US Infantryman Reacts to Royal Navy Field Gun Competition

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  • Опубліковано 30 вер 2024
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 2,1 тис.

  • @CombatArmsChannel
    @CombatArmsChannel  4 роки тому +332

    Props to anyone who has even attempted this! Doing more research and hearing from y'all, this sounds like a very admirable tradition indeed!

    • @felixpowell3975
      @felixpowell3975 4 роки тому +11

      I did junior leaders field gun last summer (The course is different). It's was hard but has nothing on this.

    • @theoneknownasgm
      @theoneknownasgm 4 роки тому +35

      My dad ran field gun for the navy in the 70''s. It takes a massive toll on the men who run it but they couldn't be prouder to take part. They should definitely bring this back.

    • @KentPaddler
      @KentPaddler 4 роки тому +65

      @@theoneknownasgm Bring back the Royal Tournament!!!!!

    • @sawredford
      @sawredford 4 роки тому +43

      @@KentPaddler Bring back the armed forces first !!

    • @kazarenko6300
      @kazarenko6300 4 роки тому +4

      I remember seeing a documentary on this as a kid. I think they train for a year: ua-cam.com/video/eyBhR4WMiBU/v-deo.html

  • @GBURGE55
    @GBURGE55 4 роки тому +460

    Bring the Royal Tournament back !!!

    • @dawnhauton7543
      @dawnhauton7543 4 роки тому +10

      Please........... bring it back!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • @lesamos8900
      @lesamos8900 4 роки тому +2

      i dont think health and safety would allow it, i dont think you could get insurance to cover 36 chaps doing this, pluss taking men from different ships would now be impossible, for instance i was a sonar operater on a submarine till i finished my service i would not be allowed to leave because of my job.

    • @sliperysid
      @sliperysid 4 роки тому +30

      Not PC enough mate! i.e. the all male teams and it celebrates strength and power... So it's too toxic for today's generation.

    • @keepcalmandbugout
      @keepcalmandbugout 4 роки тому +11

      I was a soldier at the royal tournament in 88, during a practice a contractor dropped a bucket from the rafters , it landed on one of the gun team below he suffered a broken arm , rumours were going around it hit his head and his head broke his arm

    • @sliperysid
      @sliperysid 4 роки тому +11

      @Rory 543 lol. sad but it's true. Not enough empowered women with orange hair and nose rings.

  • @philiprandle2673
    @philiprandle2673 4 роки тому +704

    I am ex British army and it's a joy to watch such unbiased opinions on British military. Your a top bloke and look forward to watching the rest of your channel. So many videos of American and British bitching about one another. Both countries have fought side by side for over 100 years. We are brothers in arms and like brothers we squabble and fight and argue with one another but like brothers you pick a fight with one we bond together and bring the pain.

    • @CombatArmsChannel
      @CombatArmsChannel  4 роки тому +92

      Haha well said brother 💪🇺🇲🇬🇧

    • @mweston25
      @mweston25 4 роки тому +32

      Combat Arms Channel so you are aware we still do this just not at the royal tournament, it’s now spread to all services, two years ago my employer sponsored an event which was the first event that allowed non military to partake they spent two weeks training for it, 1 teams from the army(combat engineers) an RAF team and two from the navy. Embarrassingly the RAF won.
      mobile.twitter.com/strideforth/status/1039028615046946816

    • @ForBritannia
      @ForBritannia 4 роки тому +41

      mweston25 they were clearly better rested from their 5 star hotels 😂😂

    • @geraintroberts565
      @geraintroberts565 4 роки тому +8

      @@ForBritannia LOL, retired RAF.

    • @marcs990
      @marcs990 4 роки тому +33

      Combat Arms Channel yup, the comment you replied to is honestly felt between the US & UK. I hope you guys feel the same, in an ex Para, I think u have already done P company but that is only one part of a gruelling many months of training. Ending with jump school at RAF Brize Norton. I deployed to Iraq , Bosnia, Afghanistan, NI & did more than 2 tours of each. As we are smaller our turnaround to go back on tours is more intense. We have always fought above our weight n I very much enjoyed the times when I was a JTAC bringing in air n artillery for the US detachment I was with in Afghan. We always get on great together n I really do appreciate you’re unbiased reporting. Thx brother.

  • @suegodsell6817
    @suegodsell6817 4 роки тому +283

    My husband was a Portsmouth Field gunner in the late 60's. He ran 4 times, he was 1st swing. I loved going to the royal tournament. Sue Godsell wife of Brian.

    • @bullseye375
      @bullseye375 4 роки тому +1

      Sue Godsell do you know Pat who did the pasties?.

    • @Lionboy2930
      @Lionboy2930 3 роки тому +8

      Hi Sue, he was Brum Godsell if i remember? sadly passed away a couple of years ago. he was the one who did the 1st swing by swinging right down, then copied by everyone. Nice bloke

    • @jongodsell88
      @jongodsell88 3 роки тому +5

      @@Lionboy2930 I tried to join the the RN but my eyesight let down so I went into the family watch & clock business, my grandfather come from Coventry BTW, cheers from a scouse Godsell.

    • @Lionboy2930
      @Lionboy2930 3 роки тому +2

      @@jongodsell88 Thanks for letting me know Jon, your nan Sue will have many good memories.

  • @wrekker69
    @wrekker69 3 роки тому +223

    This was such an important event to The Royal Navy, that within seconds of the race finishing, a signal was sent around the world to every ship and shore station with the result and the times.

    • @BigMrFirebird
      @BigMrFirebird 3 роки тому +10

      And many a matelot won or lost a bet on it :D

    • @timgrenville-cleave2848
      @timgrenville-cleave2848 2 роки тому

      @@BigMrFirebird and a good many Booties to!!

    • @mothmagic1
      @mothmagic1 Рік тому +1

      @@BigMrFirebird I bet. Typical Britsh forces. We'd bet on anything.

    • @DoktorLorenz
      @DoktorLorenz Місяць тому

      Knowing this today adds even more nostalgia to this event, know this was sent in real time across the globe the result on who won this. I'm sooo lucky to have been here 3 times to see this for my own eyes and more importantly smell this event :)

  • @pieceofgosa
    @pieceofgosa 3 роки тому +132

    My great grandfather was part of the artillery force at the relief of Ladysmith, where this tradition originates from.

    • @thevelointhevale1132
      @thevelointhevale1132 3 роки тому +21

      Alright mate ... my Great Grandfather was a Rifleman ( 3rd Bde ) in the King's Royal Rifle Corps and escorted the Naval Guns during the Siege of Ladysmith!

    • @patagualianmostly7437
      @patagualianmostly7437 2 місяці тому

      @@thevelointhevale1132 I learned to shoot as a 14 year old, became a marksman in Ladysmith Barracks at Ashton Under Lyne.... (Nr Manchester)
      Now a housing estate...but the original entrance to the barracks have been preserved....last time I looked.
      Opposite was a pub called "The Heroes of Waterloo" (ABBA never never showed....)(For those interested: Mossley Road, Ashton U Lyne ......)

  • @Berkcam
    @Berkcam 4 роки тому +405

    I am a former Devonport Field Gunner... 'First Wheels' ie, first pieces of gun to cross the chasm and the last wheels to come back. They weighed in at 120 pounds each and combined with your body weight you have around 300 pounds (136kg) loaded on your arms which comes a bit of a shock the first time you swing on that traveler.
    We had 08:00 to 09:00 in the gym every morning with 100's of grid sprints and calisthenics. Then it was tea with cheese and biscuits before changing into track gear and then it was normal to do 8 full runs before closing at around 16:00. There is an A crew and a B crew and we would face-off for all of the days runs.
    We would complete at least 40 runs a week and we trained for 3 months so you can work out for yourself how many times we threw those guns over the walls. There were plenty of injuries as everything is either wood or metal, its heavy and is moving fast.
    The battleships HMS Terrible and HMS Powerful sent their 12 pounder field guns ashore to help break the siege at Ladysmith. It is said that an army general told the Navy that he didn't have any horses to spare for pulling the guns, to which an Admiral replied, "We don't need horses... we have sailors!"
    You cannot imagine how proud we field gunners are to have taken part in that history.

    • @jedislap8726
      @jedislap8726 4 роки тому +19

      I use to watch you guys every year at Navy Day in Plymouth. This was always my highlight of the day.

    • @lauriestlyon8773
      @lauriestlyon8773 4 роки тому +20

      My Dad was ex navy (he forgave me for joining g the RAF! 😉)
      We used to watch this every year on the TV.
      So sad they scrapped it!

