30 ROUNDS

We’re here today with Contingent Commander Firestone to discuss the CCFs new field Gun: So, sir, what is the significance of the field gun for CCF? The field gun is going to be part of the inspection day competition. This is going to be the first year that we’ll run a competition that I hope will be just as competitive as the tug of war if not better. What’s the history behind the gun and who made it? The history behind the competition goes back to the siege of Ladysmith in the Boer war of 1899. The British army was besieged by Boer fighters in Ladysmith and the Royal Navy sent two ships: HMS Terrible and HMS Powerful to help relieve the siege. In order to get the field guns to relieve the siege, they had to be taken apart and brought over-land from where the ships were docked and the RN had a crew of 280 blue-jackets and they took four 12 pounders and two four seven guns overland and relieved the siege 120 days later. So that was in 1900 and in that year, the demonstrations were held in London and in 1907, there was a Royal Navy field gun competition and that still goes on, in a slightly different format, to this day. It’s one of the best teamwork completions that demonstrates teamwork, physical courage, grit and determination and that’s why I would like to see it as part of the inspection day competition. Continued next page A potential river crossing section of the course Close Up of the rear limber box On show down at the lakes