The Limber Gunner
In the days of the horse, the limber was a two-wheeled vehicle interposed between team and carriage in order to give the combination flexibilty and therefore tactical mobility.
A box on the limber carried ready-use ammunition, tools, cleaning gear, and carbines. While on the move two Gunners sat on the box; they were responsible for the limber and the stores, for 'unlimbering' the gun when coming into action, and 'limbering up' when preparing to move. In the course of time they became known as 'Limber Gunners'.
With mechanisation, the limber became unnecessary, but a conservative Regiment retained a pneumatic-tyred version for a number of years. For some peculiar reason it was renamed 'trailer'.
Increased speeds with modern gun towers made travelling on the trailer dangerous (especially with some drivers!), but Limber Gunners reamined. A Limber Gunner is now one skilled in the basics of the Gunners' trade, more especially in the care and maintenance of his equipment and its ammunition. WL Ruffell
The Limber | Limber Shafts | History page | Old Comrades' home | Wally Ruffell