    • @vbuster01
      @vbuster01 4 роки тому +8

      Respect. Ex-RN 70's

    • @TheRealist2022
      @TheRealist2022 4 роки тому +6

      @@lauriestlyon8773 they scrapped the telly? Well, you should have moved to another hotel then, crabby!

    • @lauriestlyon8773
      @lauriestlyon8773 4 роки тому

      @@TheRealist2022 😂😂😂😂😆

  • @joes6088
    @joes6088 4 роки тому +766

    Strange? We’re British mate, that’s what we do....

    • @littleworkshopofhorrors2395
      @littleworkshopofhorrors2395 4 роки тому +135

      Wrong, what we do is normal what the rest of the world does is strange.

    • @Gambit771
      @Gambit771 4 роки тому +57

      @@littleworkshopofhorrors2395 Exactly.
      Chances are we did it first so not strange at all.
      Eccentric, not strange.

    • @robertlongwill8856
      @robertlongwill8856 4 роки тому +17

      @@Gambit771 that's right Gambit it's not strange the British probably did it first. They did most things first. I am a Canadian of British descent. What other countries do is strange not

    • @tonysmith2721
      @tonysmith2721 4 роки тому +12

      Maybe if you learned a little bit of history, you’ll know what this was about.

    • @Rs500ybd
      @Rs500ybd 4 роки тому +18

      Cup of tea old boy.

  • @robertpratt7830
    @robertpratt7830 4 роки тому +482

    The Royal Tournament was an outstanding annual event that showcased the British Armed Services like no other recruiting “organ” that was available then and still is now. The ABSOLUTELY worst decision made was to cancel this opportunity to show the World what outstandingly professional, young men and women we have in our Armed Services and this is an event that regardless of cost MUST be brought back.

    • @Jake-xe4cv
      @Jake-xe4cv 4 роки тому +12

      ....sadly not enough sailors and secondly I'd never put a woman through that.

    • @JAmediaUK
      @JAmediaUK 4 роки тому +59

      @@martinlewis1015 discipline, teamwork, esprit de corps. It matters not if it is 12 pounders, 88 mm mortars, anti tank guns, it is the team doing the impossible reguardless.

    • @Jake-xe4cv
      @Jake-xe4cv 4 роки тому +47

      @@martinlewis1015 ...you completely and utterly missed the point.

    • @deanmottershead9208
      @deanmottershead9208 4 роки тому

      Some of it was I imagine that you can’t have a event where a woman could never compete the lightest object was the wheels at a mere 120 pounds and they were carrying two

    • @stephenrose8188
      @stephenrose8188 4 роки тому +2

      @@JAmediaUK For Pete's sake read the history, and the teamwork is split second precision.

  • @NashBen
    @NashBen 4 роки тому +108

    Ah, the brits.. You have to love them. :D Cheers and all the best to you! ~a humble Kraut

    • @user-zy9yg2eu5t
      @user-zy9yg2eu5t 3 роки тому +3

      I like Germany. Germany nearly beat the whole of Europe at war.

    • @coldcomfortfarm8557
      @coldcomfortfarm8557 3 роки тому +4

      We love you!!

    • @mr.dalerobinson
      @mr.dalerobinson 3 роки тому +1

      @@user-zy9yg2eu5t As Basil Fawlty said “don’t talk about the war!”

    • @TheArgieH
      @TheArgieH 3 роки тому

      @@mr.dalerobinson But I think I got away with it.

    • @jintsfan
      @jintsfan 3 роки тому +3

      British History & Tradition. Humbling.

  • @blackpoolrock101
    @blackpoolrock101 4 роки тому +300

    The absolute bonkers pinnacle of the British armed forces training. Our country might only be small, but we pack a heavyweight punch, and it's guys like this that are behind it. Respect.

    • @RobRoyBoaz
      @RobRoyBoaz 4 роки тому +16

      Absolutely, blackpoolrock101. No doubt about it. There's only one Royal Navy.

    • @Brian-om2hh
      @Brian-om2hh Рік тому

      @@RobRoyBoaz And has been for around 400 years.......

  • @ChrisPage68
    @ChrisPage68 4 роки тому +374

    The REAL winners are the team with most fingers left. 🤣

    • @rodgeyd6728
      @rodgeyd6728 4 роки тому +1

      🤘

    • @simonsaysjapan
      @simonsaysjapan 4 роки тому +21

      Naval gunner ordering beers... “Four beers please 🤘🏻”
      Ex-Royal Navy myself, had a go at this during officer training. Ridiculously hard work, dangerous, tough, exciting and with lots of naval pride and unit pride too. Main teams represented their home port (Devonport, Portsmouth) or Fleet Air Arm (naval aviation).
      The Royal Canadian Navy also did field gun crew races. I watched their annual one on a TV in the Canadian Forces Station in Bermuda over beers with them once.
      It’s a real feather in your cap to be a field gunner. Competition is fierce.

    • @DeepseaSteve
      @DeepseaSteve 4 роки тому +7

      Seaplane Dreams we did it in the RAN as well though not exactly same as this. I raced against the apprentice school HMAS NARIMBA during Navy week back in 91. Would love to have gone to UK and raced the Real Navy. Hats off to you mate

    • @Old299dfk
      @Old299dfk 4 роки тому +7

      Wasn't it notorious for taking fingers? I'm sure I heard something that every year during training somebody would end up losing a finger.

    • @bulldetecting2230
      @bulldetecting2230 4 роки тому +4

      I remember a guy losing a finger when I was taken to the royal tournament by my dad in the early 90s.

  • @paulsymons7643
    @paulsymons7643 4 роки тому +70

    Your a good egg fella. It's so nice to see a brother from across the pond with a genuine respect for his brothers on this side of the pond.
    All the very best and keep the channel flowing.
    Blessings from the Welsh.😎👍

  • @Megamix472
    @Megamix472 4 роки тому +149

    As a young boy In the 1980’s I was lucky enough to go to the royal tournament and was in absolute awe of the field gun teams and other fantastic displays on that day. It made me join the army and had a fantastic 22 year career. It’s such a shame that the Royal Tournament is not on any more as it was such a great atmosphere to be in.
    To all those still serving thanks for your service, professionalism and dedication. Stay safe🙏😎

    • @beccabbea2511
      @beccabbea2511 4 роки тому +8

      Blame the bean counters for that. They knew the price of everything and the value of nothing. There are some things beyond price.

    • @cm-pr2ys
      @cm-pr2ys 4 роки тому

      Why did they take it away?

    • @kraxus03
      @kraxus03 4 роки тому +3

      @@cm-pr2ys They started by moving it out of Earls Court in London and into smaller Exhibition shows around the country to make it more accessible to many (even though, geographically we're a small country its still a bit of a trip for some to get to London)...and it kind of faded after that.
      Health and Safety may have played a part as well ….lol

    • @Danno1983
      @Danno1983 4 роки тому +1

      Thanx 4 ur service

    • @tonysansom
      @tonysansom 4 роки тому +2

      I saw it twice too, as a young lad. The first time we were on the top tier of Earls Court's seating which, at that age seemed a mile up!

  • @user-xh3wr1do7k
    @user-xh3wr1do7k 4 роки тому +100

    We still do it now - one of our artillery units carried a field gun up the side of a hill in Afghan at the dead of night - they had to contend with IEDs and the chance of being attacked. By morning, they had the gun on a hill in a very commanding position and judging by the chatter by the Taliban on their radio net, they weren’t happy. They called it the dragon I think.

  • @FolkinghamRob
    @FolkinghamRob 4 роки тому +34

    I went to watch this every year, made us proud - BRING IT BACK

  • @guywilloughby3383
    @guywilloughby3383 4 роки тому +443

    The whole gun run is to represent the relief of Ladysmith during the Boer War, Ladysmith was besieged and surrounded by the boars and the only artillery they had at hand were on Royal Navy ships at Harbour, so the Royal Navy took the guns off their ships and manhandled them over rough terrain onto high ground in order to give artillery support to the besieged Infantry at Ladysmith. Then the Royal tournament began Which was basically a tournament to celebrate the armed forces with various different demonstrations from each of the services and the Royal Navy had two. One was the gun run and the other one was a demonstration of climbing the masts on the Old sailing ships. I can remember watching one in the 1980s where one of the Crew had his head split open by one of the wheels of the cannon and he simply stapled it together.proper hard bastards

    • @danielwhyatt3278
      @danielwhyatt3278 4 роки тому +14

      Guy Willoughby Bloody hell...the good old days right.😂👍🏼

    • @glosterboybirder
      @glosterboybirder 4 роки тому +27

      My grandfather 1st Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment was in Ladysmith at the time of the Relief of Ladysmith. So, I’m guessing he witness the relief given by the guns of the Royal Navy at that time. I have also visited Ladysmith to see for myself.

