hey were
badly wanted all the time. These limbers were very well made and very
excellent, fitted to carry forty rounds complete of 12-pounder Q.-F.
ammunition which was invariably found by us as sufficient, as a first
or ready supply, giving eighty rounds to a pair of guns. More could,
however, have been carried if necessary, up to sixty rounds complete
on each limber; these limbers were strong, with very good wheels and
broad tyres (a great contrast to the wretched little gun wheels we had
to get along with at one time) and on them there was room also for
gun's crew's great-coats, leather gear, gun telescopes, and other
impedimenta, which was most convenient.

One fault in them, I think, might be corrected if again required;
_i.e._, the platform or floor of the limber instead of being built
only on the forepart of the axle should extend also behind or on rear
side of the axle; by this means the Q.-F. boxes of ammunition may be
distributed to balance the weight equally on each side of the axle,
and so bring the least weight possible on the necks of the oxen or
other draught animals drawing the limber and gun along. This, in a
hilly country, is important.

I would here note that when on the march with guns under any
conditions, one's men should always be allowed to march light,
slinging their rifles on the gun muzzles and putting leather gear with
S.A. ammunition, water bottles and days' provisions handy on top of
the limbers. The carrying of any of these things only exhausts the
men for no object, and when one remembers what heavy work they may
have to do on the march at any moment--bringing guns into action,
rapid firing and running out the guns, digging pits and trenches,
off-loading and loading the Q.-F. ammunition, and keeping up a supply
which in South Africa at any rate may be at the bottom of a steep
