Gunnery instruction and military training

Saturday, 05 October 2019 08:43

The 2^nd Durham (Seaham) Artillery Volunteers were raised in 1860 at Seaham Harbour. The brigade was formed mainly from pitmen, bottle workers and other men from the colliery districts of Seaham, Silksworth, Rainton and Old Durham and they displayed an abundance of spirit, pride and patriotism.

A favourite event with most artillery volunteers was the visit to the National Artillery Association competitions at Shoeburyness for gunnery instruction and military training. Located in South-East Essex at the mouth of the River Thames estuary Shoeburyness had a long association with the Royal Artillery. The Royal Arsenal artillery practice and experimental range and also the range at Woolwich Common had become inadequate in the 1840’s as new developments in guns and ballistics meant that the shells were reaching longer distances. In 1859 a School of Gunnery was established at Shoeburyness with a staff of qualified gunnery instructors and in 1863 the National Artillery Association was formed to advance and promote the science and practice of artillery through competitions.

The annual gunnery camp provided Volunteers with the opportunity of realistic training in a military setting and the benefit of fresh air and exercise away from the smoke and grime of the colliery districts.

17^th Detachment of 2^nd Durham (Seaham) Artillery Volunteers at Shoeburyness Camp in 1888

(Back Row: Gnr Brass, Gnr Preece, Gnr Symes, Cpl Hedley, Bbr Kelly, Sgt Major Lumsden,

Bbr Lund, Front Row: Sgt Major Hopper, Sgt Maguire and Sgt Noble)

(Courtesy of Michael Richardson)

For many of the younger men in particular it presented an opportunity of indulging in their military hobby and at the same time enjoying a holiday by the sea in circumstances they would not normally be able to afford. The 2^nd Durham’s sent numerous detachments of men each year for gunnery and repository instruction and competitions. Occasionally the 2^nd Durham’s also attended the Scottish National Artillery Association competitions held at Barry Links, near Dundee and in the later years they also attended Morecambe Bay and Scarborough gunnery camp.

Their proficiency with big guns, carbines and in repository won them many cups and prizes including the National Artillery Prize, two Queen’s Prizes, The Prince of Wales Prize, The Canadian Prize, The Challenge Cup of Scotland and many more.

Details of the attendance at these competitions together with comments on the highlights of the week and their performance can be seen at below: -

