This monument consisting of a 104-millimetre gun standing on a sandstone plinth is located at the south-eastern entrance of Hyde Park. It comes from the SMS Emden, a German light cruiser warship in World War I. It was a raider in the Indian Ocean and after engaging the HMAS Sydney at the Battle of Cocos Island it was run aground to prevent her from sinking. The monument stands near the corner of Liverpool Street and College Street and points towards the start of Oxford Street.
Cool monument! Great shot!
ReplyDeleteThat's a pretty impressive monument!
ReplyDeleteThat is a scary monument; guns should never be displayed in public where children might run into them unexpectedly. I am glad the German SS Emden was saved and I believe the War Memorial in Canberra would be a perfect place for WW1 artefacts like this. Parents could then take their children in a planned way, if they wanted.
ReplyDeleteI think it was a sign of those times that a gun became a war memorial. I don't think that would be likely these days. What really surprises me is that an artefact from an enemy ship became a war memorial.
DeleteI would hate to see one of these monsters in action Jim.
ReplyDeleteGreat capture! and story.
ReplyDeleteI have never seen that in Hyde Park ! Great shot !
ReplyDeleteGreat tour!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
ReplyDeleteGreat shot!
ReplyDeleteI find it so interesting that so many of the names you list on your post are name from London and about. I am assuming the Australians forced it to run aground. Love any remnants fro WWI because of my daddy's service in France. genie
ReplyDeleteBeing a British colony originally, so many of the names of streets and places in Sydney have British origins.
DeleteWow- that's impressive!
ReplyDeletethat is a good fence!
ReplyDeleteNice shot...interesting history
ReplyDeletethat is great....
ReplyDeleteInteresting. It's nice that the retired piece has become art rather than a weapon. My small town has a retired tank in its park.
ReplyDeletenow that's a big gun!
ReplyDeleteThat's a very nicely fenced in monument. It's nice to know the history behind it. Have a great weekend. Pamela
ReplyDeleteCool history there! I love iron fences and the circular shape of this one.
ReplyDeleteThanks for telling us the history. I'm curious as to why Australians would want to want remember a German warship though It seems to me an Australian warship would be more appropriate. Just sayin' since I don't know what the plaque says. However, I do like the fence.
ReplyDeleteI find this curious too.
DeleteCool photo!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful attraction.
ReplyDeleteWonderful photo and information!
ReplyDeleteWhat stories that gun could tell, eh? As for the fence, I like the arrows on it. Gives it a character of its own to match the monument.
ReplyDeletei agree - what stories & fun you could learn. awesome shot. ( :
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