Mortar Gallery

Churchill AVRE Tank in France; Second World War, 1944

Photograph showing a Churchill AVRE (Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers) tank moving up to the front, France, 1944. The Churchill AVRE tank was equipped with a Petard mortar, designed to attack bunkers and concrete strongholds. The charge used by the mortar was popularly known as a 'Flying Dustbin'.

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans

King?s African Rifles training with a light mortar, 1956

Photograph of King?s African Rifles training with a light mortar, 1956. Soldiers of the 4th (Uganda) Battalion undergo instruction in the use of a light mortar. In 1956 several battalions of the King?s African Rifles were serving in Kenya during the Mau Mau Rising, an anti-colonial revolt focusing on land ownership and who was to rule Kenya once the British withdrew. The rising was eventually defeated, but it required over 10, 000 British and African soldiers to do it. One of 41 photographs taken by Lt Roger Perkins, 4th (Uganda) Battalion King?s African Rifles, 1956-1957. Date: 1957

© The National Army Museum / Mary Evans Picture Library

A marine serving with Mortar Platoon, 40 Commando Royal Mari

Digital photograph: A marine serving with Mortar Platoon, 40 Commando Royal Marine attached to the Black Watch Battle Group at Camp Dogwood takes an opportunity to have a field shower during a fire missions.Photographed by WO2 Giles Penfound, Army Media Operations, Iraq, Operation BRACKEN, 5 November 2004.From a CD entitled 'Iraq Conflict. Operation Telic', compiled by WO2 Penfound, for an exhibition at the NAM provisionally entitled 'Portrait' (Project: Operation TELIC).Associated with 1st Battalion, The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) Battle Group, Iraq (2003-).The area occupied by the Marines consisted of a series of derelict buildings on what was a former chemical works located near Baghdad.Operation BRACKEN: The Multi National Division South East - MND(SE) - Divisional Reserve based on the 1st Battalion The Black Watch (The Royal Highland Regiment) Battle Group (1BW BG) was authorised by the British Prime Minister to conduct operations in the 24 Marine Expeditionary Unit (United States) area of operations South of Baghdad. The 1 BW BG consisted of Battle Group Headquarters (HQ), A, B, D and HQ Company as well as attachments from 40 Commando Royal Marines, B Squadron Queen's Dragoon Guards and supported by a variety of Combat Support (Signals, Royal Engineers, Intelligence Corps) and Combat Service Support (Royal Logistic Corps, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers) elements. Date: 2004

© The National Army Museum / Mary Evans Picture Library