Trench Mortar - Bonnie Doon, Vic, Australia
S 37° 01.580 E 145° 51.280
55H E 398126 N 5901593
This green-painted Mortar stands in front of the World War One Monument for Bonnie Doon.
Waymark Code: WM10MEZ
Location: Victoria, Australia
Date Posted: 05/27/2019
Views: 4
Originally the German Trench Mortar was placed in front of the 1921 unveiled War Memorial, and while the photo from the High Country History website looks like it may still be in the same position, it was moved to where it stands today in 1955, when Sugarloaf Reservoir was enlarged to become Lake Eildon, and the town moved to avoid being submerged. (
visit link)
"This German Trench Mortar was presented by the British Government at the request of Lord Novar to Mrs Ann F. Bon of Wappan Estate who now presents it to the inhabitants of Bonnie Doon." [ex-link above.] The ANZAC Memorial park is between Bon Crescent, and the Maroondah Highway. The photo mentioned above, in that link, shows the mortar 'uncapped'; whereas now it is covered at the mouth.
From the rear of the mortar is the following punched numbers:
2056
2478
No. 3478
1917
So, assuming that the last number is the year of manufacture, then this mortar may not have seen much more than a year of service, before being captured.
Visited: 1034-5, Sunday, 6 January, 2019