Amiens Gun

The Amiens Gun is a German 28-centimeter railway gun captured by the Australian Imperial Force during World War I. This remarkable piece of history now resides at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, where its barrel is proudly displayed.

When the gun was first unveiled in Sydney, the event drew a notable crowd of military officials and politicians, marking a significant moment of triumph. Capturing the gun was no simple task; it was the result of a meticulously planned attack by Australian and Canadian forces. Lieutenant George Burrows provided a detailed account of the audacious operation and the subsequent events.

After its capture, the gun embarked on quite a journey. It was initially showcased in Paris, then transported to England, and eventually made its way to Australia. Moving such a massive piece of artillery was no easy task—the gun's barrel had to be removed to comply with bridge weight limits during transport. Once in Australia, it was reassembled in Sydney before being relocated to Canberra.

During World War II, the Australian Army recognized the gun's potential for testing heavy British artillery and ammunition. This led to the dismantling of the gun's mounting, which was sent to Port Wakefield, while the barrel remained in Canberra. Due to high costs and logistical difficulties, the Australian War Memorial ultimately decided to display only the barrel.

Interestingly, there were two Amiens Guns captured by Australian forces in France. In addition to the railway gun brought to Australia, there was a larger-caliber, concrete-emplaced siege gun, which was presented to the City of Amiens. Both guns were products of the renowned Krupp works, famous for their super-heavy artillery.