1912 - the chasm was replaced by a single ramp, for both the outward and homeward journeys. The competition evolved during the early years of the 20th century. Everyone (except me) relishes the cry of 'Drill! The remaining three crews participated until the final Royal Tournament 1999. The legendary story tells of the siege of the British garrison in Ladysmith in 1899. 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. The names of the winners of the trophy are engraved on small shields up to and including 1961 and plates for winners since 1962. Each crew competes seven times against each of the other crews. In 1900 following the relief of Ladysmith during the South African campaign, Seaman from HMS Powerful brought a 4.7 inch gun into the arena at the Tournament. The Royal Marines set a new record in 1924 of 1 minute 24.40 seconds. 'These guys are giving up three-and-a-half hours a day, six days a week for eight weeks and they are utterly dedicated,' he says proudly, adding that the 'guys' also include a woman. Every year for two weeks in July during the Royal Tournament at Earls Court, London, the Royal Navys Inter-Port Field Gun Competition takes place. 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. Article. The Earls Court event is coming to an end because of losses, and because the increasingly stretched armed services have found it ever more difficult to provide personnel. Until his dying day in 2007, he was always looking for new heroes to add to his pantheon of greatness. Field gun competition - Wikipedia Each crew then fires three rounds to end the "Run Out". The Royal Tournament relocated for the final time in 1950 when it moved to the larger venue of Earls Court. So, in this team, you find the 'firing number', Petty Officer Gunga Din, giving orders to the 'extracting number', Jules Stevenson, who just happens to be a Lieutenant Commander. From 2001 there will be a new Military Tattoo featuring ceremony, massed bands and pageantry, also at Horse Guards Parade. A spin-off, the Junior Leaders Field Gun Competition, using the Brickwoods format, was held for the 1st time in 2007 and is still held today. The Royal Navy Field Gun competition was contested by teams from the Royal Naval commands of Portsmouth, Devonport and the Fleet Air Arm (although teams from Chatham and the Royal Marines have also competed). At this speed, the process can, literally, cost an arm and a leg. Seaman from HMS Victory (RN Barracks, Portsmouth) introduced a further obstacle in the form of a bridge, too narrow for the guns to be hauled over in the usual manner.The following year, the Tournament was relocated to Olympia in West London. However, the very next year, 1984, Chief Petty Officer PTI Keith Mack trained a Portsmouth crew, which put in a blistering run of 2 minutes 40.6, which was the record that had stood for fifteen years. This was exceeded in seven subsequent years and eventually in 1938 HMS Excellent achieved 1 minute 13.40 seconds. The clock was stopped as the teams crossed back over the start line. Each section is timed to the nearest one-hundredth of a second and at the end of the three sections the times are totalled. Brickwood maintained a close interest in the competition over the years. The team and equipment then passed through a hole in the "enemy wall" at the end of the arena. This is the world famous Royal Military Tournament race.\rThe Field Gun Run is a tribute to the Royal Navy's involvement in the relief of Ladysmith during the Boer War in 1900, when guns from HMS Powerful were hauled to Ladysmith by the ship's Naval Brigade to defend the town against the Boer attack. All that mattered was a winner's medal at the end of the tournament (silver for the winners, bronze for the runners-up). Upon their entry the newcomers won the Aggregate Time Challenge Cup as well as the Fastest Time Cup. The examples and perspective in this article, Learn how and when to remove these template messages, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Artillery | Definition, History, Types, & Facts | Britannica", Field Gun Image Gallery - Royal Naval Museum's Sea Your History website, Portsmouth Action Field Gun - civilians in Portsmouth still running the ex-Royal Navy Command Field Gun run, COMMAND100 - Centenary of Inter Command Field Gun, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Field_gun&oldid=1137259581, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with limited geographic scope from April 2022, Articles needing additional references from April 2022, All articles needing additional references, Articles with multiple maintenance issues, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 3 February 2023, at 17:51. Posted July 23, 2015 in Guns & Gear, Other Gear & Gadgets by Nicholas C with 10 CommentsTags: Artillery, competition, royal navy. Video 3 below shows a run between Devonport and the Fleet Air Arm from . Displays of Field Gun drill continued in subsequent years. After all, the Royal Navy is supposed to fight at sea. The "Brickwoods" trophy itself is a reproduction in silver of a 12-pounder field gun and a gun crew of seven sailors. As far as he was concerned, there was one breed of sportsman, one band of brothers, which stood out above the rest. On 20th July 1999 the Government confirmed what many people had