I used to be in the Royal Navy, Fleet Air Arm, when we were on exercises with American ships we used to do things called "Cross Pollination" or "Crosspols" for short. That meant we would swap personnel to give them and us a looky see what life was like on opposing ships. Now Americans weren't allowed to drink at sea but us Brits were. We used to take great delight in getting our American Crosspol candidates extremely drunk, then sending them back home vomiting their heads off! American Sailors were also always told when on shore leave, Don't drink with the Brits, Don't gamble with the Brits and Don't fight with the Brits...... you will lose!
Nick My Dad was the landlord, of The Star pub in Weymouth, from the early 1980's to the middle of the 90's. It was the watering hole, of many of the local "matelots" and especially members of The Fleet Air Arm gun crew. Some fantastic evenings spent in there. I was lucky enough, to be able, to go to the Royal Tournament, and witness the gun crew, close up and personal, behind the scenes, as they were preparing for their run. Genuinely, one of the most, electric, adrenalin pumping, atmospheric situations I have ever witnessed. I myself, was in the RFA, and after my first night in the "Gut" in Malta. I can absolutely confirm, that you are bang on, about the yanks!😁😁😁
@@Martin-dq1dk I spent most of the nineties based at Portland between trips away on board, so Weymouth was my default setting! Pretty sure your old man probably served me a pint or three. Totally agree about the Royal Tournament, think the last time I went was maybe '91 ish. That reminds me, tonight and tomorrow are the "Portland Old Boys" nights out. Where old shipmates descend on Weymouth and Portland, get drunk and catch up after many many years...... unfortunately I couldn't make it this year, but have raised a glass in their honour.
There is story in the navy that in the 1950s two groups of warships came across each other , the US and The UK Royal Navy . The US admiral sent a signal “ good afternoon British Admiral how is the second largest Navy by in the world “ British admiral replied “ thank you we are well , how is the second BEST navy in the world 😂😂😂
I'm so proud to say my father ran for Davenport Field Gun just after WW2. Davenport hold the record time. The reason it stopped is because our government of the day decided it cost too much. Another great tradition destroyed by people who have no clue!
I'm quite old, but it was one of my highlights of my childhood to go to the Colchester military tattoo but the Royal Tournament was something else. It was a thing of pride for us British. 1999 was around the time the western world went wrong and pride in our forces and nation started falling apart. Happy days.😢
Earls Court was flattened by developers, then they were stopped from building high-rise housing. It's been an empty site for many years. "You don't know what you've got, 'til it's gone.."
I just watched the final run in 1999 and one of the team captains after one of the wire Snaps was flipped over landed on his neck and was clinically dead he was resuscitated and taken to hospital another one of those is running on a broken ankle and leg and foot and his team went on to win. As is said above the equipment they are moving is over ton it was so exciting to watch back in the day I am 41 years old now so I was a child in the 80s and 90s and this was the most spectacular thing I had ever seen and probably the best display of precision teamwork and strengths I have ever seen in my life. these men are hard as nails
@@mikestrohm3271 I ran for Portsmouth and I can confirm it did happen in 99 but not in front of the public. It happened during a practice period which is not conducted in front of the crowd but still in the arena.
@@mikestrohm3271I ran for Portsmouth and I can confirm it did happen in 99. It happened in a practice period which is conducted in the arena but not in front the of crowd.
@@billparry7058 Apologies, I ran for Devonport in 77 and the gunny grapevine did not say anything about this. I well remember the practice runs, usually 6am.
@@mikestrohm3271 Yes it was the morning practice period. Obviously the worst thing that happened for Pompey was the Oggies breaking the record that year.🙄😂
There's another royal navy tradition of sailors climbing a massive mast and rigging, one step at a time to the beat of a drum. Probably cancelled along with the one in the video due to health and safety.
Fleet Air Arm was formed around 1924 as an organisational unit of the RAF. RAF was formed in 1918 when the Royal flying corps and Royal naval air service merged.
