Confederate army did cast and use Iron 12 pdr. Coehorns, with a bore of 4.62 inches, as well as Iron 24 pdrs. As the war progressed, trench warfare became quite common, and mortars were found to be increasingly useful.

http://civilwarwiki.net/wiki/Civil_War_Era_Mortars

I guess by this time we are seeing what would eventually become the trench mortar in WW1 and this I think also answers my initial question at the beginning of this piece of why would anyone want this thing ?

Besides its many siege related use’s it’s also the first man-portable squad mortar.

And finally I have just come across them again in my latest bedtime reading, this time being used by the Russians against the Turks in 1773; I suppose I need to re consider my opinion of these stubby little guns.

Mallet's Mortar - Fort Nelson

Post from our roving correspondent 'Mr Steve'.

Last year I went to Fort Nelson which is located in the hills just north of Portsmouth and where the Royal Artillery has its Museum. Originally built as one of Lord Palmerston’s 19^th C follies it now houses a fine collection of artillery from through-out the ages.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palmerston_Forts

As I only took photos of those things that interested me I cannot give you a full guided tour so I will just pick out some of the more interesting items and occasionally drip them in from time to time. This short article therefore is about the giant mortar which stands outside the fort.

It was 1854 and the British government wanted a big mortar however it also needed to be easily transported (i.e. an IKEA version) so they put out a requirement for tender and given that they were in the middle of the Crimean war they wanted it urgently.

One of the people who submitted plans was Robert Mallet, the son of an Irish iron foundry owner; he had graduated in Science and Mathematics and was also extremely interested in earthquakes and their energy waves. His proposal was that if you threw up a big enough bomb then it didn’t have to actually hit its target to do really serious damage. Using his iron manufacturer skills he submitted a plan for a giant mortar made up from multiple parts and which would sit on three layers of heavy bulk timber rather than on a purpose built base.

Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston,
Prime Minister, 1855-58 and 1859-65 

Initially meeting with no interest his idea was picked up by Palmerston himself and he instructed that two of Mallet’s mortars should be built however by the time they were ready for trialling the war they were designed for had been over by at least a year.

Unlike other follies these were actually fired, a grand total of nineteen rounds with each shot causing various amounts of damage to the first mortar and with no prospect of curing the faults the project was cancelled.

Claimed by many websites as the largest mortar ever made, each shot weighed over a ton and had a range of around a mile and a half.

(However according to Wikipedia:The largest mortars ever developed were the Belgian "Monster Mortar" 36 French inches; 975 mm;  1832, Mallet's Mortar 36 inches; 910 mm; 1857 and the "Little David" 36 inches; 914.4 mm; developed in the United States for use in WW2.All three mortars had a calibre of 36 "inches", but only the "Monster Mortar" saw action ) and it also depends on how you classify the seven WW2 German Karl Mortars.

The unfired gun is the one in the picture whilst the test gun is also still in existence and is currently at the army base at Woolwich.

Mallet went back to his study of earthquakes; something for which he was clearly much more suited to because he would later became very highly respected for his work on seismology.

There are much better photos easily available on line and which show the shear scale of this thing much better than my long distance picture does, I do think that you might need a mate to help you with lifting up one of the balls for loading.

The link below is just one of the better articles on this weapon (and is also nice and short)

http://dawlishchronicles.com/mallets-monster-mortar-and-the-birth-of-seismology/.

Colonel John Rouse Merriot Chard V.C. R.E.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Chard

Colonel John Rouse Merriot Chard VC RE was a Devon man, born in Plymouth on 21st December 1847 and achieved immortal fame for his, and his small garrison of 139 soldiers, stand at the isolated mission station of Rorke's Drift on the 22nd-23rd January 1879 when it was attacked by about 3-4,000 Zulu Warriors. He and ten others of the defenders were awarded the Victoria Cross with seven VC's awarded to soldiers of the 2/24th Warwickshire Regiment of Foot, the most awarded to any one regiment in any one battle.

http://www.rorkesdriftvc.com/

The Defence of Rorke's Drift by Alphonse de Neuville. Lt Chard can be seen on the right in the pale grey trousers at the perimeter

Of course I and many others can't help thinking of Sir Stanley Baker's performance playing Chard in the film Zulu, and I found a great picture of the actor visiting Chard's grave with a link to it at the bottom of this page.