TABLE 4: Gunnery and Training Camp

Date	Location	Officer in charge	Comments

1875 4^th Aug	National Artillery Association, Shoeburyness	Captain McKenzie	Fifty men from 2^nd Durham’s attended. Col Fisher (Commandant of School of Gunnery) commended them on the soldierly manner they handled the guns
1876 8^th Aug	National Artillery Association, Shoeburyness	Captain McKenzie	Competed in 40-pdr Armstrong Gun and Repository drill competition.
1877 3^rd Aug	National Artillery Association, Shoeburyness	Captain McKenzie	Five detachments of 9 men each from 2^nd Durham’s. This is the third year returned from NAA without honours.
1878 10^th Aug	National Artillery Association, Shoeburyness	Captain Johnson	Eight detachments attended one week camp. A large crowd assembled at Marlborough Street station to see them off.
1879 9^th Aug	National Artillery Association, Shoeburyness	Captain Johnson	Eleven detachments of men from the Brigade attended one week camp for gunnery training. Sgt Trippet’s detachment won the Scotland Cup for highest score with 64-pdr gun. Sgt Triffit of Seaham Colliery also won the National Artillery Association Prize (value £20)
1880 11^th Aug	National Artillery Association, Shoeburyness	Major McKenzie	200 men volunteered for camp but only 150 permitted to attend. The Queens Prize and 9 silver cups and badges of the NAA for highest aggregate score including prize money of £230 won by 9^th detachment led by Corporal Thomas Hindson.
1881 12^th Aug	National Artillery Association, Shoeburyness	Major McKenzie	100 men represented brigade. The Queens Prize won by Silksworth detachment (Sgt Cowley’s team) who also won the Lord’s Prize. Sgt Wheatman of Seaham detachment won 1^st prize of £30 with 40-pdr breech loading Armstrong gun and also the Canadian prize.
1882 1^st Jul	National Artillery Association, Shoeburyness	Not known	Fourteen detachments totalling 136 men attended for gunnery/repository training. The repository drill required a 64-pdr to be dismounted, sleigh constructed and gun taken through 7ft wide 30ft long passage and then parbuckling up the side of another garrison carriage.
1883 11^th Jul	Scottish National Artillery Association, Irvine, near Glasgow	Major McKenzie	A detachment of 50 men and four officers attended camp. Sgt Watson’s team won 1^st prize (£18) in the repository competition in 9 mins 1sec well within the 20 min time allowed. Both prizes were won in the tug-of-war and Bdr G Dobson won the 100 yards race.
1883 4^th Aug	National Artillery Association, Shoeburyness	Captain G Young	200 volunteers from 2^nd Durham’s attended camp. Altogether the meeting attracted 1,200 competitors. Half the marks in repository competition to be awarded to team performing in shortest time and half the marks in accurate observance of the method laid down in the Manual of Artillery Exercises. First prize in 64-pdr won by Sgt Carr’s team. NAA prize of £10 and the Cinque Ports Challenge Cup won by Sgt Rochester’s team. Canadian prize won by Sgt J Carss team.
1884 16^th Jul	Scottish Camp of Instruction, Barry Links nr Dundee	Major McKenzie	Five detachments entered for big gun, carbine and repository competitions. The firing was conducted over a land range the extent of the Links being 13,000 acres. Major McKenzie complimented by other officers for the fine appearance and efficiency of the men. Prizes won amounted to £8 and Scotland’s Challenge Cup.
1884 16^th Aug	National Artillery Association, Shoeburyness	Major TC McKenzie	60 men attended camp. Prizes won amounted to £40 and nine silver cups.
1885 21^st Jul	Scottish Camp of Instruction, Barry Links nr Dundee	Captain Dunn	A detachment from Seaham, Silksworth and Old Durham comprising 3 officers and 36 NCO’s and men competed. First prize in hurdle race.
1885 7^th Aug	National Artillery Association, Shoeburyness	Captain Brydon	Officers, NCO’s and men totalled 120. First prize in repository competition was Orderly Room Sgt Grieves
1886 28^th Jul	Scottish Camp of Instruction, Barry Links nr Dundee	Captain Dunn/ Lts McKenzie and Warham	Four detachments of 9 men each competed. First prize of £15 awarded to Sgt Summerbell’s detachment for the parbuckling competition.
1887 23^rd Jul	Scottish Camp of Instruction, Barry Links nr Dundee	Lts. W French, McKenzie and Malcolm	Five detachments of 9 men each were representing the 2^nd Durham’s.
1887 6^th Aug	National Artillery Association, Shoeburyness	Major Hardcastle (Adjutant)	Nine detachments from Seaham, One from Old Durham and two from Silksworth competed. They returned a week later but had not been as successful as previous visits to Shoeburyness.
