American Reacts to Royal Naval Field Gun Competition!
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- Опубліковано 19 бер 2023
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Ex Navy here. This was incredibly popular, we used to get people knocking on the radio room door asking us if the field gun times were in yet. The contest was cut by the bloody government pencil pushers to save money. Morale took a huge hit, but that doesn't mean anything to them. They know the cost of everything but they don't know the value of anything. These idiots have gutted the forces and left the country's defence in such a state that we couldn't fight off an assault by the girl guides. Google it if you don't believe me.
It was too British ,that's why it was cancelled,
No politician ever understood the term esprit de corp, they only understand the term, how much is my cut?
100% agree
I'm out the Navy at the end of this week, i've only done 12 years but even in that little time i've seen it sliding down hill with cuts. I'm sad to go, i'll miss the people, but not the Navy.
I know I'm late but the traitors in parliament know exactly what they're doing it's all done by design plus the enemy are already here they just walk in unchecked there's zero defense.
This is the sort of tradition that should be maintained, it brings people together.
Inspiring. Pride. Wholesome.
A good demonstration of what team work is.:
T ogether
E veryone
A chives
M ore
It was part of the Royal Tournament which like the Edinburgh was self supporting, however the Royal Tournament could not cover its costs and in the early 1990's the decision to close it was made. Simply The great British Public would not buy the tickets!!!
Cancelled by Blier
93 years of History & Tradition erased. By Blair.
Its still done but not on TV.
Right on
This is a perfect example of why Britain had an empire because we had men in this country that could move mountains .
I also remember the best description of a field gunner
Strength of a carthorse
Speed of a racehorse
And brains of a rocking horse!!
They had to be a bit crazy to do that, but sometimes crazy is all we need .
I worked in HMS Nelson Portsmouth back in the 90's and met some of the lads on the Royal Naval Field Gun team. They used to put in so much effort and training, along with having a hell of a lot of pride. It's so sad that they stopped it.
in the 60's it was whale island HMS Exelent.
Tony Blair has a lot to answer for!
Well John Major was already cutting down on the extent of military to be broadcast
I was Devonport gun crew in '77. The effort and training was intense, every day for over 3 months and at the end, the last night at the tournament it was all worth it when we swept the board in trophies.
Being a Plymothian/Janner, Devonport was always the team I supported.
As the commentator said, this race commemorated the relief of the siege of Ladysmith in the Boer War. It depicts how the cannons were trekked across land from the ships HMS Terrible and HMS Powerful to Ladysmith in February 1900.
It's a pity the Brits don't treat the second Boer War the way the Germans treat WW2. Shameful, really.
I never knew that, thanks I learnt something
I used to work with a Guy who took part in this competition during the 70's /80's , He was full of stories of injuries, lost fingers, broken bones, head injuries, he said it was the hardest thing he'd ever done but he absolutely loved every second of his time on the field gun team, by the way they are all professional sailors, all volunteers, it was a massive prestige being on the field gun team.
My dad also used to be in the field gun team and lost count of the injuries he had but he loved it and always said all the injuries were worth it.
I was wondering if they had lots of injuries, it looked crazy compared to H&S we'd expect these days. Wowza!
@@lottie2525 Lots of broken fingers, wrists, toes, pulled muscles bumps and bruises, quite often they'd keep quiet about injuries as it wasn't supposed to interfere with their duties. My dad broke the same little finger so many times it was totally misshapen and they couldn't get it back into any kind of finger shape.
I was a naval nurse. They would bring in a finger covered in cinder dust with the poor bloke who’d lost it! The teams were amazing. As nurses we would go to their training sessions to ogle at them lol. They were fed on steak for breakfast dinner and tea and had their own section in the galley for their meals. Such a shame it finished.
@@sammic7492 Absolutely, I ran in '77 for Devonport and unless something was actually chopped off - ie a finger - you just carried on because if you were A crew you knew there was a bloke in B crew who wanted your place in A crew and there was no way you were going to give your place away. My buddy on the limber lost his little finger to a crush injury, he went to Stonehouse hospital to be patched up, they told him if they reattached his finger he would not be able to run for at least a month but if they amputated down to the knuckle he could be running again in seven days so he told them to chop it off, went back to HMS Drake the next day, lied to the Number one trainer by telling him he was fit to run and was back on the gun that day, kept his A crew place.