Earlier this year during my posts commemorating the bi-centenary of Waterloo, I mentioned that along with the grave of Cavalie Mercer commander of G Troop RHA at Waterloo who was buried locally in Exeter, we also had another great soldier buried locally in the South West, from a smaller but no less noteworthy action, namely John Chard.

Vince very kindly sent me a picture of Mercer's restored grave in Exeter which I posted the picture of back in June.

http://jjwargames.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/waterloo-part-one-visitor-centre.html

I mentioned that I needed to take some time to search out John Chard's grave in Hatch Beauchamp  (pronounced Beecham) and so on my travels I finally made time to do just that.

The pretty Parish Church of St John the Baptist in the little Somerset village of Hatch Beauchamp

The church took a bit of finding, but the grave is in excellent condition and given the wreath of poppies upon it, Colonel Chard is clearly not forgotten.

http://www.rorkesdriftvc.com/vc/baker+chard.htm

Infantry Officers 1845 Pattern Sword - Postscript

I thought you might like to see the new addition to the toy room, which I think makes a really nice centre piece to the whole room.

My new sword really creates a great centre piece to the room and I am really pleased with how well it came up after a bit of TLC.

Having looked at these pictures I can see I will have to move a few books up stairs to create a bit more elbow room for some recent additions to the research library.

Infantry Officers 1845 Pattern Sword

"The Infantry officer's regulation weapon was his sword, this still being of the Gothic-hilted 1822 pattern with brass guard but with the 32½-inch, fullered blade introduced in 1845, carried in a steel scabbard. To supplement this elegant but useless weapon, officers would equip themselves with revolvers, the most popular types being the Webley and the Adams."
Michael Barthorp - The Zulu War, A Pictorial History.

Just recently I was offered a family heirloom that turned up in house clearance, well more like shed clearance, on Carolyn's side of the family.

My new sword standing in my old golf ball holder soaking in a vinegar solution

Probably, as in most wargamers extended family, it soon becomes common knowledge that you have a passion for military history and you get offered various bits and pieces that no right minded person would be interested in but that you might just find some fascination in.

So it was with some interest that my son Tom came back from doing a bit of shed clearance announcing he had a present for me.

No one seems very sure of the provenance of this interesting piece of militaria, only that it has been in the said shed for "donkeys years" and if the damage to the hilt and accumulated rust mixed with cob webs is anything to go by that looks pretty likely.

From my initial research it would appear we are looking at an 1845 pattern British Infantry Officers sword, and a proper fighting sword, not some little dress piece. As you can see the years and storage have not been kind but the vinegar solution is starting to reveal the blade below all that rust.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gothic_Hilted_British_Infantry_Swords_(1822,_1827,_1845,_1854_and_1892_Patterns)

As you can see in these pictures, the hilt has the folded down section to allow it to be carried close to the wearer, this feature was dropped with the 1854 pattern and the remnants of the fish scale handle would indicate an officers weapon rather than a sergeants.

Who knows perhaps this old blade saw service in Zululand or even El Teb. The research into where this came from goes on as does the cleaning.

Simon Smith's "Saving the Colour" really captures the look of the ornate gothic hilt of the 1845 pattern infantry officers sword

http://sasmithart.co.uk/gallery.php

So on to part two of this post and my new sword just about ready for moving into JJ's toy-room.

As you can see the vinegar solution did a good job on removing the years of accumulated rust which as well as revealing the pocked marked damage done to the blade also showed up the proofing mark just below the hilt in the picture below.

