300th anniversary for Royal Artillery (+ video)

Photo by Stephen Jaquiery
Photo by Stephen Jaquiery

Cannon-fire echoed across Dunedin city early yesterday but the firing was ceremonial and not in anger.

Members of the 31B Battery 3rd Field Regiment (above) fire a 25-pound Howitzer at dawn near Lawyers Head as part of the Royal Artillery's 300th anniversary yesterday.

About 30 people gathered on John Wilson Ocean Dr to recognise the dawn of the anniversary with a three-shot salute, one for each century.

The salute was part of worldwide events including in New Zealand where dawn salutes took place in a "ripple'' effect from Napier to Dunedin and included Auckland, Hamilton, Waiouru, Linton, Levin and Wellington.

31B Battery Royal New Zealand Artillery 3rd Field Regiment battery guide Robbie Gardiner said the ceremony went "as good as gold''.

"The setting was just fantastic.

"It is quite an amazing event,'' Mr Gardiner said.

The 31B Battery recognised Otago and Southland men who served in various wars with a ceremony every year on May 26 and this year it coincided with the 300th anniversary, he said.

Rounds were fired in Dunedin about 8.01am from a 25-pound Howitzer built in 1942, Mr Gardiner said.

The Queen, as Captain-General of the Royal Artillery, would take part in an event at Salisbury Plain in southern England where the Royal New Zealand Artillery Regiment, the New Zealand Defence Force and the Royal New Zealand Artillery Association would be represented.

Mr Gardiner called the Salisbury event "huge'' and said for the Queen to attend was a "major achievement''.

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