TOPIC:

I have what I think would be classed as a few ‘quick questions’ which will I hope receive a quick answer from our members who know about Artillery.

Which type of guns would O Battery RHA have been equipped with when they arrived in SA? 12 ponder wire guns? What’s a wire gun?

How many guns in a battery?

Thank you

Ian

Ian,

The R.H.A. landed in South Africa with 12-pounder Breech-loading 6-cwt Guns (all, I believe, Mk I).







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Thank you Neville.

I’ve seen these called wire guns, but don’t understand that label. Have you heard of this?

I’m thinking six guns in a battery. Does that sound correct?

Ian

The term "wire gun" comes from the way the barrels were constructed:


Handbook for the 12-pr BL 6-cwt Gun (1901)

The gun is made of steel, and consists of the 'A' tube, around which are wound successive layers of steel wire, extending over the chamber and a portion of the bore. The jacket with trunnions is fitted over the exterior of the wire and a portion of the 'A' tube.



.Plate XI, Treatise on Service Ordnance (1898)



Yes, six guns to a battery.

Neville



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Thank you for the explanation Neville and these excellent diagrams.

Six guns, great thank you.

Ian,

I have a large framed photograph of fifteen NCO's and men (and their dog) of "O" Battery who were invalided home, 1899-1900.

Those shown are:

Driver F.D. Wilkinson
Driver W. Dwyer
Gunner W.J. Stevens
Gunner A. Stimson
Bombardier H.P. Morris
Bombardier P.T. Powley
Gunner F.H. Lee
Driver G. West
Driver W. Wirtz
Bombardier F. Smith
RSM. L. Clark
Driver F. Lowes
Shoeing-Smith F. Flatt
Bombardier P.J. Caffery
Dog Zulu (!!!)
Driver F.J. Watts


I haven't got round to scanning it yet.


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