The handle is in a terrible state but at least some of the original fish scale grip is still in evidence and I have started on removing years of grime on the brass work to reveal the splendour of the Royal monogram VR, on the superb Victorian style hilt. In addition the fold down thumb guard is back in working order and can be seen folded down in the picture below.

In the picture below you can see the thumb guard up and a closer look at the remnants of the fish scale grip.

Further cleaning of the hilt revealed the lovely ornate scrolling on top of the pommel

The close ups of the blade reveal the damage done by years of rust. However on cleaning there is still an edge in parts to this blade and I had to take care when applying the turtle wax to prevent further rusting to the revealed steel.

Despite the damage done to this fine looking weapon, I am pleased with the state I have managed to bring it back too and love the history behind the period this old blade represents. The 1845 pattern sword can truly be described as the sword of empire.

Royal Albert Museum and Art Gallery - Exeter

The Gothic marvel that is the Royal Albert Museum, Exeter

Last weekend we caught the train into Exeter to visit our local main museum, the Royal Albert Museum. It was first opened in 1868 and after receiving a major £24 million "face-lift" lasting four years was re-opened in 2011. This was the first time that we had had a chance to look around since that work was done.

http://www.rammuseum.org.uk/

http://www.localhistories.org/exeter.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exeter

This museum holds childhood memories of school trips not only for Carolyn and me, but both our boys. When they were young, we attended their school trips and helped in the project work about the Romans in Exeter and the fantastic displays of artifacts that the staff displayed for the children, with the opportunity to try out Roman military equipment and armour.

There is more to see than just the ancient artifacts, with extensive world ethnic, zoological and other historical artifacts from other eras that feature in the long history of the city. The museum holds an amazing collection for a provincial museum and the new look to the building which has kept the beauty of the Victorian Gothic architecture but added to it with modern display areas and a modern clean restaurant makes it a major attraction to visitors.

As in previous museum visits I have captured some pictures that I think will appeal to the wargaming/history enthusiast, and because we got so involved in the world and ancient displays, we had to leave at closing time with other galleries, including the English Civil War not looked at. So I intend to add to this post with a second visit in time.

Zulu shield and weapons

The first gallery we looked at was the World ethnic collection looking at artifacts collected over the years from around the globe. Needless to say, the Zulu artifacts caught my eye with weapons and Zulu artifacts collected at the time of the war.

Exeter and the South West region has links to this period of history with a statue in the city erected in the memory of a controversial general officer of the period, Sir Redvers Buller VC

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redvers_Buller

Who was born in the nearby town of Crediton and won his VC during the campaign. His later career during the Boer War was not as illustrious and he left the army under a bit of a cloud.

Zulu thrusting spear - Assegai or Iklwa

As well as Buller, we have Colonel John Chard VC who led the famous defence of Rorkes Drift and is buried at St John's Church in Hatch Beauchamp near Taunton in Somerset, about forty minutes up the road from Exeter.

The museum has the assegai shown with its Zulu name, the iklwa, which if I remember is a name given by the Zulus to describe the noise the blade made when pulled from the body. Either way, its a truly formidable weapon when seen close up.

Zulu throwing spear

The beautifully coloured Zulu embroidery 

Another piece that caught my eye was this full set of Samurai armour which is amazing to see how intricate and practical the construction is. This period is not one that has grabbed me, but I can see the attraction when you can see something like this and imagine these warrior going into battle looking like something out of star wars.

I love all things Greco-Roman when looking at the ancient period, so to see this typical Greek bronze helmet and imagine what the wearer must have seen from behind that nose guard was a thrill. When you look at it front on and carefully examine the craft work involved in its construction, you notice the delicate pattern work around the nose guard and edging.

Exeter is a Roman garrison town, and I remember we were taught at school to recognise Roman towns in England with names ending in "ter", Exeter, Colchester, Dorchester etc.

