When Devonport went into the arena to collect their trophies there was not a dry eye in the arena. (The sheer legs weigh 170lbs) Broken bones, pulled muscles and severe cuts were the risks that dedicated gunners accepted and before they signed up they were required to sign a disclaimer stating that they would not sue the Navy for damages. The winning crew in 1907 was HMS Cambridge, the gunnery school in Plymouth. As far as he was concerned, there was one breed of sportsman, one band of brothers, which stood out above the rest. I have managed to gather the above information from a number of sources. The Interport Field Gun competition was established in 1907 and was a highlight of the Royal Tournament until the Last Run in 1999. Time penalties are added to the running time for each contravention of the rules. Last year, the organisers of the Royal Windsor Horse Show decided to use their spectacular arena beneath Windsor Castle to stage the first Windsor Castle Royal Tattoo. The spirit of the Royal Tournament has not died either. The Royal Navy's field gun competition is a contest between teams from various Royal Navy commands, in which teams of sailors compete to transport a field gun and its equipment over and through a series of obstacles in the shortest time. The remaining three crews participated until the final Royal Tournament 1999. Aggregate Time and Fastest Time Cups were introduced in 1924. Royal Navy Field Gun The following is the chronological evolvement of the competition, as we came to know and love it: 1900 - 4.7 Guns were hauled into the arena by four span of Oxen and Sailors, the animals were then out-spanned as though out to graze, the Sailors fired one round, and then manhandled the Guns out of the arena. All that mattered was a winner's medal at the end of the tournament (silver for the winners, bronze for the runners-up). Records for completing the course have continued to be broken. Royal Navy Field Gun. I have come to the South Coast, with Grassy Meadows as my guide, to watch the preparations. the ships company for their part in the saving of Ladysmith. Both sides moved forces to their mutual borders, the British forces in Natal numbered less than 16,000 whilst the Transvaal Burgher army alone totalled nearly 27,000. A precursor to the competition lay in the presentation of Field Gun 'Evolutions' including one performed by Miss Westons Naval Boys Brigade from Portsmouth at the Royal Albert Hall on 21 October 1905 as part of the Centenary Commemoration of the Battle of Trafalgar. Once all the crew and equipment were back on the home side of the chasm, the wire and traveller were dismantled and three more rounds were fired in a rear guard action. The team and equipment then passed through a hole in the "enemy wall" at the end of the arena. For the final part of the journey, sailors from the Naval Brigade manhandled the guns over very difficult terrain. The "Command" format, negotiating walls and a chasm, was held annually at the Royal Tournament in London solely as a public display and as recruitment purposes from 1907 until 1999, apart from the periods during the World Wars. The Royal Military Tournament of 1900 was held in Islington Agricultural Hall and featured men from HMS Powerful parading one of their 4.7-inch naval guns called Joe Chamberlain. In a combined display, Seamen from HMS Excellent and HMS Victory took their guns over two walls and two bridges. Both wheels are shifted. The gun and wheels are heavy! With the displays of field gun drill now a firm favourite with the audiences at the Tournament, the first competition was staged in May 1907. Gradually the display was annually improved upon, using 9-pounder and 12-pounder Guns (the same guns that are used in both the Command and Brickwoods competitions!). The average time for the Run Back was 60 seconds. Each crew then fires three rounds to end the "Run Out". 1936 - No Competition at the Royal Tournament. The last night was also a moment Ill never forget. 1st Retire, 2nd Wheel The gun is brought to the back of the limber and connected, then both are run forward. However, the run is still not over, penalties can still be incurred if the drill is not carried out correctly, for instance: a man moving before the G is sounded on the bugle or throwing or dropping a piece of equipment into the chasm. . The display consists of various movements carried out by a Naval Battery of six 12-pounder 8cwt. The first represents the guns being unloaded from HMS Powerful at Durban; the second the overnight transport of the guns from Durban to Ladysmith as the Boers surrounded the town; the third is the guns being put into position at Ladysmith to face the Boers.\r\rThe first section is called the run out. (The method of abandoning guns during a temporary retirement, leaving them useless to an enemy). In South Africa at the turn of the last century relations between the Dutch in the Transvaal, the Orange State, the British in the Cape and Natal deteriorated rapidly after a conference held in Bloomfontein, capital of the Orange Free State, to resolve the problems arising form the massive influx of immigration as a result of the discovery of gold in the Transvaal and their claims for citizenship rights ended in stalemate. It turns out that a solid, steel handle on the gun mounting has broken. The main Naval involvement for several years had been from 40 ratings drawn from HMS Excellent, carrying out Cutlass Drill, and a Gun Drill Display, comprising as follows: The Guns are brought in and, after a short march round the arena, are cleared for action and one round is fired. I am also surprised to discover that a third of the team are officers. The average time for the Run Out was 85 seconds. In 1999, the last Royal Tournament staged its last race. It seems obvious that the Naval contribution to an event organised by the Army would include their famous guns. ', charging over the start line to heave 1,800lb of gun and carriage on to its wheels and drag it up and down a road at running speed. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. This is why it will always remain in the bodies and souls of all field gunners. Junior Field Gunners compete in unique challenge - Royal Navy The Transvaal Government responded to this major troop movement with an ultimatum issued on the 9th October, with a time limit of two days, that all British forces were to withdraw from the borders of the Transvaal and all the troops which had landed since the previous June were to be moved from South Africa and those on their way from overseas were not to be landed. 1915 to 1918 - 1st World War, therefore no Tournament, which recommenced in 1919. The gun is run to the end of the track, turned and stopped. After the demise of the Royal Tournament, the Brickwoods field gun competition was revived as a naval contest. 1925 - Individual Silver Medals were introduced - initial winners being HMS Excellent. The "Command" format, negotiating walls and a chasm, was held annually at the Royal . Later as Commander Scott he was instrumental in conceiving the idea of field gun competitions, the first as early as 1900.
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