Ex WRNS here and I went to the Royal Tournament for years just to support Pompey! The Field Gun Competition still takes place at HMS Collingwood, but it is a much scaled down competition and I don't think there are any obstacles now. I was able to watch it several times as MOD at Colly. There is a great film on UA-cam following the Portsmouth team from the scratch in this video here. Amazing to watch and you get an idea of what it takes to be in the team, the guts you need, along with the types of injuries they get - and usually carry on with them, including breaks. One guy had his head split open during training and the team medic (ex plasterer) just stapled it shut there and then and he cracked on😂😂😂 I miss this competition so much and the Royal Tournament 😢 I really wish they would reinstate it!!
They won't because it's to British and patriotic
Our workshop in Devonport Dockyard use to make/repair all of the wheels and spars for all 3 teams. Scrupulously neutral and respected by the teams. Our head wheelwright was pushing 70 when he retired. Sad day when this event got cancelled.
Yes, unfortunately cancelled by the bean counters in Whitehall who knew the cost of everything and the value of nothing. I loved watching this as a child and older. We would gather around the TV ( I did get to watch it live once) choose our team and cheer them on. My dad was in the Royal Marines and my mum in the Wrens, if they were running one would choose Davenport and the other Portsmouth.
I was serving in a Joint Service Unit in the run-up to the run up to the final run at Earls Court. One of my Navy colleagues was a fieldgunner, and his favourite saying was “Pain is temporary, Pride is forever.”
Used to watch this every year on the BBC (When it was good) . Such a shame that it isn't on anymore.... Amazing skill and coordination on show.... It is all about team work, trust, timing and strength and a drive to win.
Wow, yes, when the BBC was good, I just remember that, happy days!!
Yes, the BBC would never show anything like this anymore. Just woke rubbish.
@@richey4287 Define Woke
It was part of the Royal Tournament which like the Edinburgh was self supporting, however the Royal Tournament could not cover its costs and in the early 1990's the decision to close it was made.
@@folksinger2100 I wonder if the factured in exposure, marketing and recruitment?
My dad was on the Portsmouth field gun team when he was in the navy, he broke 2 fingers during one of the runs and still carried on as did others, they used to joke that you hadn't really competed until you damaged/broken something.
My Dad was and shattered his heel during but still ran it 😅 mental aren’t they xx My Dad is Brian Stephenson.
I was taken to the Royal Tournament at Earls Court in 1969 at the age of nine. My leg was in plaster following an operation to try to fix my foot. I was carried to my seat by a Royal Marine or Naval rating. It was a tradition in our house to watch it on to every year, so to attend in person was really exciting.
What a wonderful memory for you. I remember going once to watch it and once years later my soldier son went and worked at the tournament for a season. We loved it, cheering on our chosen side, bouncing in our seats, and thoroughly enjoying the show. Mum in the Wrens and dad in the Royal Marines and the rest of us, me included, in the Army. A show cancelled by the bean counters who knew the cost of everything and the value of nothing.
One year a competitor broke 3 fingers on the first run but completed the whole trial before telling anyone! Such was the dedication, commitment pride and sheer guts of these sailors, What a shame it was cancelled!!!
Used to watch the guys train at HMS Daedalus the Fleet Air Arms field gun training site. One of the guys lost the axle cotter pin during training but rather than stop the run stuck his finger in for the run back to the home wall. Unsurprisingly it didn't do the job and he lost it. Story is he got back to the training barracks mess after treatment and the lads brought him a nice cold beer with the remains of his finger floating in his pint glass.
The grandfather of a late friend was a major in one of the defence units at Ladysmith. He was also managing director of De Beers, which was based there and had provided the locals with cannon, machine guns and rifles. He telegraphed England for his three sons to go out - they were all at school - but only the eldest, my friend's father, was old enough. He couldn't get to Ladysmith so he joined the South African Light Horse and was part of the force that relieved the town.
That grandfather was an evil man.
@@peterfireflylund why? Because the Boers refused to give up slavery they got into conflict with those who abolished it. And that is evil?
0:50 Can't beat a good rendition of hearts of oak.
And the cold, wet pleasure of the drill square?
This has brought back so many memories for me, my Dad was in the Fleet Air Arm and my Mum would support the Navy, so it was so exciting every year. My favourite part was the musical ride by the Kings Troop , royal horse artillery, at the end they would gallop hell for leather to the entrance of the arena. Did you notice a young Princess Anne in the audience near the beginning?
