trench catapult

THE RIFLES Living History Society

Trench Catapult, and other toys

On this page we'll show some of larger display props.

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OUR LEACH TRENCH CATAPULT

SEEN IN OPERATION AT THE ROYAL GUNPOWDER MILLS

The Rifles are unique in having a fully working Leach Trench Catapult, which we have demonstrated at several venues. A cantankerous contraption that can bite the operators as well as the target, but it is great fun to operate

AN ORIGINAL TRAINING EXERCISE

SOMEWHERE IN FRANCE !!

The British Army was always behind the Germans in the provision of effective grenades and mortars during the early years of World War 1. This trench catapult was invented by Claude Embedding Leach and used through 1915 through to the early part of 1916. they were also used in the campaign in Gallipoli.

CREW TRAINING AT FORT NELSON

Our Training Sgt keeps a keen eye and a firm hand on the new crew members undergoing training on the Leach catapult. It really is stretching the limits of elastic technology!!

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During the Great War training was often done using Hessian screens instead of trenches...heres ours.

The raiding party - orders are given on how to take the next fire bay.

See how its done here :-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtPDNcPARP0

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We also have a portable trench

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Here we see it outside The Rifles museum Winchester

If you want to see the only surviving original WW1 Leach catapult, its in the Imperial War Museum's reserve collection at Duxford.

Dedicated to the history of the

BRITISH RIFLEMAN