HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARTILLERY Vol 1 INDIAN MUTINY-GREAT WAR

Volume 1 deals with the development of the Royal Regiment of Artillery over a period of forty years. The artillery which fought in the Crimea and the Indian Mutiny was little changed from that which emerged from the Peninsular War. Its guns were still smooth bores, and its organisation and tactics were suited to its armament: but changes were coming rapidly with the advent of rifled guns, and in 1860 the Royal Artillery received the "Armstrong" rifled guns. The first year of the period covered in this volume saw the establishment of the School of Gunnery at Shoeburyness, and the decision to amalgamate the Artilleries of the Three Presidencies in India with the Royal Artillery - the first significant change in organisation. The first of the three parts into which the book is divided deals with organisational changes across the forty years and such matters as pay and conditions of service, the abolition of purchase of commissions, the formation of new brigades, etc. Part 2 deals with armament and charts technical progress: new guns, new ammunition, carriages and mountings and the establishment of an Inspection Branch. The final part is concerned with training under the headings Horse and Field Artillery; Mountain, Heavy and Siege Artillery; and Coast Artillery. In all this the authors keep clear of campaigns and operational matters, reserving them for a separate volume. Appendices contain tables, showing ammunition of Horse and Field Batteries, particulars of Horse and Field Guns, and all natures of guns in the Service. Reprint of the 1931 original edition.