Well, younger, she would have still been about 48 at the time 😂
My dad also was in the Fleet Air Arm but during the war, then in the REME. We went to the show many times
Yeah, The cross over part of the royal Horse display is amazing, split second timing
She was handing out the trophies at the end!
I'm very proud to say that my Dad was a member of the Portsmouth (Pompey) Field Gun Crew. He put his heart and soul into it, as did all the men. Thanks for showing this Joel.
I was at The royal Tournament in 1984 and we Army girls used to hang out with the single Field Gunners. They had split broken fingers and all sort of injuries. Three weeks being surrounded by sex on legs. I was engaged at the time so no naughty stuff, just a brilliant laugh. The penny pinchers in Government have taken away all that was good and made service men and women proud to serve. Petty cut to make petty savings.
Hey Joel, your face was an absolute picture!!! I think the field gun race was officially classed as the toughest competition in the world at one point. Loved this! A good display to try next is the musical ride of the Royal Horse Artillery, amazing!!! Great reaction mate!
You are right, it was in the Guiness book of records as the hardest competition in the world. Each run was the equivalent of a four minute mile in energy expended and we did ten practice runs a day in training.
I was a Wren at HMS Daedalus where the Fleet Air Arm trained. I also went out with a gunnie so know what they had to do just to get into the crew each year. Incredible dedication, fitness and camaraderie. Most now live with the injuries of doing that over and over hundreds of times in training, often over several years. A special breed. Huge respect to all who took part. 💚❤️💙
I had the privilege of spending 2 seasons with Devonport Field Gun in 86 & 87 as their medic ( Doc ), it was the toughest team sport in the world, this here is the end product of 10 weeks intensive training on their home tracks. Injuries are an accepted part of competing, it was the heart and soul of the Royal Tournament, till the politicians and bean counters ended it. Oggie, Oggie, Oggie 1999 Devonport crew world record holders
I've seen this loads of times, but it amazes me every time. Also, every time I see it I think to myself "Those blokes are MASSIVE".
Fantastic memories of Field Gun. When I was little my dad use to take us to watch them train on a Thursday on Whale Island. When I was older I bought a house about 5 mins from the dockyard and my neighbour was a Field Gunner. So many happy memories of meeting the gunners and spending time with them. They certainly were an exceptional group of lads. Just a shame it got stopped.
Saw this many years ago now. When you went into the building where the Royal Tournament was being held, you passed a display of one of these gun carriages split up into all its various pieces, and my particular memory was the size of one of the wheels (which as it says at 2.23 weigh in at 120 pounds each) and they just carry them slung over one arm. Members of the public were allowed (with supervision) to try to lift one wheel, obviously very few could even raise it a few inches. Impressive display of courage, strength and speed.
This was when men were men! Not the feeble excuses we have now days 😏
I went to the Royal Tournament a few times as a child. It was varied and exciting, horse displays, comedy items and marching bands in addition to these types of competitions. Great fun. I wish they still did them
I am from a British naval family...makes me feel proud to see this again
This race was part of The Royal Tournament for many years and I went several years in a row during the late '60s including the year when one of the wheels flew off. It was held annually in London and was extremely popular. The last one was in 1999 due to cost.
I don't know why this is so exciting, but it had my spine tingling and goosebumps all through it!!!!
Hello Joel. As a kid, I watched a documentary on the training for this with my dad, who had been the equivalent of a medic in the Royal Navy. When one chap lost a finger, my dad was not at all surprised. He explained how he had to cope with such things on an aircraft carrier, just after WW2, with little more than petroleum jelly to attend to whatever occurred, things being what they were at that time. It did not stop him loving this race on TV every year.
It was part of the Royal Tournament, held each year at Earls Court in London.
It was great to watch.
Now probably axed due to defence cuts.
The Navy still have a field gun races, they just don't have the inter service one anymore.
It was part of the Royal Tournament which like the Edinburgh was self supporting, however the Royal Tournament could not cover its costs and in the early 1990's the decision to close it was made.
I'm sure I read somewhere that Labour and their assault on health and safety issues in 1998 didn't help the cause.
I was in that crowd at age 10 and remember coming out with my throat really hurting bad from screaming like an idiot…. convinced that only ice cream could Sort it. 😏😇
Years ago there was a tv documentary about the training for this race, someone had a finger chopped off and they could not find it, one of the trainers went to the changing room where he found someone had picked it up as a souvenir. These men are hard.