To the Romans, Exeter was known as Isca Dumnoniorum, or simply Isca. The name came from the Ancient Briton name for water pronounced "eshk", hence the local River Exe. The Irish and Welsh Celtic languages have a similar word with the Irish using it to describe whisky as the "water of life". It was also the tribal capital of the native Britons in the area, the Dumnonians.

Roman pottery discovered in the city

Exeter was established as a fort and garrisoned by the Legio II Augusta in about 55AD, the same chaps that Vespasian led in 43AD during their successful invasion of Britain, taking out Maiden Castle on route to the South West.
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/historia/sites/maiden/maiden.htm
They stayed in the city for the next twenty years before relocating to Caerleon in Wales, naming that new base Isca Augusta.

Needless to say the museum has an extensive collection of artifacts discovered in the city that cover the Roman occupation, and the building is right next door to a major part of the Roman city wall that has survived to this day, all be it with a few modifications over the years.

The remains of the Roman wall at the back of the museum

Roman soldiers cooking pan, and examples of glass ware

I've painted a few of these in recent months

The business end of sharp pointy sticks

Legionary armour fittings - it's incredible to see these small artifacts that show Exeter's long history

As you can see I was engrossed with the Roman collection when we had to leave to allow the museum to close. So before catching our train home we stopped for dinner, and I grabbed a few shots of the Guild Hall Shopping Centre and the restored facade.

What does Exeter have in common with the US Marine Corps?

Exeter - The beautifully restored Guild Hall shopping centre

Above the entrance is the City Arms which bear the motto "Semper Fidelis", carried also by the US Marine Corps, although Exeter has had it since 1660 when it was proposed by Queen Elizabeth I, to recognise the city's loyalty to the crown, the US Marines borrowing it in 1883.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semper_fidelis

The arms of the City of Exeter, with the the motto Semper Fidelis, "Always Faithful" granted to the city by Elizabeth I

Summer War Gaming in North Devon - Battle of Balaclava

This weekend has seen our annual trip to "deepest darkest" North Devon to spend time with Chas Carter who is our host and games miester. I like to think of our summer games as the war gamers answer to the Glastonbury Festival, giving us the opportunity to get close to nature whilst enjoying great hospitality and gaming fun.

The Heavy Brigade in action at Balaclava

Needless to say, the camera goes with me on anything to do with war gaming and so here follows a little record of the fun.

The Battle of Balaclava was our set piece get together this year and I was given the honour to assume the role of The Honourable Brigadier General Sir James Scarlett commanding the Heavy Brigade.

Sir James Scarlett

We all gathered yesterday for our briefings and a full day of war gaming the battle which, as it happened, turned out to be a very similar result as to its historical predecessor. The rules used were Black Powder, not a set that I use myself, but the rules stood up well to the test of 11 players and about 20 units on each side.

The briefing in front of the table

The briefing set up the historical context of the battle with the Anglo Turkish troops asleep in their camps as the Russian attack came in over the River Chernaya. The Russian objective was to push over the Causeway and exit the southern table edge to cut off supplies from Balaclava harbour supporting the siege lines around Sevastopol.

The Causeway Heights with the Northern Valley nearest to camera

All quiet in the British camp with Turkish gunners manning the redoubts on the Causeway

The relationship between the British commanders was a difficult one to say the least, and Chas had chosen our players to match with the styles of their historical counterparts. These styles were a highlight of the game as the various British senior commanders struggled to decide where to place the emphasis in extra command points.

As a mere Brigadier General, mine was not to question but to simply do, and with the blunder rules in Black Powder added in to the mix, some allied movements became very un-coordinated. It was not uncommon to hear the comment from an astounded commander on receiving his orders for the next turn, "What's this, the man's an idiot, I can't do that!!" History repeated.



"Russians, and fousands of em!!"

The Russian forces entered the table in the early hours with the British forces unaware of their approach (The British cavalry brigades were forced to wait three moves before testing to respond to the Russian advance, simulating the surprise of the attack).