    • @CombatArmsChannel
      @CombatArmsChannel  4 роки тому +30

      Very cool history. Makes it easy to see why people take it so seriously

    • @guywilloughby3383
      @guywilloughby3383 4 роки тому +42

      @@CombatArmsChannel The real shame is that all of this History and tradition is slowly disappearing. The British armed forces are so small now that all of the regiments and the units within the navy and the Air Force have all been amalgamated or disbanded completely.. And it really shouldn't be that way the United Kingdom's population is almost 70 million, And yet our regular army sits at just 90,000.

    • @guywilloughby3383
      @guywilloughby3383 4 роки тому +12

      @@CombatArmsChannel check out the Royal Marines attempting to break the world speed March record, it's on UA-cam on the forces TV channel.

  • @redipayp7353
    @redipayp7353 4 роки тому +190

    Interesting that our American friends should pick on this RN tradition. I ran it in 1976 for the FAA . One years hard training went into the competition. This was one sport I was proud to take part in....

    • @gowdsake7103
      @gowdsake7103 4 роки тому +2

      Grats to you

    • @garyscully2417
      @garyscully2417 4 роки тому

      Mini Lou shippers

    • @davidhumphreys7035
      @davidhumphreys7035 4 роки тому +3

      @Redi Payp, I'm ex RAF and spent 2 weeks at the RT in 98, would have loved to have tried this. Made some friends with the Devonport Crew and the bar became our go to place for our weeks there.

    • @gavinward5448
      @gavinward5448 4 роки тому +4

      FAA = Fleet Air Arm (that's Naval Aviation to everyone else).

  • @mikesaunders4775
    @mikesaunders4775 4 роки тому +318

    The Royal Tournament was abolished by Tony Bliar(mis-spelling intended).

    • @Valisk
      @Valisk 4 роки тому +84

      I always thought it was spelled Tony *Fucking* Bliar!

    • @franl155
      @franl155 4 роки тому +16

      @@j.4354 - he always was shit. oh, sorry, misread your comment [not]

    • @philsosshep4834
      @philsosshep4834 4 роки тому +16

      Ironic as the man relied on the military so much , I didn't realise it had stopped as I remember going as a kid. Bring it back as we might not have so many snowflakes

    • @MrMadmalable
      @MrMadmalable 4 роки тому +17

      You forgot to add (the traitor) bliar

    • @guyelliott8656
      @guyelliott8656 4 роки тому +15

      @@philsosshep4834 I could see Boris bringing it back with a little petition 😂

  • @natjones9655
    @natjones9655 3 роки тому +53

    My dad was Portsmouth crew captain in in 1999. There were so many injuries involved in this my pop alone lost the top of his finger and on another occasion was clinically dead for a few seconds following an accident. The pride associated with this tradition was incredible

    • @mehitabel1290
      @mehitabel1290 2 роки тому

      Wow!!

    • @npche9865
      @npche9865 2 роки тому +2

      Me dad told me about this because he was a sailor and he wasn't wrong when he said it was mint. Also Is your dad alright? Fcuking heck!

    • @pashvonderc381
      @pashvonderc381 2 роки тому +1

      Pompey… 👍👍👍👍👍👍

    • @natjones9655
      @natjones9655 Рік тому

      Yeah he was alright after recovery thank you, they were mental blokes, you should see them now all in their 50’s and 60’s still built like tanks, my dad isn’t with us anymore but he was immensely proud of this aspect of the RN

    • @nelsonhibbert5267
      @nelsonhibbert5267 Рік тому

      My Dad also ran, but a few years before. He's still around, but paying the price as he's had various surgeries for joint issues caused by the impact. Was your dad the guy that went over the wall but landed with his head bent under his body?

  • @edwardmclaughlin7935
    @edwardmclaughlin7935 4 роки тому +268

    When I'm Prime Minister this is the first thing I'll be bringing back. The Tot as well. Oh and baccie rations.

    • @oj3774
      @oj3774 4 роки тому +9

      Got my vote mate

    • @goblin_horde
      @goblin_horde 4 роки тому +5

      Got my vote

    • @unothevibes1348
      @unothevibes1348 4 роки тому

      When was this event cancelled? I went to my big brothers Field Gun run event about 2 years ago at HMS Sultan
      or do you mean that they've toned down the event because it was basically this without all the extra obstacles

    • @edwardmclaughlin7935
      @edwardmclaughlin7935 4 роки тому +5

      @@unothevibes1348
      Hi mate. What you saw was the 'Brickwoods' Field Gun Competition (at least it used to be called that when I was in the HMS Mercury crew of '83) It was like a sort of junior competition to the real thing.

    • @unothevibes1348
      @unothevibes1348 4 роки тому

      @@edwardmclaughlin7935 oh word okay cheers for answering my question

  • @alanbrooke144
    @alanbrooke144 4 роки тому +89

    The results used to be flashed around the fleet...it was a very big deal.

    • @garethdavis1403
      @garethdavis1403 4 роки тому +1

      lots of cans from the Naffy changed hands on those night/ days

    • @solentbum
      @solentbum 4 роки тому +2

      @@garethdavis1403 Lots of money changed hands as well.

    • @Phlegmwahn
      @Phlegmwahn 4 роки тому +4

      The results where flashed around the Army too! I followed the Field Gun competition throughout my Army career and had the utmost respect for these naval warriors.

  • @stevegray1308
    @stevegray1308 4 роки тому +93

    I used to watch this every year without fail. It was great.

    • @peterjohnson6692
      @peterjohnson6692 4 роки тому +3

      Steve Gray Are used to love watching it it’s a shame they stopped it

    • @adorable_deplorable-u.k.877
      @adorable_deplorable-u.k.877 4 роки тому +1

      Me too, my stepdad was ex fleet air arm so I used to shout for the Navy! He used to say you could always spot a field gunner by the missing fingers and head scars!!

    • @douglasspencer745
      @douglasspencer745 4 роки тому

      I was lucky enough to see the race live at Earls Court back in the 80s

  • @leemason5953
    @leemason5953 4 роки тому +128

    British soldiers carried a artillery gun up a mountain in the dark by hand in Afghanistan so the Taliban didnt see it arrive at the fob at the top.

    • @humphrey4976
      @humphrey4976 4 роки тому +14

      Bet that spoiled Terrys breakfast

    • @vbuster01
      @vbuster01 4 роки тому +2

      So trained by the field gun crew, right! ;)

    • @collyateoo7766
      @collyateoo7766 4 роки тому +2

      All legends lads respect ✌

    • @kmmining1359
      @kmmining1359 4 роки тому +8

      the vietnamese did it with 105's at dien bien phu in 1954 and wiped out the french foreign legion.

    • @johnchapman6013
      @johnchapman6013 4 роки тому +8

      I went to Gibraltar , and visited high up near the top of The Rock . The Great Siege Tunnels (UA-cam). Some of those cannons, must be 8 tons, took over 200 men to pull them up to the top , where Welsh miners were employed to make a fortification only the Romans & British could have thought of . .

  • @samuelegbert2199
    @samuelegbert2199 4 роки тому +25

    superb demonstration of team work. Training !! Training !! Training!!! wish we did stuff like this in the US Army.

  • @jorgefearlessfaithful2942
    @jorgefearlessfaithful2942 3 роки тому +94

    The Earls Court event came to an end because the increasingly stretched armed services have found it ever more difficult to provide personnel. Sad that the youth of today don't appreciate history and what it took to achieve the things they did back in the day. I'm a South African living in the UK and I can attest that a similar event was run in South Africa relating to the same event/siege of Ladysmith between the British and the Boers. The British didn't have field artillery so they had to strip their ships of the only available artillery and hump it across the African savanna in record time to drive the Boers out. The British suffered 175 killed and 249 wounded. 52 dead Boers were left in the British positions. On Christmas Day 1899, the Boers fired into Ladysmith a carrier shell without a fuse, which contained a Christmas pudding, two Union flags and the message, "compliments of the season". The shell is still kept in the museum at Ladysmith.

    • @user-bh4rx8mf8g
      @user-bh4rx8mf8g 3 роки тому +3

      It's incredible what our forefathers achieved. They were men then!