@@julietravis9775 My bad, maybe not the FAA, but the Royal Naval Air Service pre-dated the origins of the RAF by nearly four years. And it's always with great delight that us FAA types remind the crabs that they were formed on the first of April....... longest running joke in the services...... 🤣🤣🤣🤣
If you want to know what real hard men are like here this is it. The results of these competitions were radioed to the fleet around the world it was a great source of pride for the ships to be based at the winning Dockyard
JPS (Joel ) is a really nice kid and like yourself, has learnt a lot about British humour and culture. Joel visited the UK last summer and is coming back this summer. Would be great to see you both together. Make sure you call him a Muppet 🤣
If you liked this you'll love the Royal Navy Mast Manning Ceremony. All done without safety gear and a safety net. There are pictures from the Dartmouth Royal Naval College of the Officers manning the mast. There is a video of the first woman "Button Boy" at an event/show in colour on RU-vid as well.
The Royal Navy Field Gun competition is still held today, but is not televised. That stopped in 1999. The Royal Navy Field Gun Tournament continues to be held annually at HMS Collingwood in Fareham, Hampshire. With units of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines as well as the British Army and Royal Air Force. ROYAL NAVY FIELD GUN Origins “The origins of Royal Navy Field Gun lay in 1899, in the Second Boer War, and in particular the epic 119-day Siege of Ladysmith. As the British Army was besieged by Boer fighters in the garrison town of Ladysmith, Natal, the Royal Navy landed guns from HM Ships Terrible and Powerful to help in the relief of the siege. Special carriages and mountings for these guns had been improvised by Percy Scott, before the Naval Brigade manhandled six field guns each weighing nearly half a metric tonne over rough terrain to assist their opposite numbers of the British Army.” “The gallant defenders were helped enormously by the arrival at the last minute, of Captain the Hon Hedworth Lambton of the Naval Brigade with his 280 Blue-Jackets, four 12 pounders and two 4.7 inch guns. After the siege of Ladysmith was finally lifted on 28 Feb 1900, Her Majesty Queen Victoria I sent a telegram: ‘Pray express to the Naval Brigade my deep appreciation of the valuable services they have rendered with their guns'’. Displays of this magnificent feat began in London that year.” See web link: www.royalnavy.mod.uk/our-organisation/bases-and-stations/training-establishments/hms-temeraire/rn-field-gun
This tournament is based on the relief of ladysmith during the boer war Relief of Ladysmith Part of Second Boer War Date 28 October 1899 - 27 February 1900 Location KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa Result British victory Belligerents United Kingdom South African Republic South Africa Orange Free State Commanders and leaders Redvers Buller Piet Joubert Louis Botha When the Second Boer War broke out on 11 October 1899, the Boers had a numeric superiority within Southern Africa. They quickly invaded the British territory and laid siege to Ladysmith, Kimberley and Mafeking. Britain meanwhile transported thousands of troops both from the United Kingdom itself and from elsewhere in the Empire and by the time the siege of Ladysmith had been lifted, had a huge numeric superiority
I was in this Royal Tournament as a young bandsman in the massed Corps of Drums. We were on first each night so got the rest of the evening off to watch. The Field Gun competition was really something else.
It was initially run to commemorate the lifting of the seige of Ladysmith during the Boer war. HMS Powerful and HMS Dreadful transported some of their cannon over some particularly rough terrain to come to the aid of our besieged troops.
The origins of the field gun competition lie in the Second Boer War in South Africa. The story tells of the siege of the British garrison in Ladysmith in 1899. In support of the British Army, the Royal Navy landed guns from HMS Terrible and Powerful to help in the relief of the siege. The Naval Brigade transported guns over difficult terrain and brought them into action against the Boers. The Royal Navy landed two 4.7-inch (120 mm) guns and four 12-pounder naval guns creating improvised field guns using makeshift gun carriages. The guns were transported inland by rail and then drawn on makeshift carriages by oxen. For the final part of the journey, sailors from the Naval Brigade manhandled the guns over very difficult terrain. One story tells of sailors carrying one of the 12-pounder guns for 2 miles (3.2 km) after one of the wheels collapsed.
I live in Plymouth UK where Devonport naval base is located if you ever come to England it is a place that is a must to visit as it is steeped in history from the Pilgrim Fathers that sailed on the Mayflower to the new world and sir Francis Drake who beat the Spanish Armada .
Can you imagine an annual tournament in the USA on a national holiday , live on TV, between the Navy , Airforce, Army , Marines,Rangers etc along these lines ? It would be awesome 👍🏴
My Dad was a gunnery instructor for Devonport, he was in the Royal Navy for 27 years because he lied about his age. Have you reacted to the button boy Royal Navy, another tradition.
