RSL rallies for restoration effort

A LARGE forest green artillery gun that has sat outside the Inverleigh RSL Sub-Branch’s headquarters for decades is set to receive a much-needed new coat of paint.

At the mercy of the elements since the mid-1950s, the 25-pounder gun was sent off for repair works at the start of the month.

Inverleigh RSL Sub-Branch president Deema Johnston said the weapon has long needed an overhaul.

“It’s basically sat there for many years since the World War Two fellows passed away, there’s been no work done it at all,” he said.

“It’d become too dangerous, and near where the tow wire was there was a rust hole you could put your fist through it. If someone stepped on it and it fell, it would do some damage.

“We want to bring the gun back to its original condition.”

The gun was operated in the Middle East during World War Two by members of the 2nd field regiment, two of which are featured on the local RSL’s memorial board.

Mr Johnston said the restoration process has unearthed interesting discoveries about the gun.

“It’s come apart quite easily and we’ve found underneath that green-coloured paint, it was actually painted in a two-tone sand and pinky colour to be used in the field in the Middle East,” he said.

“The chassis of the gun was the most damaged. That’s been sandblasted and looks almost brand new.”

The restoration project is being undertaken by RSL and community members, and has been relocated to Bannockburn for the works.

RSL member Murray Pearson, who’s worked with artillery, is heading up the restoration process, which includes disassembling, sandblasting, and repainting the weapon, while fresh tyres have been donated from New South Wales to replace the rotted ones.

Mr Johnston estimated the in-house restoration will cost a maximum of between $7000 and $9000.

“We’re doing this on a shoestring budget but we’ve got a lot of good people onto it,” he said. “We’re rallying businesses and communities around the area.

“There was a Krupp gun from World War One which Beaufort RSL recently had done and that was sent away for $50,000.

“Our gun’s gone from our location via member David Walpole’s recovery vehicle to one of our members’ sheds then it’s going elsewhere for sandblasting and repainting.

“It’s basically all our members coming together for this.”

RSL members applied for a grant early last year to have the weapon professionally restored but were unsuccessful as no provenance records could be sourced.

The gun is expected to be returned by mid-November with its original sandy colour reinstated.

RSL members are welcoming any donations to go towards the restoration.