Just a heads up for British rogues. There's a Time Team special on Thursday, April 14th on Channel4 at 2100. They'll be excavating part of the old Somme line around Mametz, where the only surviving example of a Livens Large Gallery Flame Projector was found. They will also be test firing a life-sized replica, so it could be a good one.
Thanks, Gordon. On Thursday, I shall make a point of watching - complete with Hi-Viz, earplugs, flameproof overalls, hard-hat, goggles - and I shall of course watch from a designated safe position behind the sofa
Well, it was worth watching. They pinpointed the exact entrance to the sap the projector was set up in, after finding the original frontline trench. It had been collapsed by a shell in 1916, but since the wooden props in the other entrance had been reclaimed, causing the west entrance to collapse too, they dug out the east one. After uncovering and following the timbers, they found the original sapper's toolkit, followed by the valve gear and firing tube. These were so well-preserved that the valve still opened and closed after a century of burial. They now have the only surviving pieces of Livens projector anywhere. The reconstruction was horrifying; the RE boys fired it up, and the archaeologists standing 100 yards to one side in the 'safe' zone lost their eyebrows. They then followed the original practice of adding diesel to extend the range, and the resulting flame and after-effects were exactly like surviving photos from WW1. A truly horrifying weapon. http://www.channel4.com/programmes/time-team-specials/episode-guide/series-6/episode-2/
I only managed to see the second half of the show so will have to re-watch it again, but your right Gordon it was well worth the effort. The reconstruction was pretty 'hot' alright......as an after thought (considering the amount of work involved to build and set up) it would have been good if the RE's had constructed a small section of German trench....just to see what damage it would have done - still great viewing all the same! Was nice as well to let the RE's carry the pipe section out of the ground.
Just an update; the excavated Livens projector went on display in Peronne, France last week- Welcome to Facebook - Log In, Sign Up or Learn More