The Royal Tournament was a hugely enjoyable spectacle which happened every year until it was discontinued in 2000. It included this gun race, but also marching, music, motorbike formation riding, cultural events from Commonwealth countries. If you can find videos of other things from the Royal Tournament, will have loads of good material to react to.
It was part of the Royal Tournament which like the Edinburgh was self supporting, however the Royal Tournament could not cover its costs and in the early 1990's the decision to close it was made.
Fingers were in short supply in the field gun crew…
Proper recruitment Show piece, can’t get people to join these days, something like the Royal Tournament might help.
Mind you they seem to just want robots and females now (and I do agree females are needed and should be encouraged to join) but virtually every advert now is female based.
Good to see Princess Ann and her husband there to support them.
I can't understand why they stopped this race and The Royal Tournament. I'm not a military person and don't really have any connections with the Armed Services, but loved to watch this every year! It made you feel proud to be British (for once) and it was interesting learning all the history behind these events!
It came down to cost I believe
Health and safety. Dangerous head and body injuries, and loss of body parts.
@@cornishmaid9138 Don't be silly!
@@joyfulzero853 It was a combination of cost and risk. This competition has literally cost people limbs.
You can thank Tony Blair and his cronies for that..
Just a shout out to the Sea Cadets (12 - 18 year olds) who had their own competition. Smaller guns but same courage and determination.
My brother was in the Royal Navy. He was selected for training for the Field Gun Crew for Devonport, twice. Both times he sustained hand injuries during trainign so ddnt ake it to the tournament. However, as I was living in London on the last one he invited me to go to see it with him. Devonport won that night and the crew did a lap of honur around the arena. They spotted my brother and stopped and called him down. We were sitting in the oppositions side of the arena, lol. He went down and was carried shoulder high by his mates. Afterwards, we went back stage and what an experience that was. All those who had taken part in the dispays were there, camping out,, including foreign troops. They had field kichens, kents and shower blocks set up. Food was cooking and it was a vast miiary encampment n the round around the actua arena but at the back, if tht makes sense. We found the Devonport bar. Several burley mateolots were on the door and vetting some sort of groupie hanger on.. lol lol lol.. i told them they had just let my brother in and I was abandoned outside in the mele and his name.. Oh.. go in then love.. go in but only after shouting to him over the heads of scores of people.. it was really packed in there. They were well set up in there.. optics with the spirits.. all the drinks under the sun and it was a PAY BAR.. lol lol lol lol. My brother was very fit and a rugby player. All those guys were well built and powerful sportsmen.
My brother jokes that when we have his funeral he wants to be carried in the strains of Hearts of Oak.. (he is joking).. which is the anthem of the Royal Navy. I think Oak was what the old wooden war ships were made ou tof for centuries.
When I was in the Sea Cadets in the 60´s we did a scaled down version of this(we were 14 - 15 years old). The barrel was only 250 lbs, I carried a wheel, cuts, bruises and the odd crushed finger but we volunteered to do it! Imagine that happening now.
It was still done in the 80's, we had I think just a weekend of training (from one of the regular gun run instructors, now I think back I suppose he was doing it in his own time, good bloke) then we put on a display in Southampton city centre. I think they told us the gun was a quarter the size of the proper one, which squares with what you say. Still, we were only 13 to 16 years old and about a quarter the size of the real gun run crews. Lots of bumps and bruises, but I think nothing worse than a broken finger was suffered. It was great fun, made you feel a proper team.
I love the fact your loving the traditions that have now unfortunately past, they were indeed awesome to live through. This takes me back to being at school and going down to London on school trips to see this take place every year and yes, it is a great pity many of them do not live on. It is one thing to see it on video, completely another to have stood in that arena and screamed for your team!! Thanks for reviewing this.
I was involved in the show once, I was in the Artillery, we watched the rehearsal and one of the matelots broke his wrist and sat and cried when the MO told him he was not going to take part in the main run! He was sure he could manage and insisted that a broken wrist would not slow him down! All the guys involved were so pumped and this run was so important to them, it is a great example of the guts of the Royal Navy! The results were so important that they were flashed to the entire fleet, wherever they were in the world.
Many many years ago I attended the Royal Tournament at Earl's Court. The whole show was absolutely AMAZING!! The noise, the atmosphere was incredible for a young kid!