1888 19^th Aug	National Artillery Association, Shoeburyness	Not known	Largest force attending camp in the week for the Northern Division was the 18 detachments from 2^nd Durham. Only success was a third and fourth prize in the 64-pdr muzzle loading competition.
1889 20^th Jul	Scottish Camp of Instruction, Barry Links nr Dundee	Not known	Six detachments from 2^nd Durham at Camp. First prize of £30 for repository drill won by Sgt Maj Weatherall.
1889 6^th Aug	National Artillery Association, Shoeburyness	Not known	First prize repository (£25 and NAA badges) and City of London Gold Challenge Cup won by Sgt Maj Watson’s team. Prince of Wales Cup for 64-pdr and 40-pdr gunnery won by Sgt Smith’s team.
1890 16^th Aug	National Artillery Association, Shoeburyness	Captain McKenzie	Seven detachments from 2^nd Durham’s competed. Winners of Scotland Cup for highest score in shell competition were the Rainton detachment.
1891 8^th Aug	National Artillery Association, Shoeburyness	Lt. French	Detachments of 159 men attended Camp. Shooting of 64-pdr Palliser rifled muzzle loading gun on the Monday morning and repository competition on afternoon. On Tuesday the 2^nd Durham’s took honours in the 40-pdr Armstrong gun competition.
1892 23^rd Jul	Scottish Camp of Instruction, Barry Links nr Dundee	Captain McKenzie	Six detachments attended one week camp.
1892 3^rd Aug	National Artillery Association, Shoeburyness	Not known	Eleven detachments attended one week camp. 2^nd Durham’s winner and second in the 40-pdr RBL Armstrong gun winning the NAA Prize. Winner of The Sec. of State for War Prize and the Lt. Colonel McKenzie’s Prize.
1893 5^th Aug	National Artillery Association, Shoeburyness	Captain McKenzie	Twenty detachments of 180 men attended one week camp.
1894 4^th Aug	National Artillery Association, Shoeburyness	Lt. RWarham	11 detachments (106 all ranks) attended Camp. 64-pdr gun competition (£30) won by 2^nd Durham’s.
1895 24^th Jul	Scottish Camp of Instruction, Barry Links nr Dundee	Captain FJ McKenzie	90 men attended Camp to compete for £570 in prizes awarded by The Scottish Artillery Association.
1896 25^th Jul	Scottish Camp of Instruction, Barry Links nr Dundee	Captain FJ McKenzie	First and second prizes won in repository competition. Highest score in drill and gun-laying for position batteries (Sgt Sheraton and Gnr Hall). First in bomb firing (Lt Dawson’s team). Total prize money won £117.
1899 26^th Jul	Scottish National Artillery Association, Buddon	Not known	20 detachments of 221 all ranks attended.
1900 23^rd Jun	Bare Lane Camp, Morecambe Bay	Major McKenzie	140 members of the position battery attended Camp. The men attended church parade on Sunday morning at Morecambe. Officers and sergeants underwent a course of sword exercise under Sgt Bond. The health, discipline and conduct of men reported as excellent.
1901 20^th Jul	National Scottish Artillery Assoc., Buddon Camp nr Dundee	Not known	Sixteen detachments selected from the 12 batteries attended Camp. Awarded prize for gun-laying competition for position batteries.
1902 21^st Jun	Bare Lane Camp, Morecambe Bay	Major McKenzie	100 Officers, NCO’s and men arrived for a week under canvas.
1902 10^th Aug	Castle Hill, Scarborough	Not known	300 Officers, NCO’s and men mustered for a week under canvas.
1903 22^nd Jun	Bare Lane Camp, Morecambe Bay	Lt. Colonel McKenzie	First prize won by No. 2 Section (Captain Clazey). Sports were held each evening during the week and the band played each evening.
1903 9^th Aug	Castle Hill, Scarborough	Unknown	Detachments from 2^nd Durham’s camped for one week.
1904 20^th Jun	Bare Lane Camp, Morecambe Bay	Unknown	Gun practice was good but firing had to be carried out over a hazy range. The detachments were complimented on the general appearance of their camp and equipment.
1904 8^th Aug	Castle Hill, Scarborough	Lt. Colonel McKenzie	2^nd Durham’s fired with 5 inch guns from the North Cliff Battery and one of the targets was completely smashed. Half the Corps was engaged in battalion drill whilst the other half was put through battalion movements. Colonel Davison expressed his satisfaction at performance.
1907 4^th Aug	Castle Hill, Scarborough	Lt. Colonel McKenzie	400 men of the 2^nd Durham’s attended for one week camp.

Descendants of the old 2nd Durham's have a right to be proud of their record and achievements.

The above extract is from Chapter 13 of "The 2nd Durham (Seaham) Artillery Volunteers" by Fred Cooper. For more information visit ...... https://www.amazon.co.uk/2nd-Durham-Seaham-Artillery-Volunteers/dp/1370544839/ref=sr_1_10?dchild=1&keywords=fred+cooper&qid=1592205236&sr=8-10

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