BEAUCHAMP LODGE 1422 - The West Kent Military Lodge

The Magnificent Royal Navy’s Field Gun competition

Author:
Mark Eyles-Thomas
PDProvGM West Kent, Member of Beauchamp Lodge No.1422
Date:
8 May 2022
Category:
Royal Navy’s Field Gun competition

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 competition evolved during the early years of the 20th century. The "Command" format, negotiating walls and a chasm, was held annually at the Royal Tournament in London from 1907 until 1999, apart from the periods during the World Wars. The "Inter-Port" or "Command" Competition was contested by teams from the Royal Navy annually, and was a popular item at the Royal Tournament until finishing in 1999.

Field gun competition - A black and white photograph of the Royal Navy’s field gun competition at Earl's Court in 1975
Field gun competition at Earl's Court in 1975

The origins of the field gun competition lie in the Second Boer War in South Africa. The legendary story tells of the siege of the British garrison in Ladysmith in 1899. In support of the British Army, the Royal Navy landed guns from HMS Terrible and Powerful to help in the relief of the siege. The Naval Brigade  transported guns over difficult terrain and brought them into action against the Boers.

The Royal Navy landed two 4.7-inch (120 mm) guns and four 12-pounder naval guns creating improvised field guns using makeshift gun carriages. The guns were transported inland by rail and then drawn on makeshift carriages by oxen. For the final part of the journey, sailors from the Naval Brigade manhandled the guns over very difficult terrain. One story tells of sailors carrying one of the 12-pounder guns for 2 miles (3.2 km) after one of the wheels collapsed.

The siege of Ladysmith lasted for 120 days until February 1900. 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. Displays of field gun drill continued in subsequent years.

A picture of the Naval crew with the 12-pounder 8 cwt, the type used in the competition, in the 1890s
Naval crew with the 12-pounder 8 cwt, the type used in the competition, in the 1890s
Devonport - World record run

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