been dreading for months, the fact that the field gun competition would come to an end in August 1999. The top brass also viewed it as a drain on everdwindling manpower. There was never a shortage of volunteers - up to 300 for each crew. The crew set up a wire and traveller so all 18 members of the crew and their equipment could cross the chasm. Before the First World War the competition was moved from the RN Barracks to Whale Island, where it continued until 1973; the following year it transferred to HMS Collingwood, its famously large parade ground reputed to have once held as many as 8,000 ratings is the perfect setting for the event. . And so the Field Gun race has carried on, kept alive by more than 20 volunteer crews. In 1896 the first "all-naval" display appeared in the programme of the Tournament, which comprised of cutlass drill and field gun drill by forty ratings from HMS Excellent. 1940 to 1946 - 2nd World War, therefore no Tournament, which recommenced in 1947. It was obvious what the Royal Navy could bring to it - the famous band of the Royal Marines and historic Field Gun competition - and last year's Brickwoods Trophy finalists, Sultan and Portsmouth, were invited to take part. 1906 - on the 17th May, the Royal Naval and Military Tournament moved to and opened at Olympia, and the men from both establishments (Excellent and Victory), in a combined display, took the guns over no less than two walls and two bridges. 1907 - the first competition was held, two crews of eighteen, coming from Portsmouth, Devonport and Chatham, competed at each afternoon performance (a display similar to the original was put on for each evening performance), as follows: The two Ramps were placed 7 6 apart, and the men had to pass the gun and limber over the chasm without the use of any other appliances! The field gun race harks back to the relief of Ladysmith in 1900 by Royal Navy gunners during the Boer War. The Interport ("Command") Field Gun competition was established in 1907 and was a highlight of the Royal Tournament until the Last Run in 1999. Field guns also lack a specialized purpose, such as anti-tank or coastal artillery. Even the German super-heavy guns in World War II were rail or caterpillar-track mobile. On 28th August 1907, the Royal Marines light Infantry, from Forton, won the first, Brickwoods Trophy competition, and along with it this magnificent Trophy. The remaining three crews participated until the final Royal Tournament 1999. Night Vision & Thermal Aficionado To excel at this sport, team members need the explosive speed of a cheeta, the strength of a weightlifter, and the precision of a ballerina. Following the Second World War, the first post war Tournament was held in 1947 at Olympia with the addition of a crew representing the Fleet Air Arm. Tonight's final performance, which will be attended by the Princess Royal, will feature familiar events including performances by RAF dogs, massed pipes and drums, a tug of war and the very last running of the field gun competition. 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. It's an obsession which has cost him the middle finger on his right hand - 'a training incident, one of those things'. The Second World War stopped play for a second time, but the resumption saw two important changes: the venue was Earls Court in1950 and by now the Royal Tournaments Field Gun Competition had been joined by a team from the Fleet Air Arm. The display consists of various movements carried out by a Naval Battery of six 12-pounder 8cwt. It seems obvious that the Naval contribution to an event organised by the Army would include their famous guns. However it is not just this year that records have been set and then broken. Every year since 1907, the naval base at HMS Collingwood in Hampshire staged its own version of the Field Gun competition called the Brickwoods Trophy. Next week, the 30,000 visitors to the Windsor Castle Royal Tattoo - including most of the Royal Family and celebrities from Coldplay's Chris Martin to Alan Titchmarsh - will watch two 18-strong teams of the Royal Navy's finest crashing around the main arena and performing a series of Formula One-style pit stops with a Victorian cannon. $2bn Powerball winner Edwin Castro beams as he leaves California bank before zipping off in his vintage Porsche - after spending $29m on two stunning LA mansions, Lori Vallow's murder trial hears bombshell evidence as it's revealed her brother's FINGERPRINTS were found on the black garbage bag her son's body was buried in, Sister of Chad Daybell's murdered wife weeps as she describes his 'weird' behavior in the months before he and Lori Vallow are accused of killing her - and tells jury 'something seemed off', Former fitness model Loni Willison, 39, is seen rummaging through LA dumpster for food after becoming homeless drug addict in wake of her split from Baywatch star Jeremy Jackson, 'We're not your enemies!' After the war, with a different course and drill, Victoria Barracks achieved 1 minute 27.40 seconds in 1954. I have managed to gather the above information from a number of sources. Gridiron March and Half-Batteries brought into action. This is the heaviest lift of all and life gets very difficult if the gear is dropped 2nd Retire, 2nd Action Gun and limber are run towards the start