Ballarat Council has in its possession four very significant German 150mm Howitzer artillery guns captured by the AIF in World Ware I including the very two Howitzers that once stood either side of the Arch of Victory and were actually captured by soldiers of Ballarat's 8th Battalion in 1918.

Three of these guns and another now in private hands may possibly have comprised a complete gun battery captured by the AIF and if so this is probably the only complete World War I German gun battery remaining worldwide that's how important and significant these Howitzers are.

After the council reneged on a formal arrangement with Ballarat Arms and Militaria Collectors' Society (BAAMCS) to expertly restore all four Howitzers at minimal cost to the citizens of Ballarat, they languished in the council depot in Trewin St (corner of Ring Road) for some three years.

The original plan was to restore all four guns in time for the Gallipoli anniversary, however little action has been forthcoming. Note that funding for the restorations (a government grant) had previously been obtained, but who knows what has happened to that money.

Following a bit of publicity by some concerned individuals it now looks like one of the Arch Howitzers is to be given a basic cosmetic makeover. (Some new wheels and a coat of paint? Let's hope they don't further ruin the state of preservation by sand-blasting it before painting.)

It is understood that this work is being undertaken at Sovereign Hill and one wonders what expertise they have in the restoration and conservation of antique military artillery pieces.

However, this "restoration" is occurring under a complete veil of secrecy the council will not openly discuss their plans for the gun particularly with interested BAAMCS members. This is a bit rich when you consider that these guns may have been scrapped by now if it wasn't for the concerns of BAAMCS to alert council of their importance and impending removal a few years ago.

Now more importantly, what is to become of the remaining three historically important Howitzers still dumped at the council's Trewin Street depot? These guns deserve to be restored and displayed too, but have now had camouflage tarpaulins placed over them in an attempt to protect them from the weather or in the hope that they will be forgotten about and able to be disposed of in time? (Many such guns originally displayed to honour our World War I diggers have over time been scrapped and disposed of by councils all over Australia )

If the council has little interest in restoring the remaining Howitzers they must at least be saved and not put into long-term storage where they may eventually be scrapped when forgotten about. These guns must also be preserved for all of Ballarat's citizens in memory of the sacrifice by our World War I diggers.

Read the whole sorry story (see the pictures) and the facts behind the council's deceitful, secretive and farcical handling of this saga at the BAAMCS website:

http://www.ballaratarms.com.au/save-the-howitzers.html

Ballarat City Council is challenged to respond positively and provide some real answers to its citizens on this matter instead of the current secrecy and lack of transparency.