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Honing's WWI German "war trophy" trench mortar returns Honing's WWI German "war trophy" trench mortar returns
(about 20 hours later)
A German trench mortar received by a village as a World War One trophy and given years later to a museum has been returned, restored and put on display.A German trench mortar received by a village as a World War One trophy and given years later to a museum has been returned, restored and put on display.
It was given to Honing in Norfolk in about 1920 and sat outside its post office until 1970, when it was offered to Strumpshaw Steam Museum.It was given to Honing in Norfolk in about 1920 and sat outside its post office until 1970, when it was offered to Strumpshaw Steam Museum.
The museum gave it back when villagers asked to borrow it for their World War One commemorations in 2014.The museum gave it back when villagers asked to borrow it for their World War One commemorations in 2014.
The mortar has now been restored and given a new home near the village hall.The mortar has now been restored and given a new home near the village hall.
No-one knows how the 1.2m-long (4ft) artillery piece arrived in the village but there were two possibilities, according to Honing Parish Council chairman Diana Howes.No-one knows how the 1.2m-long (4ft) artillery piece arrived in the village but there were two possibilities, according to Honing Parish Council chairman Diana Howes.
She said: "It could have been given by the War Trophies Committee, or it could have been given by Col Reginald Cubitt, who lived at Honing Hall and was the only one of several brothers to survive the war."She said: "It could have been given by the War Trophies Committee, or it could have been given by Col Reginald Cubitt, who lived at Honing Hall and was the only one of several brothers to survive the war."
The War Trophies Committee was set up by the War Office to distribute captured equipment at the end of World War One.The War Trophies Committee was set up by the War Office to distribute captured equipment at the end of World War One.
Matthew Brosnan, Imperial War Museums historian, said this included "things like artillery pieces, machine guns and any other equipment captured by British, Dominion and Empire forces during the war".Matthew Brosnan, Imperial War Museums historian, said this included "things like artillery pieces, machine guns and any other equipment captured by British, Dominion and Empire forces during the war".
Some of these items formed the earliest donations to the Imperial War Museum.Some of these items formed the earliest donations to the Imperial War Museum.
It was Col Cubitt, whose family owned property in the village, who gave the mortar to Strumpshaw.It was Col Cubitt, whose family owned property in the village, who gave the mortar to Strumpshaw.
Mrs Howe said many villagers were "disappointed when it disappeared and liked having it back".Mrs Howe said many villagers were "disappointed when it disappeared and liked having it back".
"We've had lots of memories from older residents, who played on it as children," she said."We've had lots of memories from older residents, who played on it as children," she said.
"One woman said she rode on it like a horse and the church organist used to put bangers down its barrel.""One woman said she rode on it like a horse and the church organist used to put bangers down its barrel."
It will be officially unveiled later.