A Precious Military Heritage

Field Gun 5255 was captured by the 3rd Canadian Infantry Battalion September 27th, 1918, near the Arras-Cambrai road, North of Bourlon Wood, France. After WWI, the War Trophies Commission (WTC) was given the responsibility for dispersing large trophies like this one across Canada.
This field gun FK 96 n.a. (Neuer art, for "new model") with a 7.7 cm diameter barrel, was used for direct-fire artillery support reasonably close to the front. It was Germany's first rapid-firing cannon.
The serial no. NR 5255, written in large numerals, is found on the back of the breech, just above the large circular hole for inserting the shell. The cannon manufacture date should also be behind the breech, but right under the large opening. The gun's breech (the large block of metal at the back of the barrel that swings open to allow loading and closes to seal the chamber for firing) is stuck in an open position (swung out to the right), with the handle out above it.
Around 1967, the cannon was moved to the cenotaph in L'Orignal Park under the guidance of René Bertrand, a Second World War veteran.