Thread: WW2 Near Lithgow

Originally Posted by lewy

anyone driving around the newnes plateau should be aware that on the west side is restricted defence land that has unexploded ordnance on it

um, glad I know that. Now.

Originally Posted by Modelsp

Hi
I believe if you Google "Evelyn Owen" you will find his light machine gun was also manufactured up there,reportedly the best light machine gun produced in WW2.
Cheers
Paul.

My late Dad, who fought the Japanese, said the Owen was good up close, but didn't have the hitting power at any distance. But it was better than nothing. My Uncle , who was in Korea, said he emptied a full magazine into a Chinese soldier in heavy winter gear, and he would have been better off throwing the Owen at him, Bob

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um, glad I know that. Now

The back of marrangaroo?used to be storage there as well.

couple of interesting links

Photo Gallery - Chemical Warfare in Australia Marrangaroo Army Depot Environmental Remediation Project - Project Update

Originally Posted by bob10

My late Dad, who fought the Japanese, said the Owen was good up close, but didn't have the hitting power at any distance. But it was better than nothing. My Uncle , who was in Korea, said he emptied a full magazine into a Chinese soldier in heavy winter gear, and he would have been better off throwing the Owen at him, Bob

In the 1960's I worked alongside a guy who was in one of the Independent Companies in Timor and Bougainville. He reckoned the Owen should have been made in .45 calibre. He said for jungle work on Bougainville they preferred the .303 and the US .45 Thompson, both of which would punch through a small tree but the Owen wouldn't. He said the US Marines had a few "Johnny Guns" which were in US.30-06 rifle ammunition. His unit "acquired" a few of these and he reckoned they were very good.

Originally Posted by mick88

I have a Lithgow Slazenger single shot .22 and I used to also have a .22 bolt action repeater.

Cheers, Mick.

I'm after a lithgow single shot to go with my south Aussie made sport co 7.62

Any 1 with even a passing interest in our milatary history should visit the Lithgow Small Arms Museum. It is fantastic the quality and variety of Militaria from not only our own but also Foreign arms too. In between wars the factory also made electrical goods, tools and civilian firearms, all to maintain the skills base for when the real brown stuff hit the air circulation devise!! Which it always seem to do eventually

Cheers Scott

How did I ever miss this thread? All virtually in my backyard.


There are THREE anti-Aircraft battery sites in Lithgow. Clwydd Battery is probably the best known (top of scenic hill), but in the worst condition. Although on private property, it is adjacent to a major rd and in an uninhabited area. It has suffered from vandalism, bushfires and soil erosion. This is approx. 2 miles east of the Small Arms Factory, up on the plateau. It was sited to cover the air approach following the Bells line of Road.


The next site is Bowenfels battery located about a mile to the SW of the Factory. Although little known, when you know where to look, it is in plain view of the Great Western Hwy. This site was also on private property for many years, but on farmland so access was restricted and protected the site from vandalism. In fact, the Gun positions were roofed over and used as sheep pens, which has preserved them in remarkable condition. In 2004, the site was transferred to Lithgow City Council and given heritage protection. A group of volunteers undertook renovation work which included obtaining 3 (out of 4) 3.7" Heavy Anti Aircraft guns, which are now displayed on the site. For the public re-opening of the site we had the command post re-equipped with height and range finding equipment and communication equipment. One of the guns was demonstrated with blank fire.


The third site was a pair of AA MG posts on the factory roof. As these have remained under secure restrictions since the war, they are entirely original and unmolested, complete with telephone communication still wired into the factory exchange.