Page 127 - Wish Stream Year of 2016

A detail of the ‘Liberté’ slogan engraved on the chase of
the French 12 pounder
certainly show them in the 1880s – recognisable by the unmistakeable handles or ‘dolphins’ on the upper side. Therefore, with at least over 140 years continuous exposure to the elements, the woodwork of these carriages is, unsurprisingly, not original. Indeed reference can be found in the correspondence of the RMC about the deterio- rating state of the guns and the need to have them refurbished. This was generally done at the Royal Carriage Department of the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, from where they were taken on the Basingstoke canal.
Production
Bore:
Weight:
Length:
Additional markings:
Range of Projectile:
Production
Bore:
Weight:
Additional markings:
Range of Projectile:
A mid-18th century French 12 pounder gun, re-proofed by the French republic. Temporarily positioned nearer Old College HQ due to scaffolding works
Thury et Gaudelet a Paris an Trois 121 mm
865 kg (1908 lb)
2090 mm
‘1750’ date on left trunnion ‘Liberté’, ‘Égalité’ on chase
Ball: 900-1,000 m Grapeshot: 500-700 m Canister: 500 m
T Berenger Douai, 1813 96 mm
383 kg (844 lb)
7-2-0
‘La Reunion’ on chase
Louis XV cipher (reversed L surmounted by crown) on breech
Ball: 800-900 m Grapeshot: 400-600 m Canister: 400 m
12 Pounder Gun
(Currently East side of Old College)
12 Pounder Gun
(Currently West side of Old College)
6 Pounder Gun
(Outside 44 Transport Sqn Lines)
Foundry Inscription:
Bore:
Weight:
Length:
Additional markings:
Range of Projectile:
Arsenal de Paris, Brezin. 2nd Year of the Republic
121 mm
865 kg (1908 lb) 2090 mm
English weight mark ‘17-0-4’* ‘1769’ date on left trunnion ‘Liberté’, ‘Égalité’ on chase
Ball: 900-1,000 m Grapeshot: 500-700 m Canister: 500 m
* Weight is normally shown on British guns as three gures – hundredweight (cwt), quarters (qr) and pounds (lb). A cwt is 112 lb, a quarter 28 lb. 20 cwt made an Imperial ton.
British 6 Pounder Smooth Bore
Muzzle Loading (SBML) Guns
The remaining central four guns on the Old College parade ground are British 6 pounders. These are reputed to have been used at Water-
HISTORICAL 125