line, separated and stopped. By Robert Hardman for the Daily Mail Updated: 17:28 EDT, 8 May 2009. Senior Naval Staff Following the Second World War, the first post war Tournament was held in 1947 at Olympia with the addition of a crew representing the Fleet Air Arm. After the siege of Ladysmith was finally lifted on February 28th 1900 Queen Victoria sent a telegram: "Pray express to the Naval Brigade my deep appreciation of the valuable services they have rendered with their guns ". The crews are awarded 2 points for a win, 1 and a half for a tie, 1 for a defeat, and 0 for a disqualification or a run taking over 4 minutes to complete. The winning crew in 1907 was HMS Cambridge, the gunnery school in Plymouth. In addition two five-foot walls were rigged at the ends of the arena. The men who lift the gun are called the 'heavy ends'; the chaps who lift the wheels on and off are 'wheel numbers'; the man on the trigger is the 'firing number'; and the chap who runs around with the ammo is called 'speedy bullet'. He reached the home ramp and released the ten-foot spar he was carrying as his drill required and ran on down the ramp. Here is a recent video of this competition from 2013, Steadicam Gun Operator Crews from Portsmouth, Devonport, Chatham and Fleet Air Arm competed at The Court until 1960 when the Chatham Crew withdrew from the competition. Their trainer, or 'Number One', is Chief Petty Officer Stu Moss, a Royal Tournament veteran. But on one point, Woolers never budged. Thank you to the Oggies for this article By Richard Thompson (aka Thommo-the-Phot), This article was first published in a Field Gunners Association Newsletter 2006. Today 18 strong teams compete over an 85-yard-long (78m) flat track, a total run of 170 yards (160m). That has changed. The crew set up a wire and traveller so all 18 members of the crew and their equipment could cross the chasm. At each performance of the Royal Tournament, two crews competed to transport a 12pounder field gun and limber over a series of obstacles. In a matter of seconds the wheels are on, pins are in, and the gun crews race flat-out to the finishing line.\r\rThe average time for the run out is one minute twenty-five seconds; for the run back one minute and for the run home twenty-one seconds. Archived. The contingent was soon ready and under the command of Captain H. Lambton RN, the 280 officers and men with two, 4.7 inch guns, four long range 12 pounders and four maxim guns the Naval Brigade as they were now called, left Durban by rail for Ladysmith. 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. Over in Portsmouth, the team is considerably older - many are in their 40s - but it includes many veterans of the Royal Tournament and six physical training instructors. American Reacts to The Royal Naval Field Gun Competition The limber is lifted, its wheels and drag ropes are shipped and it is run forward. And how on earth did anyone come up with the idea in the first place? Having covered every sport on the planet, and all the legends therein, the late Ian Wooldridge could offer a pretty reliable perspective on all things sporting. These were moved inland first by rail, then by mule and, ultimately, by hand and ingenuity. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Field gunners keeping memory of dangerous sport alive History Made At Collingwood Field Gun Competition - Forces Network On their return home, the sailors from the Naval Brigade paraded their guns through London and appeared at the Royal Naval and Military Tournament at the Agricultural Hall, Islington. Each set of kit weighs the same as a family car and each gun must be put together, taken apart and dragged up and down an 83-yard course, blasting off six shots in the process. The combined weight of the gun barrel and gun carriage is 1250lb; and it goes over the wall in one piece! The average time for the Run Home was 21 seconds. In 1992, the services decided that they could no longer free the 2,500 personnel needed to run the show for its traditional three weeks and the tournament was cut to a fortnight, stripping it of financial viability. The siege of Ladysmith lasted for 120 days until February 1900. After the war with a different course and drill Victoria Barracks achieved I min 27.4 secs in 1954. HMS Collingwood cut that to 1 minute 26.80 seconds in 1962. After four consecutive nights, the winning crew will receive a trophy from the Queen and, perhaps, a drink from their commanding officer. 'My rank doesn't matter here,' says Jules. 1st Advance, 1st Wheel Change Records for completing the course have continued to be broken. At this time the winners' shields transferred to the new mounting, although not in the same order as they had appeared on the previous stand. All these men are giving up months of their own time for nothing more than camaraderie and an almighty challenge: racing a Victorian cannon against the clock. The teams would compete twice a day through the fortnight of the Royal Tournament and the results were signalled instantly to every ship in the fleet. The competition evolved during the early years of the 20th century. It was at this point that the Royal Navy was called into action. in particular with the epic 119 day siege of Ladysmith, where the gallant defenders were helped enormously by the arrival, at