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An iconic piece of Murray Bridge’s history is being carefully restored to preserve the history and memory of those who served in WWI. RSL regional coordinator David Laing said the Murray Bridge gun was captured by the 10th Battalion near Haute Bruyere Farm, midway between Villeter and Bellicourt on the Hindenburg Line on 18th September 1918. “The 10th Battalion contained a large number of men from Murray Bridge and surrounding area,” he said. “There is a definite likelihood that in defence these guns were used to kill soldiers from the Murraylands.” In 1920 the gun was brought to Australia in 1920 as a gift to the people of Murray Bridge after it, and numerous others were claimed as war trophies by the British Commonwealth. For the past 90 years the gun has called Diamond Park it’s home, where it slowly began to deteriorate until the Murray Bridge RSL stepped in and requested its removal to have it restored and relocated elsewhere. The gun currently stands in the workshop of the Murraylands Community Men’s Shed where its members are carefully working to restore the piece to its former glory. Men’s shed member Andrew Vigar said work was being done on various aspects of the gun. “Seats need to be made, which used to be on either side, holes filled where it started to rust as well as building two new wheels from scratch” he said. Mr Laing said the ongoing restoration wouldn’t have been possible without the help of the community. “Local companies have helped us including Moore Engineering, who moved it, as well as Lower Murray Grit Blasting who completely sand blasted and prime painted the gun,” he said. “All three organisations have saved the RSL and council costs in excess of $4000 so far, which is an indication of the generosity of local companies wishing to assist in seeing our military heritage safeguarded for years to come.” The restored gun will be unveiled and rededicated on September 16, two days before the centenary of its capture.

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