Gun gurus. What are these from?

[..]

I believe they are 2nd World War brought home by my father

One has only Arabic writing stamped on the base.

The other has stamped HS, D, 26, 53, S69-53A.

Both are 6 3/4 inches tall.

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa197/britman45_photo/Ebay/021.jpg[/img]]

[Probie (Scooter57)]

how big is the hole?

[Jess from VA]

Hmm....standard 20mm is (now) 4" brass.  40 mm is just over 12". 

Scooter is right, put a metric ruler on the hole.  It will be that mm cannon shells. 

If you want to spend the time you can Goggle "cannon brass headstamps" then try to ID the
"HS, D, 26, 53, S69-53A" in the sites you find.  You will have more difficulty with the arabic (Duh), though it could be German manufacture. 

http://www.janes.com/articles/Janes-Ammunition-Handbook/Cartridge-headstamps.html

http://www.xs4all.nl/~ator1149/wfm/ww1/stamps2.html

http://www.radix.net/~bbrown/codes_full_alpha_p-z.html

[..]

It's 20mm

Thanks for the links.