    • @richardfox6595
      @richardfox6595 2 роки тому

      It came to an end because Tony Bliar hated his country and anything that made its people proud.
      Don't forget his crimes.

    • @jamesskeoch6562
      @jamesskeoch6562 Рік тому +1

      It came to an end because of T.B LIAR.

    • @madjock2878
      @madjock2878 Рік тому

      The Labour Government cancelled it because Tony Blair is an ARSE

  • @twothen
    @twothen 4 роки тому +48

    A sad day when those in charge decided to stop it. stirred my heart to see these teams doing this. Absolutely fabulous.

  • @hannecatton2179
    @hannecatton2179 4 роки тому +35

    Notice they were wearing black armbands in mourning for the end of this tradition.

  • @RickHolmesStudio
    @RickHolmesStudio 4 роки тому +43

    Lost my dear father in law 2 years ago aged 88. He was a proud fleet air arm field gunner. Still tough in his final years.

  • @victoriapeggs9963
    @victoriapeggs9963 4 роки тому +30

    Absolutely loved this, watching every year, such a shame it stopped

  • @IBTypeR
    @IBTypeR 3 роки тому +7

    This was required viewing back in the day, I love the commentator Barry Davies he's an absolute legend. That line at the end of the first run, recalling the events that inspired this tradition "the men came from HMS powerful & Terrrible, and who's feeling what now" lol

  • @Dragonblaster1
    @Dragonblaster1 4 роки тому +126

    The music is called "Hearts of Oak", a traditional Royal Navy song.
    "Come, cheer up, my lads, 'tis to glory we steer,
    To add something more to this wonderful year;
    To honour we call you, as freemen not slaves,
    For who are so free as the sons of the waves?
    Heart of Oak are our ships,
    Jolly Tars are our men,
    We always are ready: Steady, boys, Steady!
    We'll fight and we'll conquer again and again.
    We ne'er see our foes but we wish them to stay,
    They never see us but they wish us away;
    If they run, why we follow, and run them ashore,
    For if they won't fight us, what can we do more?
    Heart of Oak are our ships,
    Jolly Tars are our men,
    We always are ready: Steady, boys, Steady!
    We'll fight and we'll conquer again and again.
    They say they'll invade us these terrible foe,
    They frighten our women, our children, our beaus,
    But if should their flat-bottoms, in darkness set oar,
    Still Britons they'll find to receive them on shore.
    Heart of Oak are our ships,
    Jolly Tars are our men,
    We always are ready: Steady, boys, Steady!
    We'll fight and we'll conquer again and again.
    We still make them feel and we still make them flee,
    And drub them ashore as we drub them at sea,
    Then cheer up me lads with one heart let us sing,
    Our soldiers and sailors, our statesmen and king.
    Heart of Oak are our ships,
    Jolly Tars are our men,
    We always are ready: Steady, boys, Steady!
    We'll fight and we'll conquer again and again."

    • @jamesmoriarty3962
      @jamesmoriarty3962 4 роки тому +1

      Alastair Archibald well done you can use google 👍🏻

    • @chrisangus7078
      @chrisangus7078 4 роки тому +4

      Should be the national anthem

    • @rodgeyd6728
      @rodgeyd6728 4 роки тому +8

      As I'm reading those words I can hear the music in my head 👌

    • @raylp4751
      @raylp4751 4 роки тому +4

      Marched to this many a time. As for the words just about every Matelot would hum Steady boys Steady in their heads. It's hard not to March to.

    • @bluesubmariner1
      @bluesubmariner1 4 роки тому +4

      brings a lump to my throat everytime i hear this being played by the booties!

  • @anthonymoore1705
    @anthonymoore1705 4 роки тому +72

    hey mate, there was a bbc programme years ago about the training these blokes went through to take part in this, pretty brutal stuff,

    • @hangarrat101
      @hangarrat101 4 роки тому +5

      ua-cam.com/video/kD4AFgxS9v8/v-deo.html

    • @fromerfc
      @fromerfc 4 роки тому +2

      anthony moore yeah I remember that steak and eggs for brekkie👍👍

    • @jonnyrocket3659
      @jonnyrocket3659 4 роки тому +3

      @@hangarrat101 & anthony moore - good call, just watched the video - shame we don't do the Royal Tournament anymore, I watched it most years on TV... it was always feel good TV

    • @sometimes5406
      @sometimes5406 4 роки тому

      What you public see is just a small snippet

    • @RoastLambShanks
      @RoastLambShanks 4 роки тому

      Field gun competition ua-cam.com/video/s8OKSphIzjY/v-deo.html

  • @sarahlouisebutler
    @sarahlouisebutler 2 роки тому +10

    My Grandad was a trainer for this, I think in Portsmouth. Sadly he died when I was quite young so I never got to hear that many stories but I believe it was very hardcore, either my Dad or Grandad told me once that if someone lost a finger they would just carry on, not even stop to pick it up! It was an amazing tradition to commemorate an event that the Royal Navy is rightly very proud of.

  • @nperry1970
    @nperry1970 4 роки тому +12

    I have watched a few of your videos. You do yourself total credit in your commentary, and I really like the way you are open to reviewing new things.
    Keep it up👍

  • @TheCornishCockney
    @TheCornishCockney 4 роки тому +40

    Our deep and rich history fills me with pride.
    And we DO like a fight every now and then.Island race you see,we cant help it.

    • @jameswatsonatheistgamer
      @jameswatsonatheistgamer 4 роки тому +1

      Nothing like a good war to unleash the English/British lion.

    • @RobRoyBoaz
      @RobRoyBoaz 4 роки тому +3

      Cockney Red, that's the reason the U.S. doesn't like going to war without the Brits at their side. A number of U.S. Army generals have said as much.

    • @jameswatsonatheistgamer
      @jameswatsonatheistgamer 4 роки тому +1

      @George Job Hence the word Brirish. Blood brothers for all eternity

    • @RobRoyBoaz
      @RobRoyBoaz 4 роки тому +3

      @@jameswatsonatheistgamer Do not forget the Scots who have a global reputation for being extremely good soldiers. Nor must you overlook the Scots - Irish, fearsome foes you don't want against you. George Washington himself once said that if he was ever in a life or death battle he would want the Scots - Irish standing with him shoulder to shoulder.

    • @233Deadman
      @233Deadman 3 роки тому +3

      @@RobRoyBoaz well of course the scots got a reputation when you look at history. Remember that the mighty Roman Empire built 2 walls and a ditch to keep them away.

  • @ronaldfraser1847
    @ronaldfraser1847 4 роки тому +80

    When I was 9 years old [I am now a sprightly 70] my dad, who was a Chief Petty Officer in the Royal Navy and based at Devonport Naval base, Plymouth [my home town] took me on to the base to watch the Devonport field gun team practising for the Royal Tournament at Earls Court, London. The matelots on the team seemed like huge, powerful hulks to me. When I went to watch them at the Royal Tournament when I had grown up, they STILL looked like huge, powerful hulks! On Friday 29th July 1999, I took my young nephew to see the Royal Tournament, on the evening when the team from Devonport broke the 15 year-old course record previously held by Portsmouth. Devonport did it in 2 minutes 40.43 seconds., a record which will never now be broken. The competition is in three parts: the Run Out, the Run Back, and the Run Home. The heart of the run, apart from carrying the huge weights involved, disassembling and reassembling the gun, carriage, wheels and limber, is the 28 foot chasm, into which no man or piece of equipment must fall. The A and B teams from Portsmouth, Devonport and Fleet Air Arm [there used to be four teams] consist of 18 men each. The B teams, although they also run against each other, are really a box of human spares for the A team. It took them 5 months to get track fit before they start practising the run. When the final selection was made for the two teams, those not making the A team be disconsolate. Those making neither team would be practically suicidal. By the time they got to Earls Court Arena, the teams would have made 600 practice runs. Injuries in training were frequent and were sometimes serious, especially when catching fingers in the gun breach, but were brushed off by the men. A programme made in 1978 by Ian Wooldridge [sadly since passed away] follows the 1978 Portsmouth field gun team training. The programme was titled "To The Limit and Beyond", the motto of the field gunners. If you can find a copy of the programme anywhere, it is an impressive to watch and shows the esprit and dedication of the field gunners. During the course of the Royal Tournament the teams made 16 competition runs. After each run the results and times would be signalled around the fleet. Some field gun races do now take place, but they do not have the chasm, which made the field gun competition so unique. It has been described over the years as the "toughest team sport in the world.

