Sir Thomas Glemham's Artillery Company

"Artillery adds dignity to what would otherwise be a vulgar brawl" - Frederick II of Prussia

We have three cannons at the moment.

The largest of the three is named King's Wrath, this cannon has a bore of two and a half inches and is one of the larger guns in the regiment and the society. Its type is known as a Falconet. It fires a six ounce charge of black powder and is compacted with grass wad. It takes a crew of six people to run the gun during the battles we re-enact.

The second cannon is a Robinet called Queen's Scorn, she has a bore of two inches and fires a charge of four ounces of black powder. She needs a crew of five people. This year is her first and I have looked forward to seeing her perform on the battlefield, after she had undergone many tests so that she could be fired in front of the public.

Our other cannon is called Stumpie, it has a bore of one and seven eighths of an inch. It fires a one ounce charge and is used at small events mainly. This cannon needs a crew of four people and can be moved at speed around the battlefield, Its type are known as Gallopers or Battalier pieces.

Team work is important as each crew person must do his or her job correctly or the cannon will notfire. The crew are commanded by a Gun Captain, he or she has been trained and tested and holds a certifcate of competence from the Sealed Knot. The cannons are fired in groups of three or four, these are known as batteries and they can fire individually or together. The Gun Captains take their orders from the Battery Commander who has an overall view of the battle, and knows where the best site is for their battery. The cannon belch out fire and smoke and the audience love to see and hear them. There is a thrilling aspect to artillery work - the adrenalin stirs and much satisfaction is gained from a well run cannon.

Working the cannon

Each member of the crew has a job to do, these must be done correctly or the gun cannot be reloaded.

Each new member has to undergo some training before being allowed to crew on the battlefield. The Gun Captain gives the orders and loading then takes place, one step at a time!

The Orders

Search your piece. The breach is searched for burning debris using a pole with a corkscrew type end.

Wet mop your piece. A pole with a wet sheep skin mopped end is pushed down the barrel to extinguish any burning embers.

Dry mop your piece. A pole with a dry sheepskin mopped end is pushed down the barrel to dry out any water.

Vent your piece. At this stage the primer puts his or her thumb over the touch hole to stop sparks getting down the touch hole.

Put up your powder. A pre-bagged measured charge is placed into the barrel.

Push home your powder. Using a ram rod, the charge is pushed into the breach of the gun.

Push home your wad. The wad of grass is placed into the end of the barrel.

Ram your piece. The rammer then compacts the grass using the ram rod in a thrusting motion four or five times.

Prick your touch. The primer, using a non-ferous brass skewer, airates the powder from the bottom of the touch hole.

Prime your touch. The primer fills the touch hole with the loose powder from a powder flask or horn.

Cover your touch. The primer covers the touch till the cannon can be fired.

The Gun Captain shouts "Have a care" to warn others he is about to fire the piece. If it is safe, the Gun Captain fires the cannon using a linstock or field staff. This is a pole with a slow burning match cord attached to it, if it is safe he touches the burning cord into the powder in the touch hole, this fires the cannon.

Match cord is a natural rope soaked in a solution of saltpetre and warm water, it is left to dry out totally before use, the longer the rope is left in the solution the quicker it burns.
We are always looking for gun crews and people who want to become Gun Captains.

Battery Commander
David Murry-Fenwick