It soon became clear that royalist supporters - members of The Royal Horse Artillery wearing incorrect period fancy dress - had dragged WWI 13-pounder field guns into the open parkland and fired the guns in a 41 Gun Salute to commemorate Elizabeth II accession to the throne in 1952.
Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha Royals (aka Mountbatten-Windsor) 1952.
(Due to Anti-German Sentiment - GeorgeV Changed The Name During WWI)
In an effort to upstage that 41 gun salute - members of the Honourable Artillery Company later fired a 62 Gun Royal Salute from Gun Wharf at The Tower of London - 21 extra - to demonstrate the citizens of The City Of London's loyalty to the Monarch.
A 'Basic' Royal Salute is 21 guns - plus 20 guns because it is fired in a Royal Park. It is known as a "Salute" because it is said to demonstrate 'friendly intent' by emptying the guns - as does the hand salute that shows ones hand is empty of any weapon.
Six Horse Gun Team Galloping Into Action
The rapid firing mobile field guns were designed to support Cavalry and have 5"8" long bores firing a 3" shell with a range of 5,400 metres at a velocity of 1,675 ft. per sec.
The 13 pounder was soon found to be ineffective against WWI prepared defensive positions and was widely replaced with 18 pounders and 4.5" howitzers.
- At this time there were no reports of damage - which confirms that the field guns who's use is not currently prevented by British gun law - were firing blanks.
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- Queen Victoria had been strictly raised by her German born mother Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld.
Marty K.
P.S. A Proud Tradition of Shooting by Generations of Teutonic Royalty:
The Queen Mother (Elizabeth).
Elizabeth II - Queen of New Zealand.
Prince Charles.
Prince William
Harry.
Armed and dangerous royals,
M.K.
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