    • @kentishmale1969
      @kentishmale1969 4 роки тому +2

      I loved that, thank you

    • @mickbradley9487
      @mickbradley9487 4 роки тому +6

      Ah yes thanks for that. It brings back great memories of when I myself used to......erm.......watch it on the telly!

    • @SHOLTIE2004
      @SHOLTIE2004 3 роки тому

      ua-cam.com/video/Z1LTMAXn2yw/v-deo.html

    • @chuckfinlay6093
      @chuckfinlay6093 3 роки тому +2

      Outstanding brief Mr Fraser and very much appreciated.

  • @Pardus_1970
    @Pardus_1970 4 роки тому +39

    Used to watch this as a kid in the 1970's when Dad took me to the Royal Tournament in London, The Sound is deafening

    • @MBurfield
      @MBurfield 4 роки тому

      Gavin Burree we may well have been at Earl’s Court at the same time then. Good times!

    • @Pardus_1970
      @Pardus_1970 4 роки тому +1

      @@MBurfield I had many a good visit there, on one occasion my primary school was selected to go with The Chelsea Pensioners and i was selected as a representative. I remember a mock WW2 Gurkha assault taking place, which climaxed with a dummy Japanese sentry being decapitated by a Kukri Knife... the politically correct brigade would be in uproar these days.

    • @Suprahampton
      @Suprahampton 4 роки тому

      I went a couple of times with my dad in the '90s, watching the Gun Run was the highlight for me. As you said the sound was deafening but the atmosphere was electric

    • @user-ky6vw5up9m
      @user-ky6vw5up9m 4 роки тому

      Me too but mid or late 1960s.

  • @jonathanocallaghan9202
    @jonathanocallaghan9202 2 роки тому +3

    The perfect description of a field gunner. "Speed of a race horse, strength of a cart horse and brains of a rocking horse .! They are all crazy but absolutely magnificent. It makes me very proud to be British.

  • @skylinedroneuk
    @skylinedroneuk 4 роки тому +12

    My father was a chief in the navy, and I loved watching this... like so many things in the UK, traditions are being lost... we used to have Navy Days (open day to visit naval ships etc) and Family Days( officers had families on their assigned ships out to sea and kids firing guns - great fun). Up until about the mid eighties sailers were still entitled to their Grog ration (Rum) and old naval ships have a keg in the mess for this purpose - this goes back huge amount of years... when the British fought the Spanish on the Old sail naval ships (ship of the line such as HMS victory) gunners were able to reload and fire guns double the rate of the french/Spanish which had a huge affect on any given battle .... so tradition of being well trained gunners was normal in the old ship of the line days

  • @TheHypernaught
    @TheHypernaught 4 роки тому +119

    The British have limited gear so the quality of their soldiering is off the charts. Even their basic infantry can run huge distances with heavy bergens. Their ability to move heavy equipment, on foot, over the battlefield is amazing.

    • @ChrisLewis-yx8kw
      @ChrisLewis-yx8kw 4 роки тому +27

      TheHypernaught best trained worst equipped military in world, thats the British forces lot.

    • @DrJReefer
      @DrJReefer 4 роки тому +20

      @@ChrisLewis-yx8kw When Gulf 2 blew up the papers were full of stories about soldiers asking their mum to buy them gear and post it to them.
      No one had the right boots

    • @Aeronaut1975
      @Aeronaut1975 4 роки тому +16

      @@DrJReefer True, i remember reading a book about an SAS raid in Iraq, and the soldiers either didn't have NVGs', or the ones they had weren't up to the job at hand, so they had to borrow them from their American counterparts. They got nicknamed "the borrowers" (after a famous British TV show).

    • @ChrisLewis-yx8kw
      @ChrisLewis-yx8kw 4 роки тому +6

      @Dr J Reefer wasn’t much better in the first Gulf war, I had winter weight gear for Saudi Arabia! Hot doesn’t cover it.

    • @DrJReefer
      @DrJReefer 4 роки тому +3

      @@ChrisLewis-yx8kw Jaysus.

  • @steveed1834
    @steveed1834 4 роки тому +53

    As ex-RN I almost signed up for this a few times. the real motivator was, for the everyday unfit matelot (not me!) to get 2 or 3 months of extreme physical exercise, completely excused duties and special food every mealtime (steak and so on) and come out mega fit and built like a brick sh**house, no mater what you were like before starting. I can't believe the airy fairies won the last one though, didn't know that.

    • @victorbarnett4280
      @victorbarnett4280 4 роки тому +4

      The Last Run but not the Competition. This was won overall by Devonport who also beat the World Record and now hold it for ever.

  • @philcloete
    @philcloete 4 роки тому +7

    Great British naval tradition. Bring back the Royal Tournament

  • @juliethorne7446
    @juliethorne7446 4 роки тому +14

    My dad used to take me every year, was a fabulous exciting time, remember cheering for the team that was on the side of the stadium you were on, I can honestly say now at 53 I’d love to see it all again, the pride it brought was amazing

  • @jerry2357
    @jerry2357 4 роки тому +39

    I was just reading about the Rhine crossings in WWII, and in this operation the Gordon Highlanders were accompanied by the 454th Mountain Battery of the Royal Artillery. They used old 3.7 inch howitzers that could be manhandled and broken down in just the same way as the guns in this competition. They could move their guns by hand through the rubble of the town of Rees, to support the infantry in clearing the town of Germans. At one point they took a gun apart to mount it in the upstairs room of a house.
    Seeing this competition again reminded me of the history that I just read.

    • @michaelbevan3285
      @michaelbevan3285 3 роки тому

      Not confined to the RA. Russians and germans did it in city fighting in Russia.

  • @darrenbrashaw8409
    @darrenbrashaw8409 4 роки тому +58

    That takes me back, I used to love this on TV every year when I was a kid. Thank you.

    • @jlr108
      @jlr108 4 роки тому +2

      Me too. When he was describing it, I didn't cotton on, but when the video started, it all came back. I'd forgotten all about this. It was always exciting to watch.

  • @tonywilkinson6895
    @tonywilkinson6895 4 роки тому +58

    This race was at the royal tournament every year, I went twice the atmosphere was electric. The race was also shown on national TV every year and was part of the national psyche. Injuries were all too common.

    • @CombatArmsChannel
      @CombatArmsChannel  4 роки тому +3

      Very cool. Though I can definitely see there being a lot of injuries from that. Badass

    • @musicandbooklover-p2o
      @musicandbooklover-p2o 4 роки тому +3

      This was shown every year on TVNZ, always watched it. Pity I'll never get to see it in person. Absolutely incredible.

  • @simu31
    @simu31 4 роки тому +13

    I did the "Cadet" version of this, as a kid. Saw a lot of grown men do it. And my uncle was an officer for several teams. The adult version, just watching them train, was awe inspiring. But, [junior] Deadalus Field Gun Crew rules, and our succes run against everone, for me, is a proud moment of my childhood..

    • @noldraper4474
      @noldraper4474 2 роки тому

      Mate, I was on the gun display for TS Orion in Nottingham. It was one of the funniest and most chaotic things I've ever done. Good memories.

  • @DrumsTheWord
    @DrumsTheWord 4 роки тому +1

    I think you understand, so I certainly do not want to patronise you. This is simply a tradition that the Navy has continued. I also think it's very cool.

  • @malcolmmaxwell5703
    @malcolmmaxwell5703 3 роки тому +20

    Hi mate, Royal Navy Vet here - ran Field Gun twice in the cut down version post-1999.
    Had a couple of mates who volunteered for Field Gun prior to 99. It was a gucci-billet (RN slang - cool job). Generally you were assigned to training for the comp for 2 years as a full time job. You can probably see from the video that it takes that kind of dedication not to die...
    Having said that, you mentioned injuries. There were a lot of those, even on the cut down version. Was just expected that someone or maybe more than one would lose a finger at some point.
    The main idea was two-fold. First was to show what extreme dedication and discipline can achieve as an example to the rest of the fleet to get their sh*t in one sock. Second was to send a message to the rest of the world to not mess with the RN or our allies. If you can train people to throw hardware around like that, better beleive we're on top of our day job ;-)
    After 1999 the cut-down version was put in place, which is similar - same rig mostly, but without the zip line/walls. What was lost in difficulty was made up for in that it was no longer your main job, which meant more could participate. When I ran it was against 7 other teams. I was back-of-box (the heavy lifter - not very fast), while i was an instructor at the Basic Training School at HMS RALEIGH, and Instructor at the Engineering School at HMS SULTAN. All done out of hours after usual duties squared away.
    Never been so fit!
    But it was a real shame when the full-fat version was discontinued. Guess they needed everyone to have all their fingers.
    KR
    Lt M S Maxwell, RN (rtd)

  • @gwhite1932
    @gwhite1932 4 роки тому +32

    Cancelled by new Labour out of spite, the field gun competition was the best part

    • @davidbrown9093
      @davidbrown9093 4 роки тому +11

      New labour as old is communist, there purpose is to destroy Britain and the British way of life.

