Description
Physical description
15cm brass cartridge case.
History note
Shell case associated with the First World War service of Lieutenant General Sir Travers Edwards Clarke GBE, KCB, KCMG (1871-1962).
Travers Edwards Clarke, the son of the Reverend Walrond Whitter Clarke, of Clayhidon, Devon, was born in 1871 and educated at King's College, Taunton and the Royal Military College. Commissioned into The Royal Iniskilling Fusiliers, Clarke saw service with the 2nd Battalion during the Tirah Expeditionary Force 1897-98, and on the North West Frontier of India 1897-98. He served during the South African War 1901-1902 and was with the International Legation Guard in Peking circa 1911. At the outbreak of war in 1914 Clarke was a major. During the First World War, Clarke was Mentioned in Despatches some 14 times and by 1917 had been promoted to Lieutenant General. From 1917-19 Clarke was QMG British Armies in France 1917-19. He was QMG to the Forces and member of the Army Council 1919-23 retiring from active service in 1926. Clarke was Colonel of The Royal Iniskilling Fusiliers from 1923-1941. He was Deputy Chairman and chief administrator British Empire Expedition 1923-25. Appointed GBE (Civil) 1926; KCB 1920, KCMG 1919. Clarke also received honours from Greece, France, Portugal, Belgium, Serbia and the United States of America. Lt General Sir Travers Clarke died in 1962.
The Dept of Exhibits & Firearms holds all Clarke's orders, medals and decorations (Ref: OMD 4376-4395); some items of uniform (Ref: UNI 11051-11059: UNI 11493-11499) together with a metal car shield (Ref: EPH 2503), a flag (Ref: FLA 5347) and two shell cases (Ref: MUN 4690-4691). The IWM's Documents' Section holds papers relating to Clarke's service as QMG at GHQ in Montreuil, 1917 - 1919, including: a bound volume of his Mentioned in Despatches certificates; his Visitors' Book as QMG at Montreuil (notably a pencil sketch by Orpen); his 'Game Book' of statistics relating to the QMG's Branch at GHQ; an ms loose-leaf book of QMG Branch statistics, a I Corps Dinner booklet, 1914 - 1916; memoranda between C5, QMG Branch, and Secretary, IWM, July 1919, concerning a commercial photograph of the Colours of the British Army (Ref: SR). The Museum's Photograph Archive holds a small collection of related material.
Stamped & engraved
FN 25 B R HJ 27 AUG 1918 (base)
CARTRIDGE CASE OF 15CM (5.89 INCHES) HIGH VELOCITY GERMAN LANG KANONE (LONG GUN) USED FOR SHELLING BACK AREAS----- WEIGHT OF GUN & CARRIAGE....10 TONS WEIGHT OF SHELL....111LBS RANGE OF SHELL .... .19300YDS (NEARLY 11 MILES)----------- THE GUN WITH WHICH THIS CARTRIDGE WAS USED WAS CAPTURED BY BRITISH TROOPS IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF CAMBRAI DURING THE GENERAL ADVANCE IN THE AUTUMN OF 1918 (case body)