This s an incredible feat of speed, strength and above all trust and teamwork. The training for this event is insane, all the participants are volunteers and there are always far more than needed. Injuries are commonplace and expected and generally needed to be pretty severe to remove a guy from the team. It is another of those fine service traditions that has fallen by the wayside, sadly. I know the Navy has to move forward with the times but we are losing so much of what made the Navy what it was, it is now to some degree unrecognisable from the Navy I joined in 1975 and in some senses the poorer for it.
The tattoo was cancelled. But the royal naval field gun tournament is still going annually at HMS Collingwood fareham, Hampshire.
Isn't that brickwoods and not command field gun?
The field gun run still happens every year at HMS Collingwood. It’s an awesome day for all the family 😊
The Brickwoods Run - so glad to hear that it’s still going ! My husband spent many a happy year at Collingwood. We lived in Gosport, then Portsmouth but now in Nova Scotia thanks to his naval career 👋
I once saw this live and it is difficult to describe the noise the audience made. From memory we were asked to shout for the team on our side of the arena (Earls court held about 20,000 people) it was an incredible atmosphere.
I was in the RN in the 80's [RNH Haslar mainly but also saw some sights abroad!] and we had a few matlots come in with some bad injuries from this. Tough sport and VERY competitive!
Loved my time in the RN [albeit would not serve in today's times!].
Portsmouth born and bred.
Cancellation of the Royal Tournament was another of Bliar’s crimes against British tradition.
Field gun is one of the most brutal and wonderful sports ever invented
Sadly missed
My Dad was honoured to be in the FAA field gun crew twice. Watching it with him at The Royal Tournament in later years was something I treasured, it was in his blood.
The most insanely dangerous but precisely professional thing I’ve ever seen
I like to see this, keeping history alive, and getting a glimps of what these men had to endure. But i sincerely hope the Boer also have a competition to remember their brave resistance and wins to the Imperial army. A marksmanship competition would be fitting for them. Respect ✌️❤️
I live near HMS Culdrose and had the privilege of watching the fleet air arm practicing this and racing many times it is incredible to see
awesome. My cousin was in the Navy...he served in the Falklands!! Bless all our Military men and women xx I believe it was stopped due to lack of funding...The Royal Tournament used to be such a welcome tradition...such a shame!!
As a very young child I along with my family was taken to watch the RN practice their drill for the field gun tournament at "Whale Island" an RN dry base in Hampshire, UK. It was the most thrilling thing I ever saw and that was just practice! So very lucky to have seen that!
Portsmouth is my home town and i used to see them practice this in the royal naval sports field in Old Portsouth
Born in Birmingham but spent most of my life in Portsmouth with my RN sailor/submariner husband who was involved with the Brickwoods Field Gun run. Shoutout to Pompey ♥️
We used to watch this every year growing up. Loved it every time.
My little brother was part of the Portsmouth field gun team around 15 years ago.. He rose through the ranks from a matelot to Lieutenant Commander. He served on the new Aircraft carrier Queen Elisabeth during the F35 work up.
Proud of my little bro 👍🏼😎
Correction.. it was 1998 he was involved, a year after joining the Navy
I watched this while living in London in 1979. One of the many things that I am very pleased that I saw
This was part of the Royal Tournament which was held every year, it was the first Military Tattoo and had been going for over a hundred years, the labour government that came to power in 1997 held a defense spending review that decided to cut defense spending, as the Tournament couldn't survive without funding as the ticket sales didn't cover costs it was discontinued.
Surely they held a defen(c)e spending review😊
It was part of the Royal Tournament which like the Edinburgh was self supporting, however the Royal Tournament could not cover its costs and in the early 1990's the decision to close it was made. The decision was made well before the the Labour gov of 1997, please do some reading.
@@folksinger2100 Wrong it was defunded as part of the Labour Governments Defense Spending Review.
The teams consisted of two naval port cities.
Devonport (Plymouth)
Portsmouth
And the Fleet Air Arm.
The naval ratings are all volunteers' hand-picked. The training is intense .As you can imagine, the saliors sustain some serious injuries during training.
These include breaks ,crush injuries, and, in some cases, finger amputations.
There is a documentary that was made on the selection and training for the field fun crew it's pretty good.
It's magnificant isn't it mate? I'm not a Pommy but, i'm proud of em. Thanks Mate. 😮
The field gun competition is still held at HMS Collingwood. Normally 21 crews compete.
God thanks for this my dad use to take me to watch this for about 10 years in a row great memories... it's all the stalls and stands also the meets and greet and the givaways.. Memory unlocked thanks mate.
