Runnin with 3/4 of a soddin ton

[DoctorScrumpy]

Is that Gordon Rasey ? Nope, he don't swear enough lol

[bidds100]

brilliant

[bidds100]

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.

[TheDrummerboi94]

back in the good ole days when men were men, and women were household appliances :L jokes of course

[bilbobagins1951]

no lightweights here

[msib]

Incredible! So sad it was stopped. Rule Brittannia!!!

[petechilcott]

Oh to have been even half as fit. Sadly, I couldn't even make the final 18 for Brickwoods, just spare number

[woodswgb]

Haha daft bastards- soon them than me!

[LutzDerLurch]

I wonder, if this is actually a fully functional Service-Ordnance or some altered "sporterized" version. Does anyone know the answer?

[aidenn116w]

@LutzDerLurch ......... Its the REAL deal Lutz, no alterations whatsoever....... the barrel alone weighs over 900 lbs

[LutzDerLurch]

@aidenn116w ah, thank you very much. The Info is much apreciated. Take care! :)

[2bsure]

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

[bigrigdriver99]

This is what made our navy the greatest in the world, it was an excellent recruiting tool, made me join up, even though Drafty put me on to boats. This is true team building, perhaps out politicians, bankers and so called celebrities should try this.

Pity too much money is wasted these days on namby pamby projects.

[TheLimbReaper]

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

[stutz788]

PTI "What do you mean, you're injured... You've only lost a leg... Hop to it!!"

VBEGI.

from an ex-Pongo

[Berkcam]

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?"

[bilbobagins1951]

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

[thegunsareback]

When i was in training royal marines we went to Portsmouth to use the ranges, thought i was the bolloxs week eight of training and that, then i saw those ugly bastards training, fuck me i shat my pants, hats off to those guys

[coverley1]

Love it really loved it what a great shame that ,it was stopped, i believe because of cost,M.P if they did not claim so much ! Another piece of naval history gone.

[nsggood]

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.

[aaarrrggghhhh]

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!!

[Berkcam]

@aaarrrggghhhh my dad told me that too... I didn't listen, joined-up and ran Field Gun for Devonport the year before I left the RN.

[aaarrrggghhhh]

Did you realise at the time how much admiration people outside the navy had for you guys? It looks like the government didn't, that was an awful decision to scrap the Earls Court Royal Tournament. Shame on them.

[aaarrrggghhhh]

@ Berckam. By the way, I showed this to an American colleague of mine who had been in the US Navy and he loved it.

[Berkcam]

@aaarrrggghhhh - yes its something that the RN had over EVERYONE else. The army, marines and US forces all wanted to play but nope... this is pure British naval history and no-one else allowed in - sorry. However, our small-minded, tree-hugging politicians saw fit to throw away this great tradition!

[Think0n]

Hero's

I emember going to see these guys at this place as a child. We lived near and it was massive - or I was very small - I recognise the seating area / bleachers.

Ahh, happy days

[livtyler83]

HMS Exceter is the place, thats what it looks liek to me im pretty sure its that.

[Lionboy2930]

It was HMS Excellent in Portsmouth, now known as HMS Whale Island...

[subtacex]

@livtyler83 rubbish !!!!

[MIT1369]

It's truely a sad thing when whey faced politicians destroy the history and traditions of fighting men.

I pray one day this great spectacle shall return to it's former glory.

[Factnotfictionpeople]

Not till we get rid of these 'lefty' tossers mate - sadly......

[MIT1369]

I'll light a candle for your country mate. Perhaps one day they'll recognize their failure and seek to rekindle the light of their former glory.

Semper Fidelis!

[shadey788]

what the fuck you on about?

[iamapirate5888]

Good show. We're in the shit, to be perfectly honest.

[gamma500]

DVD available online at portsmouth action field gun

[xfuzil]

Awesome event awesome display ,no mil event is the same without the Royal navy doing this

[smsharpe]

Hey dude!

Bloody excellent! I was the 'Doc of Air' in 86, and this just brings back sooooo many memories. Utterly brilliant! 'Beers & Hats off' to all of the Gunners of old!

Steve Sharpe

[stentepro]

Thanks for your interest Steve.

[brigham600]

Great stuff that and what a great pity it was taken from us in 99. Hats off to ALL who gave blood and guts - to the limit and beyond.

[SuperB91]

Hello mate, ex field gunner myself been looking for this video in its entirety. Do you have the details of were you got the footage? Was it called the wooldrige report or similar?

Cheers for the excellent vid

[stentepro]

It is my edited version of a video called 'To the Limit and Beyond' produced by the BB*!

Glad you enjoyed it.

[tedhodnett]

Hi , I run gun in 82 & 85 for Sunny Devonport ,I thought this was called Gun & Guts made by the Pompey crew..?

[stentepro]

Gun and Guts would be an appropriate titel.

[Lionboy2930]

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

[gamma500]

Yes, this is taken from the BBC documentry about the 1978 Portsmouth crew from new recruits to Earls court.

I imagine all crews start this badly!!

[stentepro]

Thank you for you comments

[whitewingsrich]

I've been lookin at soom of the other F.G vids and this one must have been done quite a while ago cuz when you see they were making afew mistakes here and there and also getting hit by the pieces of equipment. Look at the teams of the late 90's kept chucking stuff over the wall like it was made of plastic! keepin limber, Carriage, and barrel perfectly balanced whilst going over the chasem. Its such a shame they had to stop this event i loved watching it. Gr8 video

[stentepro]

This was indeed a behind the scenes film of the crews building up their expertise so I suppose the cock ups do get too much focus. Thanks for your interest.

[aidenn116w]

@whitewingsrich ......... This was filmed at the practise track at Whaley, the reason they are making mistakes is because they are TRAINING, the way you learn it is to practice it time and time again thus removing mistakes and improving times......... hard slog but by god it was worth it when you got out at Earls Court.

[gamma500]

DVD available from portsmouth action field gun. - PAFG co uk also other videos and pics to look at.

[stentepro]

Good to know.

[Lionboy2930]

Thanks for the info... do you have the address available??

[stentepro]

Sorry, but what address do you need?

[Lionboy2930]

the address where i can obtain the dvd if poss

Thanks

[stentepro]

Try DD Videos.

[gamma500]

Peter Scott, the trainer in the clip, is still our trainer!!! PAFG

[stentepro]

That gives me hope!

[Trek001]

still a trainer?

meaning that it's comeing back?

[stentepro]

I don't think so.

[Trek001]

well we can only hope.

[kingy1690]

cracking video loved watching this every year.typical of the govt to stop this.have the marines ever done this?

[stentepro]

As far as I know the Marines were never involved.

[Lionboy2930]

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

[stentepro]

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

[t7aky]

had loads of mates run the gun when i was in, i choose mess drinking games as my sport however i loved going to watch and this video brings back what a gruelling sport it was and how special and dedicated the men were who took part, it wasnt just about being fit they had to have tremendous courage to do that, excellent vid thanks

[stentepro]

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

[snappo20]

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

[stentepro]

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

[simonryan212]

Thanks for posting this!

Still the best sport in the world

[stentepro]

Yes, your right,but I think I prefer just being a spectator! Thank you for your interest.

[johno2499]

This ought to be brought back. I have a sneaky feeling that none of these guys would have surrendered to the Iranians.

[stentepro]

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.