- Type of Memorial
- Board / Plaque / Tablet
- WMR Reference Number
- 113218
- Description
- Metal plaque fixed to a metal post. The inscription is above five badges: Devonport, Portsmouth, Chatham and Fleet Air Arm Field Gunners with the Royal Navy badge in the middle.
A wooden bench with another memorial plaque has also been located in the vicinity of the 'Ladysmith' memorial.
- Inscription
- The Ladysmith Memorial/ Commissioned on October 21st 2012/ In Dedication to All "Field Gunners" from the Boer War through to the present day./ Ladysmith, South Africa on October 15th 1899./ Under heavy fire, General Sir George White defending the town of Ladysmith requested a few guns in support from the Naval contingent in/ Simonstown. The request found Captain Percy Scott RN in Simons Bay. His crew had, in 24 hours, prepared two 4.7 inch guns and four/ 12-pounders for land warfare. Under the command of Captain Hedworth Lambton RN, the Naval Brigade set out overland for Ladysmith. Crews from/ HMS Powerful and HMS Terrible were formed for this task. After oxen failed to haul the guns across the rough terrain, only one option was left. The/ Naval Brigade (Bluejackets) had to haul the guns by muscle power themselves and still managed to arrive within 48 hours. Soon after their arrival at/ Ladysmith, the siege of 119 days began. More men from the ships set out with more guns of both 4.7 inch and 12-pounders with a six inch monster/ called "ROMA". The Determination, Teamwork and Dedication of the "Bluejackets," captured the public's hearts back home and on the ships/ return, the Naval Brigades were to be paraded. This was so popular that the following year a tournament was staged at the 1900 Military Tournament/ at the Royal Agricultural Hall in Islington. The Field Gun Competition was born. Later, the Royal Tournament moved to Olympia and then Earls/ Court. Earls Court became the home to the Command Field Gun Competition with Crews from the ports of Chatham (CHATS), Devonport/ (GUZZ), Portsmouth (POMPEY) and Fleet Air Arm (Air), who joined much later in 1947. In 1919 a set of rules was agreed and has fundamentally/ remained the same until the demise in 1999./ Their memories live on by the many versions of the "Toughest" competition in the World/ Nil Nisi Optima, Nothing but the best (Dev) To the Limit and Beyond (Ports) "At em Chatham" (Chats) It's Quicker by Air (Fleet Air Arm)
Bench: 'LADYSMITH MEMORIAL'/ IN MEMORY OF ALL COMMAND FIELD GUNNERS/ "ROYAL TOUNAMENT" HEARTS OF OAK//
