Chapter 15: CALIBRATING THE GUNS

When I was an Officer Cadet at Larkhill Royal School of Artillery, I learned how the Eighteen Pounder guns were calibrated and confidently described the procedure to Captain Hansen who had arranged my assignment to "C" Battery.

When the Battery Commander, Major W.B. Mackay, directed me to organize and carry through the calibration of "C" Battery's six Eighteen Pounder guns, I wasn't nearly as confident. These guns were shortly going to fire over our own infantry, and should they be advancing, any "short" rounds due to faulty laying might fall among them causing casualties.