the last minute of Captain the Hon Hedworth Lambton of the Naval Brigade with his 280 Blue-jackets, four 12-Pounders and two 4.7 inch guns. Most of the tournament's 10-strong permanent staff now face redundancy. The Interport Field Gun competition was established in 1907 and was a highlight of the Royal Tournament until the Last Run in 1999. Gun-howitzers fill the middle ground, with the world rapidly standardizing on either the 155 mm NATO or 152mm Russian (former USSR) standards. Modern gun-artillery such as the L118 105 mm light gun or the M119 105 mm howitzer are used to provide fire support for infantry and armour at ranges where mortars are impractical. In 1947 the course consisted of seven "very stiff obstacles" over a distance of 440 yards (400m) each way. By moving the guns from point-to-point during a battle, enemy formations could be broken up to be handled by the infantry or cavalry wherever they were massing, dramatically increasing the overall effectiveness of the attack. It's just another reason why the Field Gun is still revered as the ultimate sporting discipline within the Navy. Brickwood maintained a close interest in the competition over the years. 1st Retire, 2nd Wheel In 1903, a party from HMS Excellent introduced an obstacle into their display. It seems obvious that the Naval contribution to an event organised by the Army would include their famous guns. 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. This competition involving no obstacles and run on a flat track continues to be competed for on an annual basis at HMS Collingwood as part of the HMS Collingwood Open day. In 1978 with HMS Fisgard's win the trophy left Portsmouth Command and HMS Gannet's win in 1997 took it north of the border for the first time. Fortunately for the General, Captain P. Scott RN of HMS Terrible was a gunnery expert and he quickly designed a carriage that could hold 6 inch, and 4.7 inch, 12 pounder naval guns for transit and in action. After a century this spectacle of toughness, courage, discipline and teamwork is still going strong. There have been many changes to the competition. The guns and limbers of a four-gun battery were taken over a four-foot wall in the arena at Islington. From information I have gathered using my collection of Royal Tournament Programmes, the following years are quite relevant to the History of the Inter-Port Field Gun Competition. Brickwoods Competition The Royal Navy's Field Gun run is a very unique affair. HMS Collingwood beat this by running a time of 1 minute 18.80 seconds in 2001. The track is 85 yards (78m) long, which means a total run of 170 yards (160m). In a combined display, Seamen from HMS Excellent and HMS Victory took their guns over two walls and two bridges. It seems obvious that the Naval contribution to an event organised by the Army would include their famous guns. They were soon re-enacting their heroics at the Grand Military Tournament which, in due course, became the Royal Tournament, the annual celebration of the British Forces. The guns are raced from the start position down the sides of the arena and manhandled over a five foot wall. This was considered to be an easy jump for an ordinary man. To an outsider, this brutal event raises several questions. In 2011 HM Naval Base Portsmouth set a new record of 1 min 17.78 seconds. The nearest sporting comparison is probably rugby. The average time for the "Run Back" was 60 seconds. The Aggregate Time Challenge Cup is awarded to the crew who has the lowest aggregate official time over the 16 competition runs; the record is held by Devonport at 39 minutes 20.34 and the trophy is now held by Devonport. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Why did the Royal Navy stop the field gun competition? In 1896 the first all-naval display appeared in the programme of the Tournament. The origins of Royal Navy Field Gun lay in 1899, in the Second Boer War, and in particular the epic 119-day Siege of Ladysmith. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Before the First World War the competition was moved from the RN Barracks to Whale Island where it continued until 1973, the following year it transferred to HMS Collingwood, its famously large parade ground reputed to have once held as many as 8,000 ratings is the perfect setting for the event. Across the Forces as a whole, the result is immaterial. In 1903, a party from HMS Excellent introduced an obstacle into their display. ROYAL NAVY FIELD GUN COMPETITION | royaltournament Charging flat out with a ton of gun and turning it on a sixpence while simultaneously taking off the wheels is still a feat of titanic choreography. The "Brickwoods" Field Gun competition also started in 1907 after the Brickwoods Brewery donated a magnificent Trophy to the Royal Navy. The average time for the "Run Out" was 85 seconds. Field gun competition | Military Wiki | Fandom ), (having been presented at the British Trade Fair, Copenhagen the previous year), 1993 - Royal Tournament cut from 3 to 2 weeks, hence. Since about the start of World War II, the term has been applied to long-range artillery pieces that fire at a relatively low angle, as opposed to howitzers which can fire at higher angles. 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.
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