Engraved shell case : Battle of Romani, 1916

German 75mm shell case for a German Fk Na 16 and other foreign contract field guns, engraved on one side 'SINAI ROMANI 4:8:16.' and with ornate initials 'MW', and on the other side with a Rising Sun badge. The head is impressed 'PATRONENFABRIK KARLSRUHE MAI 1916 Sp255 30 Fried.Krupp A.G.12'.

This German manufactured shellcase, used by the Turkish army at the battle of Romani, which took place on 4 and 5 August 1916, was souvenired and later engraved by an Australian light horseman who participated in the battle. The initials 'MW' are though to be those of the light horseman, whose surname may have been Williams, but he has not been positively identified. The battle of Romani put a stop to the Turkish threat to the Suez Canal and marked the beginning of the British forces' drive out of Egypt and into Palestine. The British defences were located in a series of high sand dunes, 35 kilometres east of the canal, which the Turkish forces attempted to outflank to the south early on 4 August. At first only the Australian 1st Light Horse Brigade was able to meet the attack, but was heavily outnumbered and forced to fall back. Later in the day they were reinforced by Australian, British and New Zealand mounted and infantry units and the position stablised around a massive sand dune nicknamed Mount Royston after commander of 2 Light Horse Brigade, Lieutenant Colonel Jack Royston. The position was held throughout the night and before dawn on 5 August the men of 1st and 2nd Light Horse Brigades advanced on foot. Turkish resistance quickly collapsed and large numbers of prisoners were taken. Those who escaped and retreated were pursued by fresh troops from 3rd Light Horse Brigade.