I remember seeing the full version of this in the early 80s. Just amazing how tough these guys had to be to pull this off. Cracked skull? Smashed hand? Compound fracture? No problem--patch it up and off we go again.

Hearts of oak and balls of steel.... Minus a couple of fingers.

the guy talking is john goldsmith leading seaman. i served with him on hms whitby. a tough and great guy who lookedafter his lads. great to see you again GOLDIE.

I remember watching this documentary and the Royal Tournament with my dad. Shortly after this, my dad talked me out of joining the Royal Navy. He served for years and said I wouldn't handle the discipline. It's the only conversation I ever regret having had with my dad!!

Very good.  And more than many of the other command field gun videos on here actually gives a good taste of the 'violence' involved in getting the kit around the course.  Videos from half way up earl's court are impressive but don't give the viewer a sense of what it was really like when the barrel or the carriage gets slipped on the enemy ramp, or just how difficult it is to learn and piece all the drill together in training.  So thanks for posting and defo brings back good memories from my own experience of running for the FAA.

Thanks for posting this vid mate.
I was a sea cadet at HMS Dolphin and ran the cadet version when this was made. We would watch these guys with awe. Dont see much disciplined teamwork like this nowadays.
Respect.

We were billeted right next to the Devonport track - never got tired of watching them. Amazing stuff. Well hard!

This is certainly, without a doubt, one of the most impressive and craziest things I've ever seen.  

PTI "What do you mean, you're injured... You've only lost a leg... Hop to it!!"
VBEGI.
from an ex-Pongo

Too bloody right! My dad, who was a Captain in the RE, used to say those were the days when men were men and pansy was the name of a flower! Thank you for your comment and for the rating which I take it was from you.

Used to love watchin this as a kid - real shame they dont do it no more - elf n' safety at work no doubt!

I'll never forget the first time running straight at the 'wall' holding on to the limber T-bar. The old hands kept saying, "Just lock your arms and run at it". So we did and bang... the next thing you know you're standing on top of the wall thinking "how the hell did that happen?"

Don't know if you new.. BBC did one with Angela Ripon with the Deveonport crew in 1977 called "run gunner run"... my old mate FFFFrankie Stafford ran then and again in 82

one regret did not do it much respect to those that did all teams thank you for puting these clips of  THE GUN on here

I also loved watching it as a kid. Your right about elf n' safety!

Thank you for taking time to post such a long comment. Yes, you can be really proud of being a part of this! I am happy that this brought back good memories to you.
Mike

Wow! Did not see this clip as I just wrote on another page that this docu was my introduction to the field gun race, after this I went as often as I could to Earls Court to watch the RT. Big respect to the guys, shame the government stopped it, a great British spectacle. Thanks for the clip

This was filmed by the BBC with the journalist from the Daily Mail , the late Ian Wooldridge.
This brings back many good memories as i remember several faces from HMS Kent.. Chuck Berry.. Kellogs.. Taff McGrath

The Field Gun Competition was the Royal Tournament as anyone would agree.
sadly This government decided to throw away years of tradition at the drop of a hat for no obvious reason whatsoever...

Thanks for taking time to post it.. is it 30 years ago!!!!

Donny Lad

Thanks for your interest Steve.

Thank you for your long and informative reply - very interesting.  You, like me, are probably asking yourself where those 30 years went!