Gunner at Large: The Diary of James Wood R. A. 1746 1765

The Royal Regiment of Artillery was founded in 1716, and Woolwich Academy became the first place of military learning in Britain in 1741. James Wood was one of the first cadets trained at Woolwich and served successfully as a Volunteer, Mattross, Cadet, Cadet Gunner, and Fireworker in France, the Low Countries, Scotland, and India between 1746 and 1765. His plain written factual diary described the day-to-day routine for a junior rank in the field train of the army. Rex Whitworth has been able to place Wood's basic story in the contemporary military scene and fill out the record of the professional British field gunner during this period, when the army fought the most successful war of our history on a worldwide canvas.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 196 pages
Publication date: 30 October 2021
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

Military histories have recently focused on the British Army in the mid-18th century, when, but for the dedication of the House of Hanover, a professional standing army might never have developed in a country devoid of home frontiers. In 1716, the Royal Regiment of Artillery was founded. In 1741, Woolwich Academy became the first place of military learning in Britain, and in 1744, a cadet company was established. James Wood was one of the first cadets trained at Woolwich and served successfully as a Volunteer, Mattross, Cadet, Cadet Gunner, and Fireworker in France, the Low Countries, Scotland, and for nearly 10 years in India between 1746 and 1765. His plain written factual diary described in a professional manner the day-to-day routine for a junior rank in the field train of the army. During the formative years of the Regiment, professional efficiency markedly improved. Although Fortescue made this point strongly in his history of the British Army, little evidence is produced to sustain the judgment. In editing James Wood's diary, Rex Whitworth, from his knowledge of the period, has been able to place Wood's basic story in the contemporary military scene and so fill out the record of the professional British field gunner. This was a period when the army, in close co-operation with the Navy, fought the most successful war of our history on a worldwide canvas. The hazards of maritime operations in the days of sail are fully brought out by Wood, and he sheds new light on the earliest activities of the King's troops in India. Any readers of Wood's fascinating diary with a modest knowledge of the times will fully agree with Dalrymple in his Military essay of 1761 that of all the various branches of our profession none hath made greater progress in it than the Royal Artiller.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399016056