This was an annual contest at this level and as with the American armed forces having their Army/Navy annual football games when just about every base and vessel at sea tuning in to the broadcast, so the Royal Navy would have most of their off duty personnel tuning in to listen for the results. The tradition only came to an end when the Government at the time decided to stop paying for the annual display of all of the armed forces which was held at a place called Earls Court and was themed around one of the three main arms each year in turn, so one year it was “hosted” by the Army , the next year it would be the Navy and the third year it would be hosted by the RAF , although all three services would take part each year. The whole display was called the Royal Tournament and I believe that it was multiple times per week and over two or three weeks every year. In addition to the field gun races and as mentioned else where the Royal Artillery horse troops musical ride there were massed bands and other musical entertainments, as well as things like simulated commando raids and evacuations and parachute attack simulations and generally demonstrations of the military training and tactics put on show for the publics entertainment and as a boost to the numbers of people making enquiries about recruiting for the military.
I went to see the Royal Tournament a few times as a child (as a family it was something we sometimes took our foreign visitors to see) but even so, I am a bit taken aback by the large number of comments about fingers being chopped off :)
This was always a favourite at the ROYAL TOURNAMENT. You cannot beat this. Absolutely fuckin fabulous
The 1999 Royal Tournament was the last one. Ticket sales weren't covering costs any more so it fell victim to defence cuts.
There's something that happened during one race that just shows how tough these guys are.
At the time the wheels were held on by a pin that goes through the axel, if the pin isn't there the wheel falls off. One the run home they went through the hole and the guy that was responsible for putting the pin in the axel of the gun dropped it, a bit of quick thinking later he put his middle finger in the hole and ran to the finish line.
His finger was cutz but his team won.
I miss the gun crews but there is a version done by teenagers with a lighter gun and carriage.
I may live in Plymouth (Devonport) but I liked all the teams the same.
fun fact - if you notice, all of them are wearing black armbands to commemorate it being the last proper field Gun competition....
Well - they were expressely forbidden from doing so. However, something along the lines of 'they can't punish us all, can they' happened - which is why *every* man there is wearing an Armband.
I miss seeing this in The Royal Tournament
It was part of the Royal Tournament which like the Edinburgh was self supporting, however the Royal Tournament could not cover its costs and in the early 1990's the decision to close it was made. simply the public would not buy the tickets
My dad took part in 1 of these when he was in the Royal Navy , he went in at 16 yr old and served 7 years before being a fire fighter for 24 years he just recently retired from working altogether at the ripe old age of 67 , he said he loved the cannon gun run when he did , did it twice and finished 1st and 2nd in both runs
My gt gt grandfather served during the relief of Ladysmith that this is a tribute to. Sergeant George Coo
It was even better live! The Field Gun competition was part of the Royal Tournament , I used to go every year until it got cancelled in 1999. However, the field gun competition is still run every year at HMS Collingwood, Fareham, Hampshire. There is a Cadet version of the run using a lighter-weight gun carriage as well.
I saw it in Cardiff as a little boy about 50 years ago. It must have been memorable to have stayed in my mind for so long.
DAMN, when I hear Hearts of Oak my body shakes - that's what running Field Gun does to you - former Devonport B crew 1st wheels & with a few tears in my eyes watching this 👍
I was watched every run and every rehearsal.
on duty at The Royal Tournament 1970 and 1971 and it wad magnificent to see.
Manpower shortage (not just in the Navy) put pressure on the Royal Tournament, of which the Field Gun was part. There was an issue with Health and Safety (the rules say to carry those weights required a forklift) but the military got a waiver. At the end of the day it was manpower and costs. When they tried to revive it in a scaled down form it was not a success as the Field Gun was not the same and as it was the main highlight of the whole show...you get the point.
I remember in 1991 or 92 one of the men I was in charge of was selected as a Flying Angel for the Portsmouth Team. I went to Earls Court to see him compete with some of the rest of my division to cheer him on and it was a great evening out.
The Fleet Air Arm Team had a fund raising disco every Wednesday at Haslar's sports ground in Gosport so we would rock up for a game of hockey or cricket and then sink a few beers at the disco afterwards. Any excuse to contribute.
No it wasn’t, the decision to stop holding the Royal Tournament which this was a part of was taken in the early 1990’s long before Tony Blair became PM, there is an article in The Telegraph about it.
