Up until and including 1905, the Royal Naval and Military Tournament was held at the Agricultural Hall, Islington. 1924 - The Aggregate Time Challenge Cup, and the Fastest Time Cup were introduced. 1936 - No Competition at the Royal Tournament. Today 18 strong teams compete over an 85-yard-long (78m) flat track, a total run of 170 yards (160m). In fact, win or lose, they made not a bean. 114. In support of the British Army, the Royal Navy landed guns from HMS Terrible and Powerful to help in the relief of the siege. Although the chasm was reduced to 28ft the competition remained fundamentally the same throughout the interwar years. As the evolution of artillery continued, almost all guns of any size became capable of being moved at some speed. The gun is fired three times, each shell being run to the gun from the limber by the fastest man in the crew. After the war with a different course and drill Victoria Barracks achieved I min 27.4 secs in 1954. It will be replaced next year by a one-off event at Horse Guards Parade in central London - The Royal Military Tattoo 2000 - which will form part of the UK's millennium celebrations. In addition, a Military Festival will be held each year outside London at varying locations at which the public will be able to view large-scale weaponry. 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. Field gun competition - Wikipedia 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 men not only had to cope with very difficult terrain but they had to construct some sort of way of getting across a bottomless area of land; this is where the present days chasm idea came from. 1913 - the two ramps returned, with their gap lengthening to 30-feet, with both men and guns being required to cross the chasm by means of sheer-legs and a wire jackstay. 'It would make your day if your lot had won,' says Grassy Meadows, who represented Devonport in three Royal Tournaments. It seems obvious that the Naval contribution to an event organised by the Army would include their famous guns. The "Brickwoods" Field Gun competition also started in 1907 after the Brickwoods Brewery donated a magnificent Trophy to the Royal Navy. The competition evolved during the early years of the 20th century. The average time for the Run Back was 60 seconds. In recent years, the Army and the Royal Air Force have entered teams, too. A 'lucky' 50 would be selected and subjected to six months of intensive training before the Royal Tournament itself. The final curtain fell last night on the Royal Tournament - a showcase of Britain's military power and prowess since 1880. The Brickwoods Trophy Competition sponsored by Whitbread was instituted shortly after its Big Brother, the Inter-Command Competition was first performed at Olympia in 1907. The crew set up a wire and traveller so all 18 members of the crew and their equipment could cross the chasm. In 1969 Sir Rupert Brickwood Bart presented the trophy and tankards and a firkin of Brickwood's beer to the winning team. Both officers and men received regular training in the techniques of land warfare at the gunnery school, HMS Excellent, at Portsmouth. This is the whole idea of Field Gun: to try and reconstruct as near to the truth as possible what happened a century ago during the relief of Ladysmith. I have managed to gather the above information from a number of sources. 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'. Why would anyone want to do it? This comprised of cutlass drill and gun drill by forty ratings from HMS Excellent. With few exceptions, even the largest siege weapons had become mobile by road or rail by the start of World War I, and evolution after that point tended to be towards smaller weapons with increased mobility. Petty Officer Sharon Barber, 45, is on the reserve list and will step in as a 'drag number' - a harness-puller - if there is an injury. However not only does the entire team have to traverse the course and its obstacles, so does the cannon. Records for completing the course have continued to be broken. Records for completing the course have continued to be broken. I am also surprised to discover that a third of the team are officers. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. The combined weight of the gun barrel and gun carriage is 1250lb; and it goes over the wall in one piece! 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. After all, the Royal Navy is supposed to fight at sea. It's just another reason why the Field Gun is still revered as the ultimate. The programme from the 1896 Tournament states: The guns are brought in and, after a short march around the arena, are cleared for action and one round is fired. The siege of Ladysmith lasted for 120 days until February 1900. 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 5-foot (1.5m) wall. The legendary story tells of the siege of the British garrison in the township of Ladysmith in 1899. Throughout the history of the Inter-Port competition as many as. But on one point, Woolers never budged. Often named the "toughest sport in the world", it is a display of teamwork which only the dedicated few can ever aspire to take part in. 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. 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. The display was so popular that it was repeated in 1897 and subsequent years. The Naval Brigade transported guns over difficult terrain and brought them into action against the Boers. 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. But there is no prize money. They ran the gun through the streets of London to Waterloo Station on their return to Portsmouth. Sadly all things have to come to an end at some time. Starting from one end of the arena, the teams first negotiated an obstacle of planks fixed 18-inches from the ground. The Naval Brigade were soon in action against the Boer artillery; their long range guns were so effective in countering the enemy batteries and holding them at bay that it was not long before Captain Scott was being asked to provide another brigade. Field guns also lack a specialized purpose, such as anti-tank or coastal artillery. Leaving Ladysmith on the 7th March 1900 the sailors of Powerful and Terrible were soon back on board. 'If you won, you got a parade through the streets, a civic reception and all that. 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. The chasm returned in 1913 and was extended to a distance of 30ft. 