This event took place at the Exhibition Centre Earls Court in West London. The building has since been flattened for housing and the RT no more since 1999. The Royal Tournament was a fantastic yearly event showing off the military at its finest. A combination of military music, horse riding displays, dog displays, motorcycle displays and simulated battles, it also involved an overseas guest band. I had been going to the Royal Tournament since the 60`s. Such a shame it is not in existence any longer. Our military has been shrinking over the years, but events like this were a good advert as to what the military could do. A good post.
It was stopped due to lack of money. The Royal Tournament closed for the final time to reduce military costs following the 1998 Strategic Defence Review.19 May 2022
Hi mate it's classed as to dangerous in this day and age which is so sad alot of tradition gone greetings from the home of the royal navy Portsmouth england
The origins of Royal Navy Field Gun lay in 1899, in the Second Boer War, and in particular the epic 119-day Siege of Ladysmith. As the British Army was besieged by Boer fighters in the garrison town of Ladysmith, Natal, the Royal Navy landed guns from HM Ships Terrible and Powerful to help in the relief of the siege.
I remember going to London's earls court to see the royal tournament when I was a kid,it was great with lots of other things to watch similar to Edinburgh tattoo.
Although not at the Royal Tournament it still goes on , i thing there is around 13 teams , it still takes place around the Country at Navel bases and County show grounds ......
It stopped because of government cutbacks after the 1998 Strategic Defence Review. It actually cost more to put on than it made, even though it was hugely popular.
It is amazing stuff. The precision, at pace. Put one foot wrong and a hefty wheel or gun barrel will no doubt crush a poor lad's limb entirely. Or worse. Its fair to say that the American Navy played the biggest part in defeating the Japanese Imperial Navy in WWII. Through ingenuity, moxie, and determination. A huge contribution to the Allied win in that battle theatre.
There is a much better quality video out there from the the last competition run. Also look out for the " Manning the mast ceremony" Best wishes from Northern Ireland.
(8:10) AND - a little-known fact, KB - the Royal Navy currently sails the World's BIGGEST aircraft carrier that doesn't have any aircraft. That's true. (It may also be the World's most expensive white elepant)
When you've got a team of men throwing a 900lb gun barrel around and other heavy items, injuries are frequent! No a sport for the faint hearted. It is a pity that they don't run it anymore.
@@markmaher4548 If they were tempted to restart it, best rename it. Something like, Armament Redeployment / Support Exercise. H&S would never catch on.
Here is another good version where one of the crew has a head wound stapled during the Run Out. Love your channel. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-seUVondGK7g.html
The Royal Tournaments were amazing fun. Lots of marching, military bands, trained dog displays, live military drills and even bikes jumping over cars. It was unmissable TV back in the day. Sad it's not around anymore.
I remember in 1994 my dad told me I was ill and couldn't go to school. We took a coach to Earl's Court in London, was amazing seeing this and all the rest. Massed bands, ARRC, REME, Ghurkas, magic day.
During WW2 when the Royal Navy was evacuating the army from Crete, the Admiral in charge was advised to withdraw because he was losing too many ships. Instead he carried on with the evacuation, he's quoted as saying "it takes 3 years to build a ship, it takes 300 to build a tradition."
Admiral (later Viscount) Cunningham aka ABC had a wonderful turn of phrase to go with a superb career. His order for the blockade of Tunisia is one of my favourite of the war. He signalled the fleet “Sink, burn and destroy: Let nothing pass”
The origins of the field gun competition lie in the Second Boer War in South Africa. The legendary story tells of the siege of the British garrison in the township of Ladysmith in 1899. In support of the British Army, the Royal Navy landed guns from HMS Terrible and Powerful to help in the relief of the siege. The Naval Brigade transported guns over difficult terrain and brought them into action against the Boers.
The Royal Navy Field Gun Competition was an event held during the annual Royal Tournament. The event was was apparently cancelled due to our military services becoming too stretched to spare the 2,500 personnel needed to put the event on for its usual three-week run.
At the time of the last tournament it had been reduced to two weeks a few years previous. This was because every year it lost money and that was pretty much the main reason for cancelling. The tournament profits went to service charities but as it was losing money no-one was 'benefitting'.
