The Adam Park Project

Item Information:

Catalogue Number: 13/07/002 Source: TAPP Archaeology Surveys Location: No13 & 14 Adam Park Report No: Report No.21 Artifact Type: Weapons Production Date: 2013-11-20 00:00:00 Dimensions of Item: See Report 21 Copyright with The Adam Park Project

Other Description:

Graticules and engraved numbering suggested it was a precision instrument. The scale ran from ‘100’ to ‘500’ and then down again to ‘200’. On the other side of unit a similar scale is marked with only one number ‘525’ and the word ‘Zero’ suggesting this was some kind of maximum. No units of measurement are indicated. Rust build up at what appeared to be a bracket and gouges in the face plate suggested the item had been wrenched off a larger unit. A machined adjusting wheel was cleaned and revealed the text ‘Elevate’. Most intriguing, written underneath the round face plate is the engraved text ‘SGT’ and ‘MORTAR No 2’. This main text appears to have been added by a different process from the numbering and graticules. Underneath is the text 1/1940. On the base on the unit is a circle with the letters ‘PIV’ within.

Historic Context:

The apparent damage to the securing bracket and the presence of the rusting remains of the locking unit that would have been attached to the mortar suggests this unit was ripped off from the mortar in some haste. Likewise the telescopic lens is also missing suggesting it was deliberately dismantled before disposal. This item may have been deliberately broken up and hidden before the operators were taken into captivity. It must be noted that despite this collection being all related in some way to mortars it does not necessarily link the site to Sgt Holyhead’s mortar team. This is because the equipment belongs to the 2” Mortar which was available to all platoons and not the sole responsibility of the mortar platoon. However the fact that 2” mortar artefacts have been found does tie in nicely with the fact that the mortars were used in the recapture of the houses on the 14th February.