    • @25is27
      @25is27 4 роки тому +4

      @@davidbrown9093 Lol. That's nothing compared to what Alexander Johnstone is doing after the sheep vote him in

    • @michaelcarr757
      @michaelcarr757 4 роки тому

      Cancelled the Royal Tournament, but not the Edinburgh Tattoo ???

    • @johnking3863
      @johnking3863 4 роки тому +2

      The last royal tournament was run in 2013. Three years after Cameron came to power.

    • @twobob8585
      @twobob8585 4 роки тому +1

      @@25is27 What you don't like democracy ? Yep, you are defiantly are a Corbyn loving Comy.

  • @michaeldunn9228
    @michaeldunn9228 4 роки тому +62

    Part of the yearly Royal Tournament which is sadly no more. I trained for this but sadly could not run as a promotion course came up. Many of my friends ran the crew year on year. As you correctly say, It’s historic from old battles where field guns had to be taken over terrain to battle. The training is brutal and the runs are even more brutal. Lads have had carriages run over them, barrels land on them, broken bones and fingers going missing were common. Bodies of most are now wrecked! The rivalry within the Royal Navy was fierce. Ultra fit people with absolute dedication. Disgusting that it was stopped. A smaller competition still goes on within the Navy, now seeing teams from Marines, Army and RAF. Cadets also run teams. All done with much smaller hardware now. After the season is over they all go back to units to carry out their usual professions.
    So proud!

    • @andrewcorrie8936
      @andrewcorrie8936 4 роки тому +9

      Royal Tournament was great: what other gems were there: King's Troop of the Royal Horse Artillery barrelling round and not crashing; the strange window-ladder display team; the RAF police dogs, seizing the runaway guy with the padded sleeve; bagpipers playing Highland Laddie; just a joy every year. Favourite birthday outing as a kid.
      To say nothing of manning the mast at HMS Ganges! Now that was serious stuff.

    • @raggednail79
      @raggednail79 4 роки тому +6

      I was there for the last run , my Grandmother worked at Earl's court so got to go to the tournament every year from 6 months old absolutely loved it and still do and I really do believe that the Royal tournament stopping is part of the reason that the military in the UK is not held in the same esteem as it was when I was growing up , my gran used to say that they would run up and down the stairs with those wheels as part of their warm up and that was about 7 or 8 stories I think, but could be wrong lol it was along time ago, but I do remember the hard working men of those crews it made proud to be British .

    • @f3aok
      @f3aok 4 роки тому +3

      Grew up watching this. Anyone know why it was stopped. Health and safety?😱

    • @raggednail79
      @raggednail79 4 роки тому +7

      @@f3aok they couldn't afford to keep it going the government just saw it as a huge expense I guess they didnt see the any reason to keep it going ,sad that I never got the chance to take my kids to see it as my father did for me , it was nothing short of amazing a wonderful part of my childhood that I'll never forget

    • @f3aok
      @f3aok 4 роки тому

      @@raggednail79 👍

  • @charlieb3204
    @charlieb3204 4 роки тому +41

    I was part of the Devonport crew in 1998 though didn't quite make the running crew Training took about 4 months all the crews were volunteers. Each person was put into a position which had a number I trained as Devonport No 6 which was on the gun trail though I could also do no 5 which was a similar position but on the other side. It took about a week on the track just to learn the first bit, the run out. If you want to see some of the injuries just look up the 1998 field gun interviews. Just to confirm I still have all my fingers!

    • @simonsaysjapan
      @simonsaysjapan 4 роки тому

      Charlie B Bravo Zulu, Shippers!

    • @BigBadLoneWolf
      @BigBadLoneWolf 4 роки тому +5

      @David Rawson they are not marines, they are sailors

    • @GrahamWalters
      @GrahamWalters 4 роки тому +3

      @David Rawson Marines aren't that tough, they never fielded a team

  • @gilliangallagher1918
    @gilliangallagher1918 Рік тому +3

    They've not stopped it. It's performed every year!

  • @scottaskew7881
    @scottaskew7881 4 роки тому +6

    Have spent two years at Earls Court for the Royal Tournament I can tell you that the Royal Navy field gun competition was fanatical.bigger than football within the navy and thousands of people would support one of the three teams. I was Portsmouth all the way, my pal bill parry ran in 1990’s. As a contender you could only run the gun three times in your career, the level of training and dedication from the teams was awe inspiring. If you’ve been given the chance to compete with the RN then good luck pal! You’ll all need it. I served but never ran the field gun. People did loose fingers etc, it was part of the course. Huge tradition as you rightly said dating from the boar war, it represents what the Royal Navy did to get guns and ammunition to the war effort. Through the hole in the wall and over the chasm. 👍🏻

  • @alanhillier1033
    @alanhillier1033 4 роки тому +10

    My dad did this back in the 80’s.Got badly injured during training and ended up losing 3 fingers.He never regretted a minute of it,hard as nails👊🏼

  • @glastonbury4304
    @glastonbury4304 4 роки тому +16

    Definitely one of the best channels to watch, unbiased and a definite military person, who doesn't bitch about who's best, just enjoys achievement and friendship 👍

  • @affalaffaa
    @affalaffaa 4 роки тому +15

    Barry Davies. Legend. Best known for his international staring competition commentary.

  • @jonathanevans1305
    @jonathanevans1305 3 роки тому +6

    My parents used to take me to the Royal Tournament back in the 70's. The Field Gun Race was always the highpoint of the evening. My Grandfather had been regular Navy before and during the war, and Portsmouth was his home port, so we always supported them. The rivalry between Devonport, Portsmouth and Fleet Air Arm was extremely fierce, and those guys put their all into the competition. I suspect it was the pinnacle of their naval careers, to represent their port in the gun race. It was tremendously exciting, and I wish they'd bring it back, but with the Health and Safety Laws these days, I don't suppose they can. There were always stories of people breaking arms and losing fingers but carrying on, and I can quite believe the adrenalin would carry them through. Respect to the guys who competed in this. You were amazing.

  • @nickdinh5794
    @nickdinh5794 3 роки тому +8

    Your a good egg fella. It's so nice to see a brother from across the pond with a genuine respect for his brothers on this side of the pond.
    All the very best and keep the channel flowing.
    Blessings from the Welsh.😎👍

  • @peacefulpleb
    @peacefulpleb 4 роки тому +8

    Good on you mate, us Brits do weird stuff, Hearts of Oak mon brave! Warming up seriously, they trained pretty hard and missing body parts were common.

  • @jamesharrison5004
    @jamesharrison5004 4 роки тому +6

    My friends dad used to run the bar at HMS Daedalus and there was apparently a jar of pickled fingers that had been cut off during training. The gun run is brutal and the guys are ridiculously fit.

  • @davidfeatch1436
    @davidfeatch1436 4 роки тому +16

    I used to do this in a lighter format, in the RN cadets. I ran in the HMS Dolphin Field gun team and the year we won at Earls Court. The navy rewarded 5 of us to travel for 4 days in the sub-HMS Otus. Good days and happy memories.

    • @stevemartin4891
      @stevemartin4891 4 роки тому +2

      I did it at Collingwood cadets in the 70s mate great fun. Us kids were doing what the brickwoids competion is now way back!

    • @Pompeytown
      @Pompeytown 5 місяців тому

      What year at Dolphin cadets? I was there in early 80's.

    • @davidfeatch1436
      @davidfeatch1436 5 місяців тому

      @@Pompeytown I believe it was in 81. My position was on one of the Barrel wheels.

    • @Pompeytown
      @Pompeytown 5 місяців тому

      @davidfeatch1436 I was in the band, drum, and bugler. Played Earls Court. Some names for you, Ken, Roy Izzard, Tim, Kirsty Williams, Pendlebury family....

  • @mairiconnell6282
    @mairiconnell6282 2 роки тому +2

    Gosh I was with the WRAC in 1984 had a blast with the Field Gunners at The Royal Tournament. They had broken fingers taped together, stitched and the injuries were awful and they continued. To hear the noise of the gun getting over is quite breath taking. Please do some more research and history to understand the true meaning. I saw men cry when they were dropped from the team. I find your comments rather immature. Taking this seriously Navy Ratings went through hell to get into the A team.