The Royal Navy are called the Senior Service in the UK. This was always watched in awe when I was a child many years ago. I joined a different arm of the service for 12 years, but always admire all military precision.
Even had their 'own' cigarettes, 'Senior Service' which were strong and unfiltered. I often ran errands to the newsagents to get a neighbour '20 Senior Service.'
@@theotherside8258 I would think the Navy was the Senior Service before cigarettes. I just did an image search because I recall there was a ship on the front of the pack, which also brought up the smaller version, 'Cadets' which I'd forgotten about.
This was held at the Royal Tournament at Earl's Court in London. This was an annual military display. I believe it was cancelled because of defence spending cuts
I was in the Fleet Air Arm, this was massive back in the day, they used to send out dispatches with the results to all ships in the Royal Navy. I was based in HMS Daedalus where the Fleet Air Arm trained - they were beasts🤣
I was in the RN for 24 years and met a few lads who did the gun run and it’s true some of them lost fingers because they dropped bolts and used there fingers instead
If I had never seen the race I would say you are talking bollocks. But as someone who had seen 2 races as a kid knows they gave it there all and if sacrificing a finger meant winning and knowing the pride winning meant. Makes it totally believeable.
This ' race' happened every evening of the tournament( 2 weeks I think) with different RN teams. So important were the results they were signalled to the whole fleet! The race is based from the Boar war when the Royal Navy battery took their guns over land to asisit with the relief of Mafeking.
My dad was in the navy and as a very young boy, he took us as a family to watch the Portsmouth team hard in training, at a man made naval base in Portsmouth called Whale Island. We were encouraged by my folks to scream and yell for "the boys" but I was a bit too young and nervous to do that, but it was still one of the most thrilling events I had seen in my life and that was just practice. "The boys" took it very seriously and it was a thing of pride to take part in despite the missing limbs, knocks and bruises they expected on the journey. Absolutely thrilling. xx
My dad was in the Pompey field gun crew back when I was a nipper and was so proud when he was in the royal tournament. I also have fond memories of whale island. Always a great day out. His crew still meet up every year. Boy they can still have a drink.
I, like many here it seems, watched this live on TV back in the day, my dad videoed it and I must have seen the whole televised thing 20+ times over the decades. I think the whole thing is on YT now anyway. Such strength required, but speed along with the strength too, which is truely incredible. Great reactions King!
I loved the Royal Tournament it was a great Tournament to watch and the Field gun race was very exciting, The race itself was based on a real event look up “The Relief of Mafaking “ , Those guys had to be super fit many a finger got crushed and various other injuries during the race, It’s such a shame this Tradition was stopped, BTW the result of this race was always flashed to every ship in the Navy .
I was sent to Earls Court in 1952 as RN catering party. A soft draft after two and a half years in the Med. after Ganges.. We would watch the Field gun run every night and cheer on our home ream, Chatham! Yes there used to be 4 teams. In 1974 I joined NAAFI vending branch and from then until 1994 I was responsible for setting up the vending area in the NAAFI complex, always felt so good to see the Field Gun lads.
My brother was in this tournament, he served in the Royal Navy for 21 years , at the age of 15 years old signed up for 12 years then again.. sadly died last year
My cousin was in the Royal Navy. After he left he interviewed for an engineer position on luxury yachts in the Med. As soon as he said he'd been in the gun team the interview stopped and he was offered the job on the spot. The guys interviewing him knew how hard it was to get into the Gun teams and compete and it was enough for them to know my cousin was the guy they wanted.
I went to the Royal Tournament for 10 years it was a fantastic show at Earls Court in London. Missed the 1999 show as I was overseas. The whole show was great after the gun run my favourite was the musical ride of The Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery, 6 guns pulled each by 6 horses it was terrifying to watch,
This was world 🌎 famous and the hall at Earl's Court was huge, everything is being stopped in the UK 🇬🇧 as it may offend some minority or Health and Safety issues. Andy Lyons UK 🇬🇧
That arena, earl's court, has been knocked down now. Demolished a few years ago. I saw the last ever gig there, Bombay Bicycle Club and also saw oasis and genesis in there.
We used to go to the Royal Tournament every year held at the Earls Court Exhibition Centre in London in the late 1950's to mid 60s. This event and the mounted Royal Artillery demonstration was always the highlight. The competing teams were from the Naval Dockyards at the time, and the Fleet Air Arm featured in this footage.
