This photograph shows gun teams of the Royal Horse Artillery going into action. The 13 pounder field gun is pulled by a team of three pairs of horses, with one rider to each pair. An officer rides in front. Another team appears to be coming behind.
Before the war, it was envisaged that the RHA would gallop into action and fire at the enemy ‘over open sights’ (i.e. actually being able to see their targets). After the early months of the war, they were unable to fulfil this role again until the advances of 1918.
Uniform details suggest this photograph was taken after March 1918.
Original reads: ‘OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN ON THE BRITISH WESTERN FRONT IN FRANCE. R.H.A. going into action at the gallop.’
Original URL: http://digital.nls.uk/first-world-war-official-photographs/pageturner.cfm?id=74547712
Resource Type : image
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