  • @jasonsmith-oz3mc
    @jasonsmith-oz3mc 2 роки тому +2

    These guys are taken from the Royal Navy ships and Bases from around the World . Many Sailors volunteer for this but only the fittest and strongest are selected .
    I have seen these Gun Runs at various Royal Military Tattoos in London and I can tell you how truly amazing it is to see in real life .
    There are a lot of injuries, broken bones , stitches and even fingers sheared off when 900 lb of Gun Barrel drops onto the carriage .
    At one Tattoo a sailor got hit in the head by the block over the chasm
    Splitting his head open he still got to the end of the first run and during the few seconds respite a medic came on with a paper stapler and stapled his head to stop the bleeding . He still continued for the return run without flinching. This is a real mans game my friends

  • @joemann2178
    @joemann2178 4 роки тому +23

    A shipmate of mine was selected to train for this, it scared him to death, so he went for his diver training instead.

    • @ancienttractorbuoy
      @ancienttractorbuoy 4 роки тому +2

      Hope he didn't die on a mud run 🥴

    • @spearmint47
      @spearmint47 4 роки тому +1

      @@ancienttractorbuoy i remember them.
      Start the day with a few high jumps.
      Then a mud run
      Then diver training.

  • @maxmullen6337
    @maxmullen6337 4 роки тому +27

    I’m surprised he has so much difficulty understanding. It’s a test of cooperation, agility, strength and stamina.
    Qualities that will always be necessary in war.

  • @vaudevillian7
    @vaudevillian7 4 роки тому +14

    I sailed with an ex-matelot that had done this in the 80s and set a record with Portsmouth, absolutely phenomenal, what a top bloke he was

  • @ericbown1551
    @ericbown1551 4 роки тому +6

    Enjoying your channel, my great grandfather fought in the battle of Ladysmith he was colour Sargent major for the The Royal Leicestershire regiment (UK), his brother died there. Nice to look back and give gratitude to all you guys that have given service to your countries.🇬🇧🇺🇸

  • @truckerfromreno
    @truckerfromreno Рік тому +2

    Just fantastic. One the greatest things I've ever seen. They must bring this tradition back.

  • @boldrobert8463
    @boldrobert8463 3 роки тому +6

    Excellent that you did this. I’m sure it’s a little puzzling. It represents something done during a war a long time ago. Such a shame that it was stopped; it was a big naval tradition.

  • @TechnikMeister2
    @TechnikMeister2 3 роки тому +4

    We still do this in Australia. Its a ceremonial exercise. In WW2 in New Guinea, soldiers of the 3rd Division carried 17 pounder artillery pieces up and over 14,000 foot jungle ranges to stop the Japanese taking Port Moresby. No helicopters or planes could be used. Everything had to hand carried. It was brutal.

  • @ArtyVanHoming
    @ArtyVanHoming 3 роки тому +6

    you had to be their to really to appreciate this race properly .highlight of the royal tournament for me "POMPY ALL THE WAY"

  • @jasonfernee2401
    @jasonfernee2401 4 роки тому +4

    My Grandad was in the Royal Navy, always supporting Portsmouth, this was broadcast every year, ex serviceman would cheer on their home Naval base and the general public used to go nuts for it too. Massive shame they stopped it. Politicians spoil all the fun.

  • @ryanh7515
    @ryanh7515 4 роки тому +2

    I served in the fleet air arm and one of my instructors at HMS Sultan was the flying angel (last man over the zip line) in this video. One of the days me a bunch of other guys had to clean the guns they used to train with none of us could pick up the wheels. It would be a draft to be in the field gun team and it stopped due to cost and career ending injuries.
    We still do field gun with its much safer and not as exciting to watch with lighter guns and no obstacles.
    "Mini Mini Lou" was the name of the fleet air arms gun I believe named after some east asian prostitute 😅
    If any of the older fleet air arm guys could confirm that it would be appreciated.

  • @martyngray48
    @martyngray48 4 роки тому +12

    i was stationed at HMS Excellent being a gunner. Portsmouth field gun did their training there, the training is very hard, lots of injuries, missing digits ect, but its the pride of making it to the A team. it was once voted the most dangerous sport in the world. they still do run field gun but looks nothing like this thanks to health and safety. do gooders. during bore war the guns were carried overland from the ships to help with the relife of Ladysmith, the objects they climb over are simlar to the ones they had to climb over in Africa, Rocks Boulders. ravines ect.

    • @LEFO59
      @LEFO59 4 роки тому +8

      I was a mere full time reserve officer at Excellent in the eighties and would often walk past the training ground. Early one morning I was walking down west battery hill in a slight mist, the only others around was the gun team chief (coach) laying out the gear for the run in the distance and a scruffy matelot in the previous year’s gun team track suit coming up the hill towards me with his hands in his pockets. In a voice like thunder the Chief shouted ‘walk properly that man!’ So I immediately sharpened up. The other guy stopped and turned to the Chief and said ‘I ain’t in the Navy no more’ the Chief replied ‘ Well what’s the right answer?’ ‘Get stuffed Chief’ came the reply. ‘Right answer, carry on that man’ said the Chief and we carried on our separate ways.

  • @leso204
    @leso204 4 роки тому +23

    Practice' thats an understatement you need to research the training that goes into this race ............

    • @CombatArmsChannel
      @CombatArmsChannel  4 роки тому +4

      Just found a documentary actually. Serious stuff

    • @leso204
      @leso204 4 роки тому

      @@CombatArmsChannel : Oh yes !

    • @COIcultist
      @COIcultist 4 роки тому +3

      @@CombatArmsChannel You found the 1979 documentary ua-cam.com/video/eyBhR4WMiBU/v-deo.html Arms broken,legs broken, ribs broken and fingers lost. If you look at the comments under my linked film one lady's brother was killed in a practice.
      Absolute madness but a lovely and wonderful madness, alas in 1999 sanity reigned and the field gun competition became no more.
      Do you have any thoughts on the older documentaries? It might be that they are of my age but I don't find many modern documentaries as interesting. Directors trying to make "Films" with too much incidental music and too many cut shots, or me being a miserable old git?

    • @scottwhitley3392
      @scottwhitley3392 4 роки тому

      I done field at collingwood 2016, spent 2 months training everyday, every detail has to be perfect, a bloke lost the top of his finger on on wheels

  • @Lee1978R
    @Lee1978R 4 роки тому +12

    I’ve never seen this event before, makes my British heart swell with pride. Wow just incredible.

  • @kevinburt44
    @kevinburt44 4 роки тому +8

    I'm ex RAF, have seen this live a few times, stuning! Amazing to watch live. Love your attitude, US Army may not have as long a history, but, what a great history it has. Keep up the good work.

  • @johnormshaw2998
    @johnormshaw2998 4 роки тому +3

    I ran for Portsmouth Command, in 1966. We train for six months prior to the Royal Tournament.

  • @mrvertigo23
    @mrvertigo23 4 роки тому +5

    Superb commentary
    By you my friend

  • @TV225TS1
    @TV225TS1 4 роки тому +17

    I went to the Royal Tournament many times as a kid and saw this, every time was brilliant, always cheered for Portsmouth if they were running, or Fleet Air Arm. As a Sea Cadet I stayed in Portsmouth yard and watched them training for this, many busted knuckles and more than few broken fingers. It is something else to see live, shame it's not run anymore. As you said this is based on an event from the Boer War where Guns were removed from a ship and transported over land and back.

    • @jonniebyford
      @jonniebyford 4 роки тому +2

      Me too, saw it live many times as a kid. Then I got a Lambretta . . .

    • @TV225TS1
      @TV225TS1 4 роки тому

      @@jonniebyford didn't get in The Navy due to acute chronic Asthma, so got into Scoots !

    • @Danno1983
      @Danno1983 4 роки тому

      I waz in the nautical cadet force on iow

  • @Modellers-Workbench
    @Modellers-Workbench 4 роки тому +17

    Back when ships were wood and men were steel...this was standard stuff for sailors. More than a few times getting artillery pieces up to the high ground saved the day. Especially in the days of sail when the ships couldn’t just power away. See climbing the Ganges for some more RN history that extended into at least my dads time.

    • @wildfire160
      @wildfire160 4 роки тому

      I was lucky i missed climbing the Ganges mast..i joined the Navy young in 1975 but went straight to Raleigh not Ganges(it closed in 1976)

    • @JustANobody9757
      @JustANobody9757 4 роки тому

      Thorin, my grandad was the Chief Petty Officer regulator at Ganges I think before WWII. He trained the button boys.