It was stopped because like any display team event, it took 600 men in the three teams out from normal service. The injuries during both competition and training were horrific with deep wounds and muscle tears from throwing this equipment around. There are a couple of documentaries on the teams following the year round training they did to compete.😎😇
Not quite, each command team had forty 'runners' 18 for A crew and 18 for B crew with four spares. Backroom staff was No 1 trainer and No 2 trainer, PTI, 6 workshop staff, three to run the bar and a medic plus the field gun officer making a staff of less than 60 so the total for the three crews was less than two hundred men. There were very few 'horrific' injuries. I ran in 1977 and only one person out of all the crews running over the three commands was injured sufficient to be unable to continue training (broken leg) but he returned and ran the next year.
@@mikestrohm3271 fair enough I was factoring in three centres, a specialised motor pool and catering staff for 5000 calories a day. The BBC series seemed to hype the injuries more with shoulder dislocations, severed fingers, muscle tears and the carriage axle going through someone’s thigh.
@@gbphil Yes mate, but there was no dedicated motor pool when I was with Devonport, we had a truck but that was driven by a staff member (our chippie as I remember). We did have three chefs just for us but not a full catering staff. We had a guy who's little finger was crushed in training, he went off to hospital where they told him he would be out of action for a month so he asked what would happen if they amputated and was told he could be running again in five days. He told them to amputate, was discharged next day, went straight back to the training track and told the trainer he was passed fit. Muscle tears were ignored, pulled muscles ignored, cuts were stitched up trackside and the guys would carry on. Don't forget for everyone in A crew there was someone doing the same drill in B crew and fighting to get into A so an injured A crew guy would pretend he was fine and carry on because if he dropped out he might not get his place back again.
Last night I watched a documentary about the new aircraft carrier, the Queen Elizabeth. In order to stimulate team spirit, they set up a field gun team which went onto win the competition which seemed to include army teams as well.
The quality was a lot better than what you have? It must have been recorded from a recording several times over.....but BBC did the original..combat arms channel has a good copy,
The Field Gun competition was cancelled because of government cut backs, taking sailors from their ships/jobs and the injuries. Possibly the toughest team competition in the world.
When to The Royal Tournament as a kid. Loved it.. It was a celebration of the men and women who served in our military. They would show they're expertise in they're roles. When I went they had guests of the US marines who did some amazing close quarter dills. But the field gun completion was always the highlight.. It's doesn't happen now mainly due to lefty's saying it glamorises war and its too expensive to stage.. Utter rubbish if you ask me..
Love as a Lass across the Pond. Thank You for saying that. But I think we all work better together. But thanks for saying that, it means a lot, too a Lancashire Lass . Thank You ❤️🙏🇬🇧🇺🇸🇬🇧🇺🇸👍
Hi King Boomer. The competition was pulled due to a number of injuries over the years and the introduction of "Health and Safety" law, which requires a risk assessment and strategies put in place to to eliminate or reduce risk!
@@andrewlyons5850 Butt out of what? A public forum on the biggest social media site?.. No, that's not what you are talking about. You clearly wrote 'it stopped', (your first two words). I merely pointed out that it didn't stop. This amazing RN tradidition still goes on.
Boomer, this was held at Earls Court arena that held around 20,000 people, this has now been redeveloped unfortunately. It also held gigs there and I saw the Who and Oasis there. Should you make it to the U.K, the Edinburgh Military Tattoo still takes place so although you won't the the R.N Field Gun, plenty of bands etc. Field Gun comp is now an inter services competition I believe, sure I will be corrected if I am wrong.
La compétition de canons de campagne de la Royal Navy, bien sûr, vous n'en avez jamais entendu parler. Rien n'existe en dehors des États sur-réglementés d'Urmericur.
Okay, now you're on a military kick, you going to do The Greatest Raid of All or what? I do like to watch a good reaction to one of the best documentaries ever made (despite Clarkson being an arch knob, fact is he knows how to do good telly). Can't be doing with kids who know nothing at all about 20th century history "Yeah, I've heard of the Germans. Did they ALL live there?"
Health and safety was becoming a thing then , when your transporting things that weigh 1900lbs at speed accidents DID happen . If memory serves that was the main reason for stopping it , safety .the other reason was the cost in money and resources . 👍🏴
