With the Naval Brigade in Natal, 1899-1900: Journal of Active ServiceBurne, C. R. N. (Charles Richard Newdigate)
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With the Naval Brigade in Natal, 1899-1900: Journal of Active Service
Burne, C. R. N. (Charles Richard Newdigate)
South African War, 1899-1902
One fault in them, I think, might be corrected if again required;
_i.e._, the platform or floor of the limber instead of being built
only on the forepart of the axle should extend also behind or on rear
side of the axle; by this means the Q.-F. boxes of ammunition may be
distributed to balance the weight equally on each side of the axle,
and so bring the least weight possible on the necks of the oxen or
other draught animals drawing the limber and gun along. This, in a
hilly country, is important.
I would here note that when on the march with guns under any
conditions, one's men should always be allowed to march light,
slinging their rifles on the gun muzzles and putting leather gear with
S.A. ammunition, water bottles and days' provisions handy on top of
the limbers. The carrying of any of these things only exhausts the
men for no object, and when one remembers what heavy work they may
have to do on the march at any moment--bringing guns into action,
rapid firing and running out the guns, digging pits and trenches,
off-loading and loading the Q.-F. ammunition, and keeping up a supply
which in South Africa at any rate may be at the bottom of a steep
kopje with the gun at the top--one recognises the great advantage
gained in giving the men as much latitude as possible, and bringing
them into action after a march comparatively fresh. For these reasons
I would advocate that a gun limber should be made for any service gun,
with the object of allowing a certain amount of extra room for the
gun's crew's gear and stores.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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