On this occasion, the gun was pulled by 4 oxen who were detached from their harness before one round was fired and the sailors manhandled the gun out of the arena to great applause from the audience. Their train was the last to complete the journey to Ladysmith on the 30th October just as the siege and bombardment started. From there the Naval Brigade under Captain Lambton transferred the guns to the last train to get through to Ladysmith before it was besieged for 119 days. 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. It was an Army affair, but proved so popular they decided to expand it into a tri-service event - just like the Royal Tournament - for 2009. Aggregate Time and Fastest Time Cups were introduced in 1924. 1925 - Individual Silver Medals were introduced - initial winners being HMS Excellent. Queen Victoria was most impressed and dispatched a congratulatory telegram to the Naval Brigade, who returned home to a euphoric welcome. 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. Senior Naval Staff and should it fall a great moral victory could be claimed by the marauding Boer forces. The "Command" format, negotiating walls and a chasm, was held annually at the Royal . 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. With its origins going back to 1899, competing in Field Gun competitions demands teamwork, leadership, and moral and physical courage. They owed their salvation, in part, to 280 Royal Navy sailors, even though Ladysmith is 100 miles inland. 'My rank doesn't matter here,' says Jules. (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 origins of the field gun competition lie in the Second Boer War in South Africa. When I find the whole contraption and its 18-strong team charging along faster than I can run, I have two options: dive out the way or get squashed. From the start line in front of the Royal Box, the crews pulled the guns and limbers to the end of the arena where they turned and carried themselves and the equipment over a 5foot wall. Trans swimmer Lia Thomas is now telling women what feminism is - and if we protest then we're bigots. In addition two five-foot walls were rigged at the ends of the arena. This brings a completely new meaning to the phrase Race Gun. The Interport Field Gun competition was established in 1907 and was a highlight of the Royal Tournament until the Last Run in 1999. The names of the winners of the trophy are engraved on small shields up to and including 1961 and plates for winners since 1962. The final curtain fell last night on the Royal Tournament - a showcase of Britain's military power and prowess since 1880. Time penalties are added to the running time for each contravention of the rules. The names of the winners of the trophy are engraved on small shields up to and including 1961 and plates for winners since 1962. The Naval Brigade transported guns over difficult terrain and brought them into action against the Boers. 1924 - The Aggregate Time Challenge Cup, and the Fastest Time Cup were introduced. In the company of 18 men with old-fashioned nicknames (Shorty, Nobby) and old-fashioned attitudes ('if you get hurt, you moan about it later'), I am reminded what makes the Forces tick. 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. 5. The major campaigns in which the Naval Brigades were involved: The origin of the Field Gun competitions is linked to episodes during the Boer War. 1905 - the seamen of HMS Victory (R N Barracks) added a further obstacle in the form of a bridge, too narrow for the guns to be hauled over in a normal manner. 2nd Advance, 1st Action The second part of the competition (the "Run Back") involved the crews taking all their equipment back over the 5ft enemy wall and then back across the chasm. 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. 'Gunga is trusting me to get the shells out of the barrel and I am trusting him with my fingers.'. 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 1907 challenge involved a team of 17 scaling a five foot high obstacle on a 75 yard long course and returning. 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. This was considered to be an easy jump for an ordinary man. After four consecutive nights, the winning crew will receive a trophy from the Queen and, perhaps, a drink from their commanding officer. By Robert Hardman for the Daily Mail Updated: 17:28 EDT, 8 May 2009. But he has no regrets about all the years he has devoted to an event which has its own motto: 'To The Limit And Beyond'. The guns were reassembled before taking them over a four-foot wall. The guns went into action on arrival and soon silenced the Boer guns. The spirit of the Royal Tournament has not died either. No wonder he has a bandage wrapped around what remains of his knuckles. 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. 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 combined weight of the gun barrel and gun carriage is 1250lb; and it goes over the wall in one piece! This comprised of cutlass drill and gun drill by forty ratings from HMS Excellent. 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. But each one of all the Naval Brigades ashore in South Africa during the second Boer War performed deeds that are worthy, each in its way, of such salutation. 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. Brickwood maintained a close interest in the competition over the years. In 1907 a competition replaced the parade for the first time, the three depots of Portsmouth, Chatham and Devonport providing the gun teams. Due to the nature of this operation the railway was of little use, therefore the guns had to be manhandled over difficult terrain to be brought into action in many different engagements, eventually reaching Ladysmith after 120 days of blockade. 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. Sadly all things have to come to an end at some time. It seems obvious that the Naval contribution to an event organised by the Army would include their famous guns. If you lost, well' Since all his medals were bronze, I pry no further. But it is not all glory and record breaking as was proved in 1982. Gunga is an affable chap, but I make a mental note to avoid a handshake. At each performance of the Royal Tournament, two crews competed to transport a 12pounder field gun and limber over a series of obstacles. 