A VERY DIFFERENT GREAT WAR MONUMENT
 

Located at Kuriheka sheep station, well off the beaten track in North Otago New Zealand, is this interesting monument to those locals who served and died in the Great War.
Erected by Colonel Joseph Cowie Nichols, who had purchased the Kuriheka sheep station in 1885, the cairn lists those who served from the area, and those who died are marked by a *. Three who died are Colonel Nichols sons. One son survived.
In addition to the cairn, Colonel Nichols gathered together an interesting array of big guns, and these are also on display. There are two 64lb Armstrong guns, a 75mm Krupp with Turkish inscriptions, and several other large pieces. The Krupp was captured by the Worcestershire Yeomanry Regiment near the Suez Canal in 1917.
If you are ever in the area, a visit is well worthwhile especially if you like things which go off with a big bang!
Hope you enjoy......
Stu

...and a few more of the guns
 

and a few more of the guns.....

Good Lord, what a memorial!

I don't think I will ever be in the area to see this in person, but, rest assured, if I ever somehow find myself in the area, I'll be there.

Very interesting Stu. Thanks for posting.

That Carronade looks quite old fashioned compared to the rest of the pieces .

Yes I agree. I am of the impression that Col.Nichols was interested in big guns of all sorts....not just Great War.
Hopefully one of our Members will know the origins and maybe date of the markings on the cannon.

Thanks for posting this Stu, a truly impressive assembly of ordnance, especially the two 64prs mounted on their carriages & platforms. The old style "cannon" is a carronade, a very popular type of gun from the early to mid 19th century. Its mounted on a modern carriage loosely approximating what carronades were originally mounted on. The makers marking is not one I am familiar with, also I have to admit that I am not 100% sure if this example is original, & not a reproduction. One day I hope to visit New Zealand & will make every effort to see these guns. Adrian