Field Gun
Teamwork, Determination and Tradition
Field Gun is one of the most demanding and rewarding activities available within the Volunteer Cadet Corps. Inspired by the Royal Navy’s historic Field Gun competitions, cadets work together to manoeuvre equipment across a challenging course, overcoming obstacles while racing against the clock.
Success in Field Gun relies on teamwork, communication, discipline and physical fitness. Every member of the team plays a vital role, learning to trust and support one another while striving towards a common goal. Through training and competition, cadets develop resilience, confidence and determination, embodying the values that underpin the Volunteer Cadet Corps.
Whether competing at VCC events or simply enjoying the challenge of training, Field Gun provides an exciting opportunity to build friendships and experience the power of teamwork in action.
Preserving History Through Teamwork, Strength and Determination
To understand Field Gun, we must travel back to the Natal Province of South Africa during the Second Boer War. It is February 1900 and the town of Ladysmith has endured a gruelling siege lasting 119 days. Surrounded by Boer forces, with food and clean water running short, the situation for those trapped inside the town appears increasingly desperate.
Relief eventually came through the determination of British forces and the ingenuity of the Royal Navy. Sailors from HMS Powerful and HMS Terrible removed heavy naval guns from their ships and mounted them on specially designed field carriages. These powerful weapons were transported hundreds of miles inland by rail, oxen and, in some cases, by sailors themselves across some of the most challenging terrain in South Africa. Stories from the campaign recount sailors carrying a gun for more than two miles after its wheels had broken, demonstrating remarkable resilience and determination.
The arrival of these guns played a significant role in the relief of Ladysmith and became one of the most celebrated actions in Royal Navy history. Upon returning to Britain, the sailors of the Naval Brigade paraded their guns through London and began demonstrating their achievements at military tournaments. Over time, these displays evolved into the Royal Navy Field Gun Competition, which remained a popular and fiercely contested event for more than a century.
Today, the Volunteer Cadet Corps proudly continues this tradition. Each year, cadets from across the Corps train and compete in Field Gun events, preserving the heritage, spirit and teamwork of those original Naval Brigade sailors.