Sadly the event was not cost affective required removing large numbers of military personnel from front line units and the public would not buy enough tickets.
On the other hand the Tattoo at Edinburgh Castle is self funding and attracts many visitors and tickets have to be booked well in advance.
The Naval Field gun competition says everything you need to know about the British spirit
If you enjoyed that, try "HMS Daedalus Mast Manning Team 1992 at East of England Show". Another tradition that sadly has now been stopped.
Remember watching this as a kid. Always enjoyed it. Still do watching it on utube. Shame they stopped it. Would love to see this back on TV.
Joel my boy, Health and safety, money and snow fakes.....a competition that is so dearly missed, and an excuse to drink lots of beer and have a good old verbal exchange, and plan next year's revenge.....it was always a special day.👍👍👍🍺🍺🍺🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
No it wasn’t, the decision to stop holding the Royal Tournament which this was a part of was taken in the early 1990’s long before Tony Blair became PM, there is an article in The Telegraph about it.
Sadly the event was not cost affective required removing large numbers of military personnel from front line units and the public would not buy enough tickets.
On the other hand the Tattoo at Edinburgh Castle is self funding and attracts many visitors and tickets have to be booked well in advance.
The commentator is Barry Davies. He was one of the primary football (soccer) commentators for the BBC. He also was the ("Voice of the Boat Race") regular commentator for the Oxford and Cambridge University Boat Race, held each year on the River Thames, between Putney and Chiswick bridges. He covered many other sports too and many Olympic Games. Now retired and much missed.
Loved seeing this when I was serving in the Royal Navy, the Portsmouth team used to train at HMS Excellent on whale island, when I was based there for a round 6 months used to do some fitness training with them, me being a decent footballer then I used to sit back and watch them throwing their gun over walls. Sod that I used to think!!
I was in the audience that night and it was absolutely brilliant. A few years later, I worked with a mate who had served in the RN and had taken part in the competition, but not in the year featured here. Even us ex British Army lads admired the RN lads who took part in this. As an aside, the other incredible display that night was the display by the Royal Horse Artillery. I was sitting near to the barrier and the horses and guns came really close and I mean really close.
Your not the only one that was there and they are the two things I remember about it, just how quick the FAA were and how fast and close the RHA came past doing their display.
I ran for Portsmouth in that run. Crackin times and great to do and watch. Nice to see that it's still entertaining...It was the last ever Royal Tournament/Royal naval run as earls Court.
Man to man, best military in the word - no contest.
Wonderful to watch after all these years. We used to be a class act....
There are some astounding videos on how they train for this. Awe inspiring commitment and drive.
These days there is The Junior Leaders Field Gun Tournament held between students aged over 16 and adults(teachers) with a very similar but safer run. I have done it twice in the last 5 years (no injuries) and collected trophies and medals. BTW I'm 58
I was at Earl’s Court in 75 with Devonport
A friend of mine was in The Portsmouth Field Gun Team, back in the day. The number of injuries that are sustained just through training are crazy. People have broken fingers, arms, legs you name it. The guy I know has one Thumb about twice as wide as the other one after he got it caught on one of the Wheels. He still has one of the Cotter Pins that hold the Wheel on, stamped with a letter P. One of his prize possessions. With these Men, it`s all about Pride and discipline, something that is sadly lacking today.
Everything I love about being British, Sheer guts and expertise and enormous strength. Its incredibly dangerous, men lose fingers and toes, broken arms collar bones noses. You can not imagine the training, its precise but brutal and bloody dangerous.
The sailors.....'Heavy, what's heavy' as they toss the gun around the arena.
I was there the year this was filmed and it is an incredible atmosphere. I wish the Royal Tournament was still held ❤
My brother in law was in this in 1984/5 "Chats Harris", told me that fingers were lost and bones broke in training and in the finale.
I watched this, live, back in the late '70's when I was young. This video does not do it justice!
I did the Royal Tournament in 1985 when I was in the Army Cadet Force (there’s video of me on here somewhere), and seeing the race up close was something to see. The cheering on here sounds nothing like it did in Earl’s Court. A lot of these guys were missing finger tips, if they didn’t get the pin in the wheel in time, well, you can imagine what in the spirit of the competition they would do
My dad was based at devonport and always got us in to watch the training and runs. Devonport v Portsmouth was always a good night
I went a good few times to the royal tournament. I miss it, the atmosphere was incredible. It’s such a shame it doesn’t exist anymore.