NEWS

The Royal Artillery, Woolwich: A Celebration launched

20th November 2008

The Royal Artillery, Woolwich: A Celebration commemorates over 290 years of association between the Royal Artillery and the town of Woolwich, in a new richly illustrated colour volume.

Under the guidance of Brigadier Ken Timbers, this beautifully produced 192 page hardback book tells the story of how the Gunners first came to Woolwich in 1716 and how the regiment grew from some 200 men to a corps that consisted of nearly a million men under arms during the Second World War.

Very much a celebration, rather than a history, The Royal Artillery, Woolwich: A Celebration, includes some wonderful anecdotes and memories and along the way covers the fascinating story of its many parts – life in the garrison, its barracks, messes, its famous church, distinguished Gunners and inventions, the evolution of the Royal Artillery Museum and the Regiment’s final farewell in 2007 from Woolwich to Larkhill on Salisbury Plain.

The reign of Queen Victoria saw the zenith of Woolwich and the Royal Artillery Mess, as well as the beginning of the decline in their status. During the first half of her reign ‘there was scarcely a crowned sovereign or person of high distinction in Europe who had not been entertained at The Mess, which was renowned for its wealth and grandeur and princely hospitality.’ However life in the RA Mess was not all serious! A number of stories from this period have gone down in Royal Artillery history. One in particular features the visit to Woolwich by Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Circus, which was immensely popular – so much so that the subalterns of the Regiment invited the ‘cowgirls’ back to the Mess for dinner. This was held in the West dining room, which had a superb circular table on which the girls danced after supper! The result was a number of deep scratches made by the spurs in their boots in the surface of the table, which have never been polished out.

The stories of Gunner children also feature in the book. George Goulette, whose father was posted to Shrapnel Barracks in the 1920s, recalls: “As a small boy, I remember especially the Christmas parties that used to be held at the Ballroom in the RA Barracks for all children of the garrison, complete with a Father Christmas and some wonderful presents! The two that spring to mind, were an air rifle and a splendid cuckoo clock –the latter because I took it apart to see how it worked and couldn’t put it back together again.”

Today, with its new home in Larkhill, the Royal Artillery is made up of 7,000 troops and has been involved in every Army deployment since the end of the ‘Cold War’. The Regiment is currently very active in the Falkland Islands, Iraq and Afghanistan, with a number of Gunners deployed more widely still. At the same time, additional tasks such as Ceremonial Duty at Buckingham Place, St James’s Place and the Tower of London, continue to be undertaken with great pride by the Regiment.

In his introduction to the book, The Master Gunner, General Sir Timothy Granville-Chapman says: “So-called ‘Coffee Table Books’ abound these days ….But it would be wrong to categorize ‘A Celebration’ in this way – the picture it paints through shrewd assembly of images and the tale it tells in a very fresh way mark it out from the crowd. There are some charming anecdotes too. This is a book to be savoured …..”

Copies of The Royal Artillery, Woolwich: A Celebration, are available direct from Third Millennium Publishing - click here for details - or can be ordered through local booksellers.

-ENDS-

NOTES TO EDITORS

Imprint: Third Millennium Publishing, London

Consultant Editor: Brigadier Ken Timbers, who served four tours of duty in Woolwich and was Historical Secretary of the RAI for 11 years.

Publication date: 20th November 2008 / RRP: £45 / ISBN: 978 1 903 942 73 4

Specification: Hardback, 192 pages, 305 x 250 mm, over 200 illustrations

The Publisher:
Third Millennium Publishing specialises in publishing and design for the art, heritage and military markets and is currently working on a number of book projects with leading schools, Oxbridge colleges, universities, cathedrals, regiments, and museums and galleries in the UK and USA. Recent and forthcoming titles include The University of Cambridge: an 800th Anniversary Portrait, Wellington College: The First 150 Years, and York Minster: A Living Legacy. Other military titles include Sandhurst: A Tradition of Leadership, The Royal Hospital Chelsea: The Place and the People, Swift and Bold: A Portrait of the Royal Green Jackets, Excellence in Action: A Portrait of the Guards, Cavalry & Guards: A London Home and the AMOT guidebook entitled Military Museums in the UK.

For further information contact Michael D Jackson, Marketing Manager, Third Millennium Information Ltd, 2-5 Benjamin St, EC1M 5QL. Tel: +44 (0)207 336 0144. Email: mj@tmiltd.com. Website: www.tmiltd.com