    • @JustANobody9757
      @JustANobody9757 4 роки тому

      freebeerfordworkers, really sorry but I can’t answer. It was my dad that told me. He was a Chatham rating in the war.

    • @GangesBoy
      @GangesBoy 4 роки тому

      @freebeerfordworkers yes they were plenty that volunteered but only 2 a year got to be official button boys. This is a list of the ones we've been able to confirm as doing it pbase.com/hms_ganges_museum/image/169928825

  • @maureen348
    @maureen348 Рік тому +2

    There has been many bones broken over the years doing this.

  • @Jake-xe4cv
    @Jake-xe4cv 4 роки тому +2

    My last job in the Royal Navy was as assistant field gun officer, Portsmouth field gun. That was in 1990. Having been for a number of years before, an opponent of the waste in manpower [ the appointer was a comedian] that such numbers of men could be taken from the fleet in each base port, without replacement, I was surprised to quickly become addicted to the spectacle. On the downside, there were many, many, life altering casualties associated with this event not that this concerned the courageous men who took part. They were the personification of the bravery, tenacity and endurance that the British tar was capable of. I regret the years before I knew what they did, that I mistook their bravado and esprit de corps for something else. They were then, and are now, heroic in my memory, the epitome of Jolly Jack Tar!
    I am impressed that the 'US infantryman' reviewed such an ancient and honourable sport. In essence, the historical background was the incredible feat of barefoot sailors [sorry for the pun] dragging, pushing, lifting, winching and man-handling several ship's main guns from their floating home, across docks, roads, by rail and then by shear manpower to relieve the besieged garrison at Ladysmith.

    • @CombatArmsChannel
      @CombatArmsChannel  4 роки тому +2

      It is such an interesting tradition. Very unlike US traditions but just as honourable, if not more

  • @newt7705
    @newt7705 4 роки тому +30

    you my friend come across as a gentleman.

  • @buoyfun
    @buoyfun 4 роки тому +14

    The Devonport Field Gun Crew were the best. Oggie oggie oggie!

    • @martinmowbray4304
      @martinmowbray4304 4 роки тому +1

      john heighton play up Pompey !!

    • @davemaullin5293
      @davemaullin5293 4 роки тому

      Pompey play up

    • @gooner6942
      @gooner6942 4 роки тому +1

      Hi John, me old shipmate. Just to reply back - RADD :)

    • @TW-mc9wk
      @TW-mc9wk 4 роки тому +1

      I always supported Pompey. Great competition and the royal tournament was something that I looked forward to every year . (I find it difficult to have it analysed in this manner, and how many times does he say “ Strange”........it’s called tradition .:)

    • @sarahwilliams755
      @sarahwilliams755 4 роки тому +1

      Oi Oi Oi

  • @beccabbea2511
    @beccabbea2511 4 роки тому +8

    I remember watching this as a child. We would cheer on our chosen side, we're a military family serving in all the branches of the military with mum in the Wrens and dad in the Royal Marines. We would really look forward to this. Going once to the Royal Tournament was the icing on the cake. Then one year my son worked there all through the tournament, he loved it. This and the Royal Tattoo would make us swell with pride. Such a shame the bean counters decided to do away with it. Thanks for showing and commenting on this.

  • @adrianmcgachie
    @adrianmcgachie 3 роки тому +6

    I was very privileged as a child to be taken to see the men training for this, at I recall, whale Island (near Portsmouth) when my dad was serving in the RN. Yes, it's historic and recalling traditions, but one of the most exciting things I have lodged in my memory. And yes. There are injuries. Fully respect this sport, tradition, and endeavour.

  • @roquefortfiles3826
    @roquefortfiles3826 4 роки тому +3

    Being British, I'm really enjoying your videos. So nice to see an American appreciate the things our forces do, rather than the typical American attitude of "We do everything way better than the Brits" which I've heard more times than I can count. Respect to you...have you seen the video of the SAS ending the Iranian Embassy siege in 1980?
    ua-cam.com/video/4azM1DKqFI8/v-deo.html

    • @derekwordley1837
      @derekwordley1837 3 роки тому

      Have a look at the SAS video of their fight in Mirbat.

  • @jeremypearson6852
    @jeremypearson6852 3 роки тому +4

    The unmistakeable voice of Barry Davis doing the commentary. He was one of the best football commentators when I was growing up in England. I think he passed away some time ago but I could be wrong.

    • @David-pq4of
      @David-pq4of 3 роки тому

      yup the voice of sport loved him

  • @MrBigbri2011
    @MrBigbri2011 4 роки тому +13

    "They came from HMS Powerful and Terrible - who's feeling which now?"

    • @TakeItFromMe.
      @TakeItFromMe. 4 роки тому +6

      Our next ships will be called
      HMS Woke and HMS Diversity .
      Lolz

    • @MrBigbri2011
      @MrBigbri2011 4 роки тому

      James Hamilton Or HMS Stunning and HMS Brave 😂

  • @RobCuesta1
    @RobCuesta1 4 роки тому +5

    Thanks for such a balanced commentary. You were correct that the origins were in the 2nd Boer War, but it's not that this was an SOP. The Navy landed guns to relieve the siege of Mafeking. Initially, the guns were being shipped by train, as you'd expect. But the final part of the journey was over difficult terrain and there were no rails, so the guns were unloaded and had to be carried the rest of the way by the sailors across the veldt and over chasms and ravines. The guns made it to Mafeking, and the surrounding Boer forces were routed.
    The field gun race wasn't about teaching people an obsolete skill (as some commenters seem to assume), it was a celebration of courage and perseverance under extreme circumstances. There are plenty of military 'celebrations' in every country that are equally bizarre and anachronistic - but that's the point of traditions :)

  • @davidgale9317
    @davidgale9317 3 роки тому +3

    When I was in the reserve fleet at Whale Island I used to watch the Portsmouth Field guns crew training on the mudflats. Tough lads.

  • @DoktorLorenz
    @DoktorLorenz 4 роки тому +6

    I was 5/6 years old when I went to my first royal tournament way back in 1983 & i was extremely lucky to went with my school class in 1984, 1985, & 1986. I'll never forget watching this for the rest of my days as it was always the highlight of the event for me, i can still remember the noise, smell & the insane loud cheering for both teams when they did this. A big hats off to any of the lads on here who actually did this.

    • @CombatArmsChannel
      @CombatArmsChannel  4 роки тому +3

      I bet it's even more impressive to see in real life!

    • @DoktorLorenz
      @DoktorLorenz Місяць тому

      @@CombatArmsChannel I went every year from 1984-1986, it was a such a sight and because it was a school trip it was even better. Honestly if i could bottle up a memory, i'd truly bottle this one up for sure.

  • @reecefinnigan4523
    @reecefinnigan4523 4 роки тому +9

    Military or not “hearts of oak” is a tune that makes any lad from pompey (Portsmouth) proud. Especially when your Yorkshire (poor bastard 😉) grandad was a submariner who did field gun.

    • @tonybussey8763
      @tonybussey8763 4 роки тому

      Reece Finnigan three years in Pompey 81-84 ex Lowestoft and Zulu

    • @jamesskeoch6562
      @jamesskeoch6562 4 роки тому

      Nowt wrong with YORKSHIRE Ex matelot 1970s

  • @deanstuart8012
    @deanstuart8012 4 роки тому +6

    The commentary is incorrect. The guns weren't sent to relieve the siege of Ladysmith but to reinforce the garrison prior to being besieged. The navy lads then had to endure the 4 month siege like everyone else.
    As an aside, one of the units besieged in Ladysmith was the 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment. Their motto was Semper Fidelis, the same as the USMC.

  • @alex-E7WHU
    @alex-E7WHU 4 роки тому +12

    Brilliant bit of tradition. 👍

  • @prisdefer
    @prisdefer 4 роки тому +4

    I went to the Royal Tournament with my school, c. 1980, and the Field Gun race was the high spot. It used to be on TV every year as well. He mentions the coordination and teamwork a lot, which, of course is the heart of it. But what he didn’t mention so much was the sheer strength of those guys. The shoulders on them!

  • @davemaullin5293
    @davemaullin5293 4 роки тому +17

    I’m ex RN and remember this well
    Three way competition between Portsmouth, Devonport and the Fleet air arm ( only 2 run at a time) when we were at sea we had the results signalled to the ships as it’s pretty serious stuff
    These guys are as fit as a butchers dog
    Many broken bones and lost fingers