British No23 rifle grenade mills bomb base plate spanner solid relic condition recovered in 2016 in woods near the village of Flers on the Somme battlefield September 1916

£35.00
Only 1 available

This is a unusual find from the battlefield as these spanners are rare to find. A British No23 rifle grenade mills bomb base spanner it is complete but rusty. The spanner is in relic but solid condition and has been very well cleaned perfect for display or a unusual bit for any collection. The spanner was recovered a hundred years later then it was lost in woods near the village of Flers the first village captured using tanks on the Somme battlefield September 1916.The spanner comes with 2x A5 laminated information cards with map and many pictures.

The British 41st Division was to attack Flers and had most tanks, four for the Longueval–Flers road and six to attack the middle and west side of the village. On the right flank the 124th Brigade attacked with two battalions forward and two in support, having assembled in no man's land. The advance began at zero hour and Tea Support Trench and the Switch Line fell relatively easily by 7:00 a.m. and Flers Trench at 7:50 a.m. At 3:20 p.m. a large party of infantry reached Bulls Road and linked with the 122nd Brigade on the left but attacks on Gird Trench failed. The 122nd Brigade had attacked with two battalions and two in support, reaching the Switch Line by 6:40 a.m. and the on to Flers Trench. Tank D15 was knocked out near the Switch Line, D14 ditched near Flers and D18 was damaged by a shell at Flers Trench but managed to withdraw. D16 entered Flers at 8:20a.m. followed by troops of the 122nd Brigade, D6, D9 and D17 driving along the eastern fringe of the village, destroying strong points and machine-gun nests. By 10:00 a.m. the surviving Bavarians made a run for Geuedecourt.

This is a unusual find from the battlefield as these spanners are rare to find. A British No23 rifle grenade mills bomb base spanner it is complete but rusty. The spanner is in relic but solid condition and has been very well cleaned perfect for display or a unusual bit for any collection. The spanner was recovered a hundred years later then it was lost in woods near the village of Flers the first village captured using tanks on the Somme battlefield September 1916.The spanner comes with 2x A5 laminated information cards with map and many pictures.

The British 41st Division was to attack Flers and had most tanks, four for the Longueval–Flers road and six to attack the middle and west side of the village. On the right flank the 124th Brigade attacked with two battalions forward and two in support, having assembled in no man's land. The advance began at zero hour and Tea Support Trench and the Switch Line fell relatively easily by 7:00 a.m. and Flers Trench at 7:50 a.m. At 3:20 p.m. a large party of infantry reached Bulls Road and linked with the 122nd Brigade on the left but attacks on Gird Trench failed. The 122nd Brigade had attacked with two battalions and two in support, reaching the Switch Line by 6:40 a.m. and the on to Flers Trench. Tank D15 was knocked out near the Switch Line, D14 ditched near Flers and D18 was damaged by a shell at Flers Trench but managed to withdraw. D16 entered Flers at 8:20a.m. followed by troops of the 122nd Brigade, D6, D9 and D17 driving along the eastern fringe of the village, destroying strong points and machine-gun nests. By 10:00 a.m. the surviving Bavarians made a run for Geuedecourt.