Some pics from Normandy with Canadian Gunners

 

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Look for the photo of the lads with Lt. Gareth Webb, who was the GPO with the 25 Pdr. Battery in Normandy that deployed our Gun!

Historic 5 Bty 25 Pdr…fought in Normandy with the Canadians.

More on this later, but just to whet your appetite…have a look at this: http://www.normandiememoire.com/webcam/junobeach/

In the web cam. select ‘Bunker’…see the 25Pdr?…thats an ex 5 Bty 6 FAR Gun given to the Canadian Artillery by the Irish for their museum in France. The Canadians traced back the serial number and discovered that it landed in Normandy with them. How did we find it? A certain group of Sergeants saw the gun on display while on a trip to Normandy…from a distance noticed the red handles…got a bit curious…suspicions roused…someone saw the bent carrying handle (bent by a certain Cook’s truck)……serial number checked…Identity confirmed….Canadian Artillery Colonel General talked to…GPO who landed with the Gun in 1944 chatted up…Partied with the Canadian Battery that night…VIP invitations to ceremony next day issued…

Photo’s on the way once the 700+ photos that were taken have been sifted through.

Last 25 Pdr Shoot

2 Regiment provided the setting for the last 25pdr shoot. Having fired the weapons in the morning as part of their live firing exercise, they vacated the gun position to allow new crews man the guns. Gun position was forward of Keoghs house. A 6 gun battery was formed with a crew from each of the 3 Permanent and 3 Reserve regiments. 62 RAR gun crew was commanded by BS Paddy O’Shea. The target for an 8 round expend ammo final fire for effect was the Octagonal field on a bearing of approx 1600, elevation of approx. 260 with a 200m sheaf pattern. Last round was ceremoniously fired by a gun crew comprising D Arty, OC Arty School, and RSM Arty School. Food for the troops on the ground was as per tradition – Chicken Curry!

Thanks to John and Ger Gibson for the photos.

Also check out  http://www.riv.co.nz/rnza/tales/last25.htm for an interesting ‘Last 25 Pounder Round’ story from the Kiwi Gunners.

Other links of interest:

http://www.westmeathexaminer.ie/news/mullingar/articles/2009/08/04/390013-final-shots-fired-in-the-glen-/

http://www.herald.ie/national-news/going-out-with-a-bang-1848124.html

http://www.wicklowpeople.ie/news/final-shoot-out-1853212.html

http://dynamic.rte.ie/av/230-2587961-320-180.smil

http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/kevin-myers/creatures-of-the-night-that–explode-in-murderous-rage-1849916.html

 

25 pdr last round – Effect

25pdr last round – shot

62 RAR Gun Crew – Last 25 Pdr shoot

62 RAR Gun Crew – Last 25 Pdr shoot – Shot

Big Ol

Cancel at my Command

Chief Of Staff – Tree Planting

Director of Artillery – Comdt Gibson (62 RAR) – Comdt Campion (2 FAR)

Director of Artillery speech

Digger and Stewy

Expend Ammo

Heli 105 approach

heli over camara

heli over stranaheley

John D and the Guinger

Peter O Brien (Kevin Myers in the photo?)

Comdt Sean Reilly (62 RAR)

The guys from Mullingar

you’ll never be a captain sir