July 30th saw the final shoot of the Royal Ordnance 25pdr from front line service. The field gun has given the Defence Forces 60 years valued service in both Permanent and Reserve artillery units.
The 25pdr became famous during the Second World War seeing service with many allied armies. The Defence Forces took delivery of 48 25pdr’s in 1949. One of the guns is said to have fought in the battle of El Alamein in 1942. Twelve guns will be kept for ceremonial duties while the rest will be highly sought after by museums and artillery enthusiasts from both at home and abroad.
The 25pdr was sent off with a bang by members of the Artillery Corps in the Glen of Imaal. A 105 mm Light Gun and crew were flown in by the Air Corps which then fired a ten round salute. This was then followed by a six gun battery of 25pdrs, with crews representing all units in the Artillery Corps, opening up with everything they had giving the Glen one last taste of 25pd High Explosive. The very last shot was fired by Colonel Ray Quinn, the current Director of Artillery.