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. Ex-British Army. Crews were permitted to use wires, ropes, spars etc to traverse the obstacle. American Reacts to The Royal Naval Field Gun CompetitionOriginal Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32s4qCCFnmk#RoyalNaval #FieldGun #ReactionTo Support t. Ladysmith was the most vulnerable of the three towns. \r\rThe third section is called the run home. Both at Devonport base, HMS Drake and at Earls Court there was a very subdued atmosphere. 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. Both wheels are shifted. 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. Both are then run towards the start, stopped and lifted together to exchange wheels. Brickwood maintained a close interest in the competition over the years. At the sounding of the G on the bugle the final phase is to take all their equipment through the narrow gaps in the home wall. 1st Advance, 1st Wheel Change I have come to the South Coast, with Grassy Meadows as my guide, to watch the preparations. For the final part of the journey, sailors from the Naval Brigade manhandled the guns over very difficult terrain. The Royal Marines set a new record in 1924 of 1 min 24.4 secs. And after just a few minutes in their company - during which I tweak a hamstring and nearly get run over - I conclude that Woolers was, as usual, spot on. In September the decision to despatch more than 10,000 troops to South Africa from home and abroad was made in London. The gun display was turned into a competition and, each year, the big naval bases would recruit teams to heave the same guns over artificial walls and across a 28-foot 'chasm'. The Royal Navy landed two 4.7-inch (120mm) guns and four 12-pounder naval guns creating improvised field guns using makeshift gun carriages. Both Gun Wheels are shifted. In 1912 the organisers removed the chasm from the competition in favour of a single ramp which was negotiated on both the outward and homeward legs of the course. Nobody knew what to say whether to congratulate them or to give them sympathy. Wooden spars weighing 170lb are erected and wires rigged across the 28 foot chasm. It was obvious that no one wanted it to end, however, it was too late. There is nothing quite like the Royal Navy's Field Gun run, a wince-inducing display of teamwork and severed digits. By the later stages of World War II the majority of artillery in use was either in the form of howitzers of 105mm to 155mm, or in form of hybrid anti-tank/field guns that had high enough muzzle velocity to be used in both roles. In support of the British Army, the Royal Navy landed guns from HMS Terrible and Powerful to help in the relief of the siege. "We have been on a knife-edge ever since then. It ended in controversy as all three crews wore black armbands during the run, even after they were told by the MOD not to, but whatever anybody did it would not change the future. 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. The clock was stopped as the teams crossed back over the start line. Since that year it has become customary to say that the Inter-port Field Gun Competition at the Royal Tournament is in commemoration of what Lambtons men of the Powerful achieved in saving the town of Ladysmith. 1940 to 1946 - 2nd World War, therefore no Tournament, which recommenced in 1947. The Guns are then taken round the arena at the double and advance in close order, reversing twice whilst in close order, they then wheel into the centre and Salute.. Unfortunately in the memories of all field gunners and supporters 1999 proved to be one of the saddest years of their lives. In the final stage, the "Run Home", men, guns and limbers passed back through the hole in the home wall and then the teams "hook up and pull for home". Start your Independent Premium subscription today. On the night of Devonports last ever run the A Crew stayed in their mess for most of the day and when the moment came they all had tears in their eyes. Royal Navy Field Gun. The legendary story tells of the siege of the British garrison in the township of Ladysmith in 1899. Before 1999 this record was held by Portsmouth and had stood for 15 years. The Interport Field Gun competition was established in 1907 and was a highlight of the Royal Tournament until the Last Run in 1999. The course was changed in 1908 with a chasm replacing the plank obstacle. When the crew from HMS POWERFUL returned to this country they ran a 4.7 gun through the arena at the Agricultural Hall at Islington in the 1900 Royal Military Tournament and were greeted with wild enthusiasm by the public attending. In support of the British Army, the Royal Navy landed guns from HMS Terrible and Powerful to help in the relief of the siege. In 1905, in the centenary year of the Battle of Trafalgar the event was renamed the Royal Naval & Military Tournament. All that mattered was a winner's medal at the end of the tournament (silver for the winners, bronze for the runners-up). Leaving Ladysmith on the 7th March 1900 the sailors of Powerful and Terrible were soon back on board. The ZiS-3 could be used in direct fire against armored vehicles, direct fire in infantry support, and indirect fire against distant targets. In 1971 Brickwood's business was acquired by London-based brewers Whitbread & Co Ltd: The Royal Tournament relocated for the final time in 1950 when it moved to the larger venue of Earls Court. (The procedure adopted in the event of damage to the gun wheels). The track is 85 yards long, which means a total run of 170 yards. It's just another reason why the Field Gun is still revered as the ultimate sporting discipline within the Navy. Field guns also lack a specialized purpose, such as anti-tank or coastal artillery. 1908 - the Inter-Port Competition was livened up by the substituting the plank obstacle with a Chasm. The display was so popular that it was repeated in 1897 and subsequent years. 