15-pdr BLC Mk IV Field Guns
modified for Anti-Aircraft use by the South African Artillery
during WW 1
Gransden Gun
Photo: Pat Irwin
Location
Cape Town, Western Cape Province, South Africa
Fort Wynyard, Granger Bay Boulevard, Greenpoint
GPS: 35 deg 54 min 16.38 sec S, 18 deg 24 min 50.8 sec E
Skinny Liz
Photo: Pat Irwin
Location
Kimberley, North West Province, South Africa
10 Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Discobolos Military Base, Abdol Road, Kimberley
GPS: 28 deg 47 min 38.76 sec S, 24 deg 46 min 40.94 sec E
Significance
The modification of the guns for anti-aircraft use in 1914 was supervised by Captain C.L. Gransden, Inspector of Ordnance Machinery.
Key technical features of the modification were:
- New high elevation carriage built at the Salt River Railway Workshops and the Army Ordnance Workshops, Fort Knokke.
- Elevation increased to 60°, far beyond the original 16°.
- Carriage made of 25 mm boiler plate steel was so heavy that ten men were needed to lift the trail.
- Recoil management modifications, including extra springs.
- Tested at Simonstown in September 1914 before senior military and political figures.
Gransden Gun was mounted as an anti-aircraft gun at Fort Wynyard from November 1917 to 1919.
Photo: Pat Irwin
Skinny Liz has an improved carriage. It was attached to Colonel Skinner's Brigade in German South West Africa in 1915
where it became known as Skinny Liz because of its association with Colonel Skinner.
Skinny Liz was the only British gun at Trekkopjes, where it was also used as a field gun.
Skinny Liz is mounted at 10 AA Regiment in Kimberley. An interpretative plaque reads:
IN THE SWA CAMPAIGN, SKINNY LIZ WAS EMPLOYED IN GNL SKINNER'S
INFANTRY BRIGADE BOTH AS A FIELD AND AIR DEFENCE WEAPON. THE
GUN WAS INEFFECTIVE OWING TO ITS SHORT RANGE AND UNRELIABLE
RECOIL SYSTEM, AND WAS RETIRED AFTER THE 1 ST WORLD WAR
The ceremonial status of the gun is unclear. Consensus seems to be that it is a historical museum piece
which is a de facto War Memorial focal point of Memorial Ceremonies.
Photo: Pat Irwin
Photo: Pat Irwin
Further reading
The Battle of Trekkoppies by Doreen Barfield
First Allied Victory in German South-West Africa, 1914-1915 by Hamish Paterson
South African Gunner's Association's (SAGA) Register of Heritage Guns