Nyngan RSL sub-branch pay tribute to restoration of town's World War II field gun

The Nyngan RSL sub-branch have thanked members of the community for their efforts restoring the town's 25-pound gun-Howitzer.

Members of the community gathered outside the Nyngan RSL club on Saturday morning to pay tribute to the restoration of the British World War II weapon.

"We're all pleased with the work that's gone into [the restoration] to get it into a like-new, possibly even better than new condition," president of the Nyngan RSL sub-branch Derek Francis said.

"The sub-branch would like to extend an appreciation to Giles Engineering for the quality of the sandblasting and painting that's gone on, we'd also like to thank Lochlan Wallis for giving his technical expertise and labour during the restoration process, particularly the efforts with the brass work and the insignia."

Mr Francis also thanked Steve Peterson for donating the tyres and the Bogan Shire Council for their assistance with moving the gun.

"One of the things we are particularly pleased with is that all of the work and the efforts were done locally in Nyngan," he said.


The field gun was placed outside the Nyngan RSL in 1962 as a memorial to the town's service men and women.

The gun carries the regimental markings of the 2nd and 6th field regiment, which former shire president Henry Horsburgh served in.

Mr Francis said the Nyngan sub-branch spent over $7000 to restore the gun so that it can continue to serve as a memorial for Nyngan well into the future.

"For me the gun itself serves as a reminder of the sacrifices our service men and women have made in the past and continue to make for their country and the future," he said.

"I hope with the work that's been done on it it's ready for another 50 or 60 years."

History - Brian Field 

The British 25 pound mark two field gun, better known simply as '25 pounder', which related to the weight of the projectile field.

The 25 pounder was one of the most versatile and widely used artillery weapons of the second World War, and had a reputation for being easy to transport and use. The gun remained in the army's primary artillery field piece well into the 1960s.

The guns were pulled by a small truck in open country or a tractor in the jungle and had a range of about eleven kilometres.

The design on the gun allowed for a very stable firing platform, which transferred most of the recoil on the ground and allowed the gun to be rotated quickly by those firing the gun, in any direction.

Unlike earlier designs the 25 pounder used a separate shell and cartridge. This allowed different charges to be used for different ranges.

Each gun was crewed by a team of five which a sergeant in command.

A gun-layer sighted and fired the gun, a bombardier placed the shell in the barrel using a long rod, a rammer then would ram the shell home, and a fifth person inserted the charge and closed the breach. This process took about 20 seconds.