kj3004 Posted September 4, 2019 Report Share Posted September 4, 2019 Hi, I'm wondering if anyone can help me. We found this in East Sussex, covered in dirt & rust. After a good soak we managed to scrape enough of it off to read the writing. It says ELEY-KYNCH 28 ICI 28. I'm intrigued to see how old this cartridge is, it appears someone has drilled holes into it at some point. I'd be grateful if anybody knows anything about this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmboy91 Posted September 5, 2019 Report Share Posted September 5, 2019 The ici headstamp puts it between roughly 1926-1963. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robertt Posted September 5, 2019 Report Share Posted September 5, 2019 (edited) It's what propelled a Mortar Bomb. Hence the holes Edited September 5, 2019 by Robertt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted September 5, 2019 Report Share Posted September 5, 2019 As above. Things weren't broke in the period mentioned so there was no need to mend them. This is pure guess work. I can't help thinking that the case might well have been made into a caller/whistle. Edit: Having said that, the post immediately above which wasn't there when I started makes more sense Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted September 5, 2019 Report Share Posted September 5, 2019 9 minutes ago, Robertt said: It's what propelled a Mortar Bomb. Hence the holes Is the correct answer, 2" mortar propulsion system. That has been fired and removed from the base of the bomb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robertt Posted September 5, 2019 Report Share Posted September 5, 2019 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted September 5, 2019 Report Share Posted September 5, 2019 11 minutes ago, TIGHTCHOKE said: Is the correct answer, 2" mortar propulsion system. That has been fired and removed from the base of the bomb. The inability to put two and two together as you get older is painful. I simply can not remember how many of those that I tripped over some 65+ years ago. Would there have been an inert - apart from the propulsion system - training version or was the system used on other devices - possibly flares/smoke? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted September 5, 2019 Report Share Posted September 5, 2019 Mortar bombs 2" had several different fillings mainly smoke or for illumination. The 3" were the explosive ones. Most mortars were powered by adapted shotgun cartridges of various sizes as were Ejection Seats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted September 5, 2019 Report Share Posted September 5, 2019 bloody facinating the ammount of knowledge on PW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted September 5, 2019 Report Share Posted September 5, 2019 4 minutes ago, ditchman said: bloody facinating the ammount of knowledge on PW It certainly is, sometimes there is even pigeon shooting related knowledge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted September 5, 2019 Report Share Posted September 5, 2019 58 minutes ago, TIGHTCHOKE said: It certainly is, sometimes there is even pigeon shooting related knowledge. That’s a bit optimistic TC 😂 good thread though always wondered how to get them to work 😀 all I need is some 2 inch pipe and........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted September 5, 2019 Report Share Posted September 5, 2019 1 hour ago, TIGHTCHOKE said: Mortar bombs 2" had several different fillings mainly smoke or for illumination. The 3" were the explosive ones. Most mortars were powered by adapted shotgun cartridges of various sizes as were Ejection Seats. Many thanks, I simply can't remember. We say, "The Common" meaning, "Woodbury Commons" but many if they're old enough will say "Dalditch Camp". More than once on A Monday morning after the weekend's visit when on the way to primary school I'd hear my name called and turning, see the village bobby. He'd ask what I had this time and I'd have to show him and give a fully detailed answer. Then he'd ask if it was safe and if I said it was, then it was a finger waggled in the direction of the school indicating that I should go with "I'll be seeing your father" ringing in my ears. Father always knew I had it and both he and Mr Plod always knew exactly whatever it was was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kj3004 Posted September 5, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2019 Thank you for everyone's responses! Very interesting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted September 5, 2019 Report Share Posted September 5, 2019 21 minutes ago, Old farrier said: That’s a bit optimistic TC 😂 good thread though always wondered how to get them to work 😀 all I need is some 2 inch pipe and........ I happened to have some rather nice Russian 12 bore mortar charges and the extension bags that were wrapped around the tube to get them to go a little bit further, but they are long gone now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Boggy Posted September 6, 2019 Report Share Posted September 6, 2019 21 hours ago, ditchman said: bloody facinating the ammount of knowledge on PW Totally agree. I always wondered how they were propelled. Like Wymberley, I often stumbled across mortar bombs on the beach and cliffs as a kid, but the procedure then was to contact the local Bobby who would then get the bomb disposal squad to come and blow them up. Great to watch. However, the procedure if you trod on one was to throw yourself up fifty feet in the air and deposit your body parts over a large area Thanks Blackadder. OB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robertt Posted September 6, 2019 Report Share Posted September 6, 2019 (edited) In the 70's I had the misfortune of standing on a mortar bomb whilst paddling on the beach. Luckily it was a spent smoke mortar but standing on the fins in bare feet , with all my weight was a delightful experience similar to standing on a 3 pin plug. There was loads of stuff on the beach. I had an unepxloded Anti Aircraft shell which I swapped for 2 sets of batman cards 😕 Edited September 6, 2019 by Robertt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted September 6, 2019 Report Share Posted September 6, 2019 6 hours ago, Robertt said: In the 70's I had the misfortune of standing on a mortar bomb whilst paddling on the beach. Luckily it was a spent smoke mortar but standing on the fins in bare feet , with all my weight was a delightful experience similar to standing on a 3 pin plug. There was loads of stuff on the beach. I had an unepxloded Anti Aircraft shell which I swapped for 2 sets of batman cards 😕 Lucky, could have been a lesser weever, that's always fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7albert Posted September 7, 2019 Report Share Posted September 7, 2019 On 04/09/2019 at 18:29, kj3004 said: Hi, I'm wondering if anyone can help me. We found this in East Sussex, covered in dirt & rust. After a good soak we managed to scrape enough of it off to read the writing. It says ELEY-KYNCH 28 ICI 28. I'm intrigued to see how old this cartridge is, it appears someone has drilled holes into it at some point. I'd be grateful if anybody knows anything about this. The mice and the mice are crazy about powder, plastic having deposited some cartridges in a shed frequented by these small animals, I found the cases pierced in the same way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harnser Posted September 7, 2019 Report Share Posted September 7, 2019 On 05/09/2019 at 11:12, ditchman said: bloody facinating the ammount of knowledge on PW I too am amazed at the amount of know how on this forum . I will bet that somebody on here will know the official way to sort I bucket of ***** . harnser Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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