'It was like winning or losing the Cup final,' recalls Grassy. Sultan's crew includes many new boys, but they have youth on their side. The last night was also a moment Ill never forget. Audiences are held spellbound as the three commands from Portsmouth, Devonport and Fleet Air Arm do battle in a twice daily race that see two teams of 18 men take a gun and limber that dates back to the last century and weighing over a ton, plus associated equipment over a five foot wall, across a twenty-eight foot wide chasm, through a four foot high by two foot wide hole and bring the equipment into action, to engage the enemy and fire three rounds. It was Scott, then a Lieutenant, who had helped Captain Fisher (later Admiral of the Fleet and First Sea Lord) establish a Gunnery School on Whale Island at Portsmouth in the 1880s. In 1981 Portsmouth produced a record run of 2 minutes 42.4, only to see it snatched away again two years later by Devonport with a run of 2 minutes 41.1. The gun is fired three times, each shell being run to the gun from the limber by the fastest man in the crew. In a combined display, Seamen from HMS Excellent and HMS Victory took their guns over two walls and two bridges. Why was the Royal Naval Field Gun Competition stopped? 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. 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. 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. 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The dangers and the discipline, however, remained exactly the same. 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'. Until his dying day in 2007, he was always looking for new heroes to add to his pantheon of greatness. 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. '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. 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 Naval Brigade transported guns over difficult terrain and brought them into action against the Boers. Man-packed mortars lack the range or hitting power of gun-artillery. The track is 85 yards (78m) long, which means a total run of 170 yards (160m). This was an outdoor event involving rival naval bases racing over a flat course. The winning crew in 1907 was HMS Cambridge, the gunnery school in Plymouth. The clock was stopped as the teams crossed back over the start line. You have big blokes who do the heaving and lighter ones who do the dashing. 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. Today 21 strong teams compete over an 85 yard long flat track, a total run of 170 yards. After all, the Royal Navy is supposed to fight at sea. Today's practice is cut mercifully short because of an accident. The remaining three crews participated until the final Royal Tournament 1999. 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. The Royal Tournament was last held almost 23 years ago before the tattoo was cancelled, amid reports that the services had become too stretched to spare the 2,500 personnel needed to put the event on for its usual three-week run. 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. Man power: Robert Hardman (right) trains with the Portsmouth team. Only two crews run during each performance. 1927 - first time one crew were awarded all three trophies (HMS Vivid, Devonport). The original chasm was formed by placing two ramps opposite each other at a distance of 7ft 6in apart. 3rd Retire and Finish The team and equipment then passed through a hole in the "enemy wall" at the end of the arena. HMS Collingwood beat this by running a time of 1 minute 18.8 secs in 2001. Perhaps, if they can drag themselves away from their taxpayer-funded plasma screens and patio heaters and get down to Windsor, our lords and masters might learn a valuable lesson in teamwork, public service - and downright courage. 'I once scraped all the skin off my knees, but I got to the finish line - which was the main thing.'. With a 5-foot wall at either end of the arena, the course and conditions remained virtually the same until the end of the competition in 1999. 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. In 1947 the course consisted of seven "very stiff obstacles" over a distance of 440 yards (400m) each way. Each crew then fires three rounds to end the "Run Out". The crew set up a wire and traveller so all 18 members of the crew and their equipment could cross the chasm. Here is a recent video of this competition from 2013, Steadicam Gun Operator Devonport v Fleet Air Arm at the Royal Tournament, Earls Court, July 1988 Gridiron March and Half-Batteries brought into action. In the final stage, the Run Home, men, guns and limbers passed back through the hole in the home wall and then the teams hook up and pull for home. The limber is run back and hooked to the gun then every member of the crew strains to accelerate the gear over the finish line. 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 "Brickwoods" Field Gun competition also started in 1907 after the Brickwoods Brewery donated a magnificent Trophy to the Royal Navy. 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. Originally mounted on a black ebony stand, this was replaced in 1961 by the current polished wooden base. 'One or two men might think "Hmmm?" 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. Starting from one end of the arena, the teams first negotiated an obstacle of planks fixed 18-inches from the ground. The 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). It is an inch-thick, but it has simply snapped off in the hands of 37-yearold Petty Officer Anthony Din (known, needless to say, as Gunga). The siege of Ladysmith lasted for 120 days until February 1900. In 1960 Chatham ran at the tournament for the last time. In support of the British Army, the Royal Navy landed guns from HMS Terrible and Powerful to help in the relief of the siege. After the war, with a different course and drill, Victoria Barracks achieved 1 minute 27.40 seconds in 1954. He reached the home ramp and released the ten-foot spar he was carrying as his drill required and ran on down the ramp. A film clip of this evolution survives from the period [1] (requires Real Player) which was filmed by Alfred J West for his popular 'Our Navy' [2] film presentations in the early 1900s. The gun is fired three times as quickly as possible. The winning crew was awarded one point; the crew with the most points over the period of the Tournament was awarded a trophy. 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. The 1914-1918 war stopped all such events for its duration but the competition returned with the new Royal Tournament of peacetime. 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. Each section is timed to the nearest one-hundredth of a second and at the end of the three sections the times are totalled.

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