The Russian Infantry made straight for the Turkish guns on the heights

As the Russian infantry crossed the bridge and ford, the columns struggled to clear the river and press on quickly for the first of the Turkish gun emplacements. The Turks, aware of the masses approaching their lines opened fire inflicting casualties and disorder on the Russian columns.

Systematically the Turkish gunners were put to the bayonet, not however without causing casualties on the way in.

Finally both the Heavy and Light brigades sounded the stand to arms and after a meeting between Raglan and Lucan about orders and messengers, the two brigades set off down the Southern Valley to support the Turkish emplacements and protect the approach to Balaclava.

Finally the cavalry were called to arms and set off down the Southern Valley

As the Heavies trotted down the valley in perfect lines, as if on General Officers Parade, the first elements of the British 4th Division and General d'Allonville's French cavalry started to arrive from Sevastopol.

The Royal Scots Greys led the advance of the formidable Heavy Brigade

The Russian brigade under the fearless Duke Nathanovich Goodyearovski gamely marched along the Northern Valley to challenge the Allied reinforcements and delay their impact on the struggle developing for control of the Causeway.

Russian infantry under Duke Nathanovich Goodyearovski challenge the arriving British reinforcements

With the first six moves completed, time to take stock and grab refreshments

The Heavy Brigade under General Scarlett, wheeled in to two lines and charged up the side of the Causeway to attack the victorious Russian infantry. One column managed to form square and fend of the fearsome British attack, but their comrades in the other column were not so lucky. After some brief sabre work it was all over and two Russian columns were removed from the order of battle.

"Fox" - The Heavy Brigade strike

Whilst the Heavy Brigade were causing consternation in Russian ranks at the eastern end of the Causeway, their brothers in arms of the Light Brigade were getting stuck in on the western end ripping through an Hussar and Cossack regiment to clear the way for supporting Anglo Turkish infantry.

"View Haloo" - The Light Brigade support the heavies followed up by Allied infantry

The battle now developed into a slugging match between the Russian infantry and cavalry trying to hold their foothold on the Causeway so as to allow their artillery to be brought forward, and the British cavalry trying to push them back to allow the Anglo Turkish infantry to retake the heights.
Which side would succeed?

The struggle erupts for control of the eastern end of the Causeway

The artillery casualties inflicted on the Russian infantry had taken its toll and with British cavalry threatening to attack they took refuge in the Turkish emplacements, which gave them protection from small arms and artillery fire, plus kept the cavalry at bay. However as the Anglo Turkish infantry columns charged into the Russian masses, the emplacements became a death trap.

Suddenly the Heavy Brigade open gaps in the Russian lines

One by one the Turkish emplacements were cleared of Russian troops and despite counterattacks from their cavalry, the British cavalry held the ground in between.

As the Russians seek shelter in the emplacements the Allied infantry moves to support the cavalry

Anglo French troops arrive to move into the Northern Valley

The Turkish infantry seek revenge for their fallen gunners

The Heavies go in yet again

As the Anglo French troops on the western end of the Northern Valley were joined by the British Guards of General Bentick's 1st Division, the Russian position became more and more untenable.

Anglo French infantry advance on the Russian right flank

Again the Heavies send the Russian Bear packing

The Anglo Turkish infantry start to reclaim the Causeway with the Light Brigade supporting their flank

Goodyearovski's Russian infantry contest the allied advance, suffering under the British volleys

With the final melees going to the Allies, the Russian troops started to fall back from the causeway, and with the road into Balaclava an impossible objective the game ended.

And then it was all over - Andy's expression (far right) says it all.

We had gamed from 10am to 7pm and all had a great day with lots of laughs, banter and some great moments in history recreated in our simulation of the famous battle.

Many thanks to Charles and Clive for setting up a great days entertainment. Thanks also to Steve M, Vince, Andrew, Andy, Nick, John, Nathan (Duke Goodyearovski) and Mike for their contribution to another great game in North Devon.

Talk for next year looks like it could be the Third Crusade!!