Commemorative copper plaque from the north tower of the Mohne Dam, Germany

German commemorative copper plaque from the north tower of the Mohne Dam. Weight 190 lbs. The plaque is painted black, and the lettering, in raised capitals, appears to be light blue in colour, but this may be a property of the copper. Numerous signatures and inscriptions by Allied servicemen (including some Australians) are written in pencil and chalk around the lower sections of the plaque. The original text, of which some letters are missing, reads: 'IM FUNFUNZWANZIGSTEN JAHRE DER MACHTVOLLEN REGIERUNG UNSERES KAISERS UND KONIGS WILHELM II., ALS ZUM HUNDERTSTEN MALE DIE TAGE WIEDERKEHRTEN, IN DENEN DIE BEFREIUNG DES VATERLANDES ERRUNGEN WURDE, IST DIE BOM RUHRTALESPERRENVEREIN IN ESSEN ERRICHTETE MOHNETALESPERRE DEM BETRIEBE UBERGEBEN WORDEN, EIN BLEIBENDE(?) DENK AL (???) GESEGNETEN ENTWICKLUNG DER SCHAFFENSFROHEN RHEINISH-WESTFALISHEN LANDE. 12. JULI 1913. DER VORSITZENDE DES RUHRTALSPERRENVEREINS HOLLE. OBERBURGERMEISTER DER STATDT ESSEN.' This translates as, 'In the twenty fifth year of the mighty reign of our Emperor and King Wilhem II, and when for the hundredth time the days re-occurred when the liberation of the fatherland was enforced [this refers to the centenary of the freeing of their country from French rule in 1813], has the Mohnevalley Dam, erected by the association of the Ruhrvalley Dam, been put into operation, as a lasting monument to the blessed development of the industriously-happy country of Rhein-Westfalia. 12th July, 1913. The chairman of the association of the Ruhrvalley Dam, Holle, Lord Mayor of the City of Essen.'

The Mohne Dam was breached on the night of 16/17 May 1943 during a raid carried out by the modified Lancaster bombers of 617 Squadron, RAF (who thus became known as the 'Dambusters'). This plaque, commemorating the opening of the dam in 1913, was retrieved from its northern tower in 1945 by Flight Lieutenant Kenneth Hesketh of the RAAF Historical Records Section. Hesketh had previously completed a tour of operations as a navigator on Lancaster bombers with 12 Squadron (RAF).