Changes

At the outbreak of the Boer War, the towns of Mafeking, Kimberley and Ladysmith, were besieged. Ladysmith was the most vulnerable of the three towns and had it fallen a great moral victory could be claimed by the Boer forces. At anchor off Capetown were the cruisers, HMS ''Terrible'' and ''Powerful''; the British Commander in [[Natal]], General Sir George White VC, signalled the ships for assistance, particularly long range guns. Captain P. Scott RN of ''Terrible'' was a gunnery expert, and he quickly designed a carriage for 12-pounder naval guns for transit and in action.<ref>''Field Gun''[http://www.jonford.talktalk.net/field%20gun-%20a%20century%20of%20history.html A Century of History]. Accessed 7 January 2008.</ref>

At the outbreak of the Boer War, the towns of Mafeking, Kimberley and Ladysmith, were besieged. Ladysmith was the most vulnerable of the three towns and had it fallen a great moral victory could be claimed by the Boer forces. At anchor off Capetown were the cruisers, HMS ''Terrible'' and ''Powerful''; the British Commander in [[Natal]], General Sir George White VC, signalled the ships for assistance, particularly long range guns. Captain P. Scott RN of ''Terrible'' was a gunnery expert, and he quickly designed a carriage for 12-pounder naval guns for transit and in action.<ref>''Field Gun''[http://www.jonford.talktalk.net/field%20gun-%20a%20century%20of%20history.html A Century of History]. Accessed 7 January 2008.</ref>

"Equipped with two 4.7-inch and four 12-pounder guns, Captain the Hon H Lambton, RN, and his Naval Brigade of 280 men from ''Powerful'', marched and fought over extremely rugged terrain with the guns to relieve Ladysmith. On several occasions their speed and skill in bringing the guns into action saved them from capture from the Boers. When their oxen died, the sailors (known as ''Bluejackets'') dragged and manhandled the guns themselves. The public were so taken by these exploits that the Field Gun Run was begun and a course constructed to depict the obstacles and hazards which confronted the ''Bluejackets'' in their overland march. The qualities shown by these sailors were courage, discipline, alertness and tremendous spirit, and these are qualities that tend to be developed during training for this display. Perhaps the reason that this Display has survived into the 1980's is that these qualities are still highly valued in today's modern Royal Navy and still appreciated by the public at large."<ref>''Field Gun: A Brief History'' [http://www.gingefullen.com/book/fieldgunhistory.htm gingefullen.com]. Accessed 7 January 2008.</ref>

"Equipped with two 4.7-inch and four 12-pounder guns, Captain the Hon H Lambton, RN, and his Naval Brigade of 280 men from ''Powerful'', marched and fought over extremely rugged terrain with the guns to relieve Ladysmith. On several occasions their speed and skill in bringing the guns into action saved them from capture from the Boers. When their oxen died, the sailors (known as ''Bluejackets'') dragged and manhandled the guns themselves. The public were so taken by these exploits that the Field Gun Run was begun and a course constructed to depict the obstacles and hazards which confronted the ''Bluejackets'' in their overland march. The qualities shown by these sailors were courage, discipline, alertness and tremendous spirit, and these are qualities that tend to be developed during training for this display. Perhaps the reason that this display has survived... is that these qualities are still highly valued in today's modern Royal Navy and still appreciated by the public at large."<ref>''Field Gun: A Brief History'' [http://www.gingefullen.com/book/fieldgunhistory.htm gingefullen.com]. Accessed 7 January 2008.</ref>

 

 

 

 

==References==

==References==

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