Its nearly 7 years since the Royal Navy field gun crews made their final exit from the Royal Tournament at Earls Court, when in August 1999 they took their final bow, after nearly 90 years of field gun competitions.

The Manchester field gun crews on the other hand began in 1982, when it was deemed an excellent model to follow in determining how best to tackle boredom and anti social behaviour in local youngsters.

Adopted by each of the Naval Commands of Portsmouth, Devonport and the Fleet Air Arm, members of the Manchester &  Bolton crews throughout the 1990's, enjoyed many excellent training opportunities when they visited their respective "adoptees" during their annual visits at a time when the naval crews were preparing for Earls Court.

Those "visits" resulted in the youth crews providing displays during the navy's  "public runs" which were their (naval crews) build up to the Royal Tournament. These visits however did not only provide a platform upon which our youngsters could display their new found skills, for just as importantly, Royal Naval field gunners provided a positive role model, and without doubt helped to improve the social skills of our young members.

The field gun competition was devised following the exploits of a naval brigade who in 1899 went to the assistance of the besieged township of Ladysmith, during the 2nd Boer War. (1899 - 1902). The hardships endured by all those trapped in the township, included the "Manchester's" with two of their members winning Victoria Crosses when repelling an attack made upon their encampment on Wagon Hill.

Dysentery was the main enemy during those 180 days of siege, however it was to the Royal Navy and their "guns" which won wide acclaim in staving off what was fast becoming a resounding defeat for the British Forces. If Ladysmith had fallen, then Durban and her naval facilities would have been lost, perhaps prolonging the war if not in fact losing it.

The field gun competition involves all those qualities required by the men of the day, who were determined, dedicated, and disciplined, and with speed, and skill, manhandled their weapons over the roughest of terrain in order to counter Boer attacks, and all done on a daily basis !!

Royal Navy field gun became known as the "toughest team sport" in the world, and that isn't hard to accept, especially by those who have witnessed their skills, and their guts.

Manchester field gun has no traditions other than those "borrowed" from the Royal Navy, and of course being in existence for over 24 years.

We do however reserve the right to pay our respects to all those who "manned the loops" over those 90 years, and to pay tribute to all those who helped us establish our own field gun teams. There is only one way to pay our respects, first to provide a command field gun display at this years event, and then in order to "remember" those heady 1990's, when our youngsters went down and learned, so this year we are bringing back a number of ex field gunners from both Manchester & Bolton, and putting them along side new members in this our tribute to all those who over 90 years, went OUT, BACK & HOME.

Your support could however establish this as an annual occasion, NOT to replace Royal Navy field gun since that could never happen, BUT to let us remind everyone, what is missing from our calendar's. and most importantly, to remember those originally involved, whether from the RN or the Manchester's or the many other regiments, those men who's grave stones now stand in total isolation on the veldts of Southern Africa.

Lest we forget !!................................... ANY of them !

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