Date: 02/09/2013

A unique surviving giant, a stupendous 190-tonne gun which missed its date with destiny when it was completed too late for the first world war, will make a slow journey across southern England this week, ignominiously towed on a low loader even though it was built onto a railway truck to be transported by rail. It is the largest surviving piece of British artillery, the only remaining British railway gun, and one of only 12 railway guns surviving in the world. 'There was some discussion of transporting it by rail, which would have been magnificent but I don't think it was ever really viewed as a serious proposition,' Nick Hall, the keeper of artillery at the Royal Armouries, said. He described securing its loan, from the Royal Artillery Historical Trust, as 'a career-crowning moment'. It will be on display for four years, throughout the centenary of the war which it missed, at the Armouries' artillery museum, Fort Nelson in Hampshire.

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Giant first world war gun on the move across southern England this week

Guardian

Britain's last surviving railway howitzer, completed too late for WWI, to make slow road journey to Hampshire artillery museum