Mysterious 105yo German artillery found in Mackay cane field restored for Remembrance Day

A regional town’s Remembrance Day honoured the bravery and sacrifice of fallen service members with the unusual addition of a restored trench mortar built by the Imperial German Army. Read about its mysterious origins near Mackay.

Remembrance Day commemorates the end of World War I hostilities on November 11, 1918, and often features poems, prayers, and the iconic bugle notes of ‘The Last Post’.

Not so often does a memorial feature the weapons of a long-ago enemy restored by Australian servicemen, acknowledging soldiers’ wartime sacrifices regardless of side.

An Imperial German 7.58cm leichter minenwerfer built about 1917 was reportedly found in an unknown sugarcane field somewhere near Mackay.

Taken to Townsville’s Lavarack Barracks for restoration, even 102 Field Workshop fitter-armourer Benjamin Weston had little idea where the trench gun had come from.

102 Field Workshop’s Ian Wallace, Jason Mitchell, Jake Wilson, Jarrod Dezwort, Jarred Smyth and Benjamin Weston present a WW1 German mortar at Remembrance Day memorial at Jubilee Park, Mackay. Photo: Zoe Devenport

“I don’t know the full story of that particular gun,” he said.

“Word came from Major General (Andrew) Hocking (that) there’s a German mortar in a field just outside of Mackay.

“We got the rusted wreck in about March and then (it’s taken) to October to restore that.

The 7.58 cm leichter minenwerfer presented at the 2022 Remembrance Day memorial in Jubilee Park, Mackay. Photo: Zoe Devenport

“This is not something that I’ve ever dabbled with in my career.

“I would call it a love job.”

Mackay RSL sub-branch president and Vietnam War veteran Ken Higgins said despite its mysterious origins, the restored mortar is a rare and “fantastic piece of kit”.

102 Field Workshop salute during The Last Post at Jubilee Park, Mackay. Photo: Zoe Devenport

“The direction to get it restored came from a very high level of the military,” he said.

“(So) it’s one of those projects that was done pretty much in secrecy (though) it’s probably never going to cause any grief.

“It’s very unique.

Benjamin Weston and Ken Higgins at Remembrance Day 2022 in Jubilee Park, Mackay. Photo: Zoe Devenport

“Because there many not be another one of those around.”

Mr Higgins said Mackay RSL planned to store the mortar until ready to “display at our new premises on River Street”.

Proposals for an RSL veteran wellness hub on Mackay’s riverfront have faltered after federal funding promised by former Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce dissolved into what Mr Higgins called “an election gimmick”.

Andrew Wilcox, Greg Williamson, Julieanne Gilbert, servicemembers and their families attend 2022’s Remembrance Day memorial in Jubilee Park, Mackay. Photo: Zoe Devenport

“So it’s going to be a ‘watch this space’ situation,” he said.

The mortar was presented in Jubilee Park before a crowd of Mackay’s servicemembers, civic leaders, and civilians attending the Remembrance Day memorial.

Mackay RSL gifted the 102 Field Workshop a special plaque to thank them for their work on the restored mortar.

Plaque to thank 102 Field Workshop from Lavarack Barracks. Photo: Zoe Devenport

Neither Mr Higgins nor Mr Weston could confirm where it had come from, but speculation is always free.

“Completely a theory, but I would presume that (it) was probably liberated over in Germany (or) France,” Mr Weston said.

“I suppose if you’re a soldier in World War I and you want a souvenir(, but) it might be a slightly excessive souvenir.

“Next thing you know it’s in a sugar cane field outside of Mackay.”