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WW1 German Model L40 Artillery Gun:

In front of Sgt. Hugh Cairns VC Armoury sits a well preserved WWI German model L/40 artillery gun on permanent display.

Obtained by the armory, this weapon was originally presented to the City of Saskatoon by the Government of Canada in 1919.

Manufactured by Krupp of Essen in 1917, the L/40 fired a 15cm shell and had a maximum range of 20,451 yards.
In 1917 the German Army was desperately short of artillery of all types. The German Navy on the other hand was not short of surface vessels and a number of large caliber barrels were deemed surplus to requirements by the Navy.
The army took these barrels and mounted them on wheels. This picture shows the complete unit with trails as a separate piece. In this case they are being reattached for firing. Normally when traveling, they were separated into two individual pieces. The Sgt. Hugh Cairns Armory gun is missing the trails which is as long as the gun itself.
It is unclear whether this weapon system was captured or seized by the Allies when Germany surrendered. A great many captured weapons were sent all across Canada as a thank-you for raising Victory Bonds. It is known that the more a community raised, the larger the weapon system it received.

Sergeant Hugh Cairns
Awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously, for acts of Valor before Valenciennes:

“For most conspicuous bravery before Valenciennes on 1 November 1918, when a machine gun opened on his platoon. Without a moment's hesitation, Sergeant Cairns seized a Lewis gun and single-handedly, in the face of direct fire, rushed the post, killed the crew of five, and captured the gun. Later, when the line was held up by machine-gun fire, he again rushed forward, killing 12 enemy soldiers and capturing another 18 and two guns. Subsequently, when the advance was held up by machine guns and field guns, although wounded, he led a small party to outflank them, killing many, forcing about 50 to surrender, and capturing all of the guns. After consolidation, he went with a battle patrol to exploit Marly and forced 60 enemy soldiers to surrender. Whilst disarming the party he was severely wounded. Nevertheless, he opened fire and inflicted heavy losses. Finally he was rushed by about 20 enemy soldiers and collapsed from weakness and loss of blood. Throughout the operation he showed the highest degree of valor, and his leadership contributed to the success of the attack. He died on 2 November from his wounds.”

WW1 German Model L40 Artillery Gun on permanent display outside the Sgt. Hugh Cairn VC Armoury in Saskatoon Saskatchewan - April 02, 2007.