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"I would have hoped that the Ministry of Defence would take it on (financially), but I do understand when the Chief of Defence Staff decides they need an arena where they can display new equipment. The Sunday Express Plate, which in the past has been called various other names, is awarded to the crew that incurs the least number of penalty points over the competition. The competition simulates the drill which would have been undertaken to bring a naval field gun into action during the march to Ladysmith. Why are sailors running around with guns on wheels like the Royal Artillery? (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. It is all done in just over a minute. The Interport ("Command") Field Gun competition was established in 1907 and was a highlight of the Royal Tournament until the Last Run in 1999. After a century this spectacle of toughness, courage, discipline and teamwork is still going strong. It was considered a high-maintenance item and was removed from service with U.S. forces after a rash of cracked barrels. Currently only Wellington College and Portsmouth Action Field Gun Crews run the 'command' style of Field Gun Run. In 1896 the first all-naval display appeared in the programme of the Tournament. In British use, a field gun was anything up to around 4.5inches in calibre, larger guns were medium and the largest guns were heavy. Originally mounted on a black ebony stand, this was replaced in 1961 by the current polished wooden base. As far as he was concerned, there was one breed of sportsman, one band of brothers, which stood out above the rest. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. 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. 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The trophy left Portsmouth Command for the first time in 1978 as a result of HMS Fisgard's win. 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. The gun and wheels are heavy! The race is set up with some basic obstacles. The display was so popular that it was repeated in 1897 and subsequent years. The course was then negotiated in the opposite direction with the winner being the first crew to cross the original start line. 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. 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. A film clip of this evolution survives from the period[2] which was filmed by Alfred J West for his popular 'Our Navy' film presentations in the early 1900s. Brickwood maintained a close interest in the competition over the years. Although the chasm was reduced to 28ft the competition remained fundamentally the same throughout the interwar years. No wonder he has a bandage wrapped around what remains of his knuckles. The Royal Tournament relocated for the final time in 1950 when it moved to the larger venue of Earls Court. Reddit - Dive into anything 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. 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. 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. The spirit of the Royal Tournament has not died either. The average time for the "Run Back" was 60seconds. It might have been the toughest team sport in the world but it was not good enough for the Government of today. 9-pounder and 12-pounder guns were used in the displays. At anchor off Capetown were the cruisers, HMS Terrible and HMS Powerful, the British Commander in Natal, General Sir George White VC, signalled the ships for assistance, particularly long range guns. The Naval involvement in the Victorian campaigns usually involved the landing of the Blue Jackets of the Naval Brigade with their portable field guns alongside their comrades in the Army. Information on the period 1908 to 1922 is scanty but it seems that apart from the periods of war the Brickwood Trophy was competed for each year. Two gun crews of eighteen men from the commands of Portsmouth, Devonport and Chatham took part in the first competition. Two crews competed at each afternoon performance. Field guns are incredibly heavy and moving them is dangerous work. duration, just to share an atmosphere that can not be found anywhere else in the world. 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. At the end of the two weeks field gunning, four trophies are awarded. 9-pounder and 12-pounder guns were used in the displays. Her worst injury? The crews continued to the end of the arena and fired one round. Some of the soldiers, sailors and airmen who take part in the show are planning to wear black armbands as they go through their paces at Earls Court tonight to mark the passing of the Tournament. Field gunners keeping memory of dangerous sport alive The winning crew was awarded one point; the crew with the most points over the period of the Tournament was awarded a trophy. The team and equipment then passed through a hole in the "enemy wall" at the end of the arena. The crew set up a wire and traveller so all 18 members of the crew and their equipment could cross the chasm. In 1971 Brickwood's business was acquired by London-based brewers Whitbread & Co Ltd: For the final part of the journey, sailors from the Naval Brigade manhandled the guns over very difficult terrain. 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.. The Royal Navy landed two 4.7-inch (120mm) guns and four 12-pounder naval guns creating improvised field guns using makeshift gun carriages. . Two gun crews of eighteen men from the commands of Portsmouth, Devonport and Chatham took part in the first competition. 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. In 1903, a party from HMS Excellent introduced an obstacle into their display. HMS Collingwood itself has had a good record in the competition, having won the Brickwood Trophy 16 times between 1957 and 2006. One story tells of sailors carrying one of the 12pounder guns for 2miles after one of the wheels collapsed. The clock was stopped as the teams crossed back over the start line. This was an outdoor event involving rival naval bases racing over a flat course. 1912 - the chasm was replaced by a single ramp, for both the outward and homeward journeys. 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. Royal Navy Field Gun Competition -The Firearm Blog 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. Aggregate Time and Fastest Time Cups were introduced in 1924. 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.