Very rare German LKZ 16 shell percussion fuse,maker marked dated 1916 used on gas shells for the 7.7cm field gun recovered in 2012 from the British front line area at Maricourt on the June-July 1916 Somme battlefield

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This is a very rare fantastic condition German LKZ 16 shell percussion fuse used on gas shells fired by the 7.7cm field gun. The fuse it has been fired and this nose section ripped off during the impact and does have some damage from that but still pretty much complete it is in very nice condition and does have all of its original markings including dated 1916 it has lots of original colour and has been very well cleaned perfect for display and a rare one for the collection. This fuse was recovered in 2012 from the British front line area at Maricourt on the June-July 1916 Somme battlefield this area saw very heavy fighting during the battle on the 1st July 1916.

Maricourt village was held by the Allies an attack was launched from this area on the 1st July 1916 at the beginning of the Battles of the Somme offensive, but no major gains were made until a week or so later. Maricourt was the point of junction where the British and French trench lines connected and was a very short distance between the Allied and German front lines. The Village was lost in the German advance of March 1918 and recaptured at the end of the following August.