Drip Rifle (Weird Weapons)

During the evacuation of Gallipoli by the Allies, which started in December 1915, an ingenious invention was constructed on the battlefield by Anzac forces to deceive the Ottoman enemy into thinking a large force was still firing back at them, when in reality, the rifles were shooting without a person pulling the trigger. This invention, which was called the Drip Rifle or Pop-Off Rifle, was developed by an Australian called Lance Corporal William Scurry, who was assisted by his friend Bunty Lawrence. It worked by using two ration tin cans, one filled with water with a hole punched in it, and the other empty and attached to the rifle's trigger using string. The rifle was loaded and fixed in position with sandbags. Over time, the water would drip out of the first tin can, filling the lower can until it had reached a certain weight, pulling the trigger and firing the weapon. By this time, the soldiers were long gone, but from a distance, it would give the impression that the position was still manned. The variation in methods and weight would also make the shots appear at random times and intervals. This deception was put to the test alongside mannequins and dummy artillery pieces on the last night of the evacuation from Gallipoli. Scurry and Lawrence rigged the Drip Rifles along random points of the Anzac firing line. The last 2,000 men who made up the Allied rear guard then quietly withdrew, deceiving the Ottoman enemy into thinking that they were still there. The rear guard would evacuate successfully without any casualties. Scurry was later awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal in recognition for his invention. Watch our other videos to learn more. Get your copy of Simple History World War I available on Amazon now. Thank you guys for all your support on the Simple History YouTube channel. If you enjoy it, please consider visiting our Patreon page. There, you can show us your support for the channel by donating and make a huge difference in what we're able to create for you. Plus, you can get early access on upcoming videos. So let's keep it growing, and thank you for being part of this amazing community.