The ICI Billingham Gun Shop personnel pose for the works photographer during 1943/44 behind their PIAT anti tank weapons which they assembled. The Projector Infantry Anti Tank gun, propelled a mortar like round through the energy of a powerful coil spring thus avoiding any muzzle flash that may have given away the user’s position. The Gun Shop which was just three hundred yards inside the old ICI Billingham North Gate on Belasis Avenue in the direction of the main workshops, may well have been the later location of the instrument workshop used in the 1960s.
Photograph and details courtesy of Geoffrey Cowton.
Great photo! But the PIAT was not spring-powered; it was a shoulder-fired spigot mortar. The spring was there to absorb recoil and to recock the weapon.
The gun shop became the apprentice school. I was an electrical fitter apprentice there in january 1955.
My mother Florence Walker worked there inspecting and testing these guns at Billingham bottoms. I believe it is now a nature reserve.
I cannot print what we called the PIAT and as to it being a spring operated projectile so as not to give away your cover, in your dreams.
On the training grounds above Barnard Castle the Sergeant asked “which of you ex-Cadets fired the PIAT”, eight fingers including my best friend pointed at me, me with the PIAT and two trusty side kicks carrying the shells got into position in a cold wet ditch and waited until they winched what was left of an old tank up to me. The deal was you had to pop up mount the PIAT on its monopod, a single leg with a broad flat foot, (time was of the essence – making sure it was set on solid ground and secure was not an option!), then load the shell,aim and fire at no more than 100 yards. Imagine a fully aware tank crew coming at you at 20+mph and hitting the front or turret did nothing, it bounced off. So aim for the very narrow track and fire. The recoil from the shell re cocked the weapon sending you flying back with a chance of losing bits of yourself to stones or sharp rocks. I could hear them shouting fire but kept my head down until it passed then came up behind and shot it up the “ahem” exhaust. Luckily I was a whizz on the Bren gun so so no more PIAT.
I knew a chap who had worked in the ICI gun shop he told me they also assembled the Sten gun which I also carried into the 1950’s when we got the Stirling sub machine gun at least you could engage at 200 yards with the Sten it was more like 50 yards.
Frank, your memories are pure gold to us youngsters.