By Lucy Ashton
ONCE AGAIN, HMNB Clyde’s Field Gun Crew put on their annual show this week. On Wednesday, June 18, staff from across Faslane and Coulport were invited along to watch the impressive demonstration alongside friends and family.
This year there are 28 Royal Navy sailors and Royal Marines in the crew, which includes a medic, a physio, track judges and timekeepers. Together they will compete in the Royal Navy Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC) Field Gun Competition which starts at HMS Collingwood on 23rd June with the final on Saturday 28th June during the site’s open day.
Naval Base Commander Clyde, Commodore Sharon Malkin, and Commander Submarine Flotilla, Commodore Paul Dunn, were both present and cheering them on. Also in attendance was Captain of Base, Captain Elaine Boyd and FOST Captain, Captain Justin Codd. Commodore Malkin and Commodore Dunn will both attend the finals in Collingwood next week.
As well as the display, attendees could treat themselves at the BBQ tent or the ice-cream truck. All proceeds will be donated to the RNRMC.
Commander (Cdr) Kris Smith, the Field Gun Officer for Clyde was there to support the team and watch their progress.
“With just eight days to go until the Field Gun Finals, the crew remain in good spirits and are quietly confident they can bring home some silverware this season,” said Cdr Smith
“This week’s public demonstration was without a doubt the highlight of our season so far and it was a privilege to be able to invite friends, family, colleagues, and our sponsors along to see the progress we have made. For the newest members of the crew this was their first opportunity to perform in front of an audience and is a vital part of preparation for the competition.”
Able Seaman Specialist, Benjamin Austin, who was part of the team for the first time as their wheelman said: “This is a fast-paced sport that requires strength, discipline and focus as a collective.”
“This team has been so good at coaching and mentoring and sharing vital knowledge along with several years of experience. I am excited to march out with the HMNB Clyde field gun team and compete this year.”
As always, a special thanks were mentioned to this year’s sponsors, Lockheed Martin, Bowen Fluid Engineering, RB Safety Consultants Limited, Thales UK, Babcock, Rolls Royce Submarines and We Remember Submariners.
As well as this, Cdr Smith also gave thanks to the Clyde Executive team for their support and to PO Rob Parr for his catering services.
Beginning as the Royal Navy’s Command Field Gun Competition, it saw teams from various RN commands compete against one another. The aim? In the shortest time possible, transport a field gun and its equipment through a series of obstacles.
The RNRMC Field Gun competition, which started off as the Brickwoods Field Gun Competition was started in 1907 after the RN received a grand trophy as a donation by the Brickwoods Brewery. The competition differs from its origins in that it does not include obstacles to tackle but a flat run instead. The annual competition falls each year during the HMS Collingwood Open Days.
Brickwoods and other Field Gun runs derive from the Second Boer War in South Africa, specifically the siege of the British garrison in Ladysmith, 1899. To help with the relief during the siege, the RN collaborated closely with the British Army, landing guns from HMS Powerful and HMS Terrible.
They landed four 12-pounder naval guns and two 4.7-inch (120mm) guns. They created improvised field guns using temporary gun carriages. The weapons were then transported inland via rail and then loaded onto makeshift carriages by oxen.
For the final part of the journey, the Naval Brigade moved the guns over tricky terrain to bring them into action against the Boers. One story even tells of sailors who had to carry one of the 12-pounder guns for two miles after a wheel had collapsed.
The siege lasted 120 days, finishing in February 1900. After returning home, the Naval Brigade sailors paraded their guns throughout London, even appearing at the Royal Naval and Military Tournament at the Agricultural Hall in Islington.
Since then, displays of field gun runs have continued throughout the years.
The HMNB Clyde Field Gun Crew in action at Faslane.