These, improvised to provide some sort of answer to the Boer "Long Toms", were used in the seizure of German South West Africa. I do have some data on them - is anyone interested in me working it up to add to the artillery articles? Similarly, the 10 pdr and 2.75" mountain guns played a role in the campaigns in German East Africa. There's a fair bit of work to do, and I don't want to waste time on it if the members think these were too minor to add anything of use or interest to the archives.
My great grandad was in a 10 pounder battery in WW1 at Gallopoli so I'm definitely interested in those, and his unit, but probably not him, later had 2.75 inch guns. I have a number of photos of a preserved 2.75 inch mountain gun and I'll see it again next week if photos are of interest
It's unlikely that the 4,7" QF guns used in the Boer War were used in the investiture of German South-West Africa as these were naval artillery.
The use of naval artillery during that war was organised by Capt Scott of HMS Terrible.
The significant naval guns from 6 ships used were: 12pr 8 cwt or "short 12"; the 12pr 12 cwt or "long 12"; and the 4,7" 2 ton 2 cwt guns. In addition, 6" RN guns were also mounted, first on extemporised carriages, but then onto rail carriages because of their weight. These two guns came from the RN Dockyard at Simon's Town and not from the ships at anchor. As the 4,7" gun naval guns were fired from fixed mountings, Capt Scott organised a wooden extemporised carriage for transport and firing, while others had a wooden cruciform mounting for use in a static firing position.
The one part of the Naval Brigade went from Cape Town to Durban by sea and then on to Ladysmith, arriving there just before the siege became effective: it was their amazing dash to Ladysmith that was later commemorated in the "Gun Run" at the Royal Tournament with the short 12s. The naval guns actually sent to Ladysmith were: 2-4,7"; 3-Long 12s; 1-short 12; and 4-maxims.
The other part advanced up the railway line from Cape Town towards Kimberley and then on to Bloemfontein - hence the name "Naval Hill" for the long hill down the one side of Bloemfontein where the Naval Brigade's guns were sited.
Towards the end of the first phase of the war (conventional warfare) naval detachments were replaced by Royal Garrison Artillery staff, and many of the guns were reloaded on to the ships. HMS Terrible went on to China to help suppress the Boxer Rebellion, where the same guns were off loaded and again put on extemporised carriages.
The main artillery pieces used in the SWA Campaign were: 6pr, 13pr, 4" (?) or 15pr guns i.e. army artillery, not naval. There was also one 15pr which had been converted to an AA role (skinny Liz). However, mention is made of the 4,7" guns firing at attacking German aircraft!!!!!
The 4,7"s used in South Africa would not have been on the Percy Scott wooden carriage, as after the Boer War, the Royal Carriage Department designed a better-engineered carriage for the gun used later on during WWI as field artillery. It is therefore likely that the 4,7"s used in SWA were of the latter type and completely different pieces. However, both designs had somethings in common - they were both extremely heavy and cumbersome and both were loathed by their crews!
