BEAUCHAMP LODGE 1422 - The West Kent Military Lodge

Incredible State Funeral Gun Carriage - Why do Royal Naval personnel manually pull it?

Author:
Robert Armitage-Walker
Date:
15 September 2022
Category:
Gun carriage

The curator of the museum at HMS Excellent, and Keeper of the State Gun Carriage, Lt. Cdr. Brian Witts tells why the gun carriage is always pulled by sailors at state funerals.

The origin of the privilege lies in an incident at the funeral of Queen Victoria on February 2, 1901. 

A Royal Guard from HMS Excellent was drawn-up at Windsor Station under the command of a Lieutenant, the Hon Algernon Boyle, the first gunnery officer. 

It was early February, a cold blustery day with intermittent snow flurries. Everyone from seamen to soldiers lining the streets, to mounted officers, to high officials was cold. 

Knowing how much their beloved Queen appreciated smart seaman, they refrained from wearing greatcoats. 

The mounted officers walked their horses around from time to time to stop them getting restive but any gentle exercise for the seamen, like marking time, was denied.

The timing for the funeral procession in London went awry and and when the coffin and cortege finally arrived at Windsor the troops had been in position without moving, for more than 90 minutes. 

When the order to move off was given the gunners had trouble with their horses and some started to rear. 

It looked at one point as if the coffin would fall from the gun-carriage. 

Immediately behind were King Edward VII, the Kaiser, the King of Greece and Prince Louis Battenburg.

The panic among the horses spread to the leaders and the situation became very serious. Prince Louis whispered something to the King who nodded and Lt. Noble was ordered to stand by to pull the gun carriage with the Seaman Guard. 

Noble passed the message to Lt Boyle. The horses were led off and the sailors grounded arms and formed fours at the head and rear of the cortege. 

Improvised drag ropes were brought in and so the great Queen went to her rest safely.

State funeral Gun carriage - A video of the funeral procession for Queen Victoria
Click the photograph to watch the procession - relevant time 5 mins 54 secs
State funeral Gun carriage - A picture of the funeral procession for Queen Victoria

Lt. Cdr. Barker current custodian of the State Gun Carriage - watch video clip here

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