I am currently looking for information concerning all improvised bombthrowers/catapults used in the trench’s on all sides.
I am very interested in the LEACH used in 1915 and 1916, I would especially like any information relating to what battles it may have been used in, also what companies might have used them.
Also the West Spring Gun, any information on these English design would be very much appreciated.
I am very interested in some very clear photo’s, and drawings as well.
Any other from of bombthrowers/catapult is also welcome.
I am also searching for the elusive French "SAUTERLLE" crossbow, bombthrower.
I have a lot especially on the Leach (including thenactions in which it was used) but also on the others as its all in one chapter of a book I'm almost finished writing. Happy to share (colaborate) -what are you using it for?
BTW the "Leach" in your photo isn't a Leach its a copy built in the Dardenelles but with a more limited range. There were actually 2 copies in this campaign one built by the Australians and one by a Royal Marine Cyclists unit (Heaven knows why a cyclist unit was sent to the Dardenelles). Your photo shows the RM version although it's sometimes mis captioned as the Australian build. The Aussies at Gallipoli showed considerable ingenuety in developing improvised weapons however some of the more gung ho Australian press elements sometimes portray them as Australian 'firsts' when in fact similar weapons had already been used on other fronts. The classic case is a sniper rifle mounting (made of wood) when there is ample photographic evidence of factory made metal and wood mountings in use on the Western front months previously.
I took these photos on the Army Museum in Paris last year. It is of a French Crossbow bombthrower - obviously not a field improvisation, but a mass-produced weapon.
They are not too sharp, I'm afraid - I wasn't allowed to use a flash. Hope they can be of some assistance!
Tim - Weapons of the Trench War 1914-18 by Anthony Saunders (Sutton Publishing, ISBN 0-7509-1818-7) has got about fifteen pages on the subject. It includes the Leach/Gamage, West Spring Gun, some French crossbow arrangements, and several ad hoc designs. It's in our local library so you should be able to get hold of a copy.
Going back to your post about body armour, etc., there's a picture on the back of this book of some French trench raiders wearing the steel pudding-basin cap and wearing something similar to the British pattern vest called the Daigre.
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