Page 154 - Wish Stream Year of 2018

A masterful profile and geometrical elevation through the ramparts of Vauban’s third system, Feb 1790
component in the manufacturing departments of the arsenal. This was preceded by the longer ‘Theoretical Class’ taught up on the common.
But what of the Cadet author – Robert Lawson? Somewhat disappointingly, little is known about his career, other than that he reached Captain’s rank on 6th April 1802 and was to die that year, on 23rd July, in Woolwich. He does not appear to have had any active service. He was born April 1773 and a Cadet place was allocated to him on 1st October 1787 at the age of 14 years and 6 months. The earliest dated plate in the book is from October 1788. The year’s discrepancy was probably due to his initial residence being taken up with preliminary study in mathematics, drawing and French. Such skills were necessary before progressing to the higher branches of military study. It might be argued that such thor- oughgoing preparation in fortification was super- fluous for Lawson who was to become an artil- lery Officer. However, it was long the policy that artillerists needed to know about the fortresses they would attack. It was this shared point of military education that meant the education of artillery and engineers would be wedded for the
Accoutrements used with the light 6 pounder gun
nineteenth, and into the twentieth, century. Fur- thermore, with the School of Military Engineer- ing not instituted until 1812, the RMA had to be the centre for Ordnance Corps training. Lawson would have benefited from this, consequently long, four-year course, which is evidenced by this interesting surviving manuscript.
This folio of wonderful work is available to view by appointment at the Sandhurst Collection, Old College.
Method used for estimating quantities in the stone/ brick buttresses and facing of a bastion
Geometrical elevation and section of a heavy 24 pounder gun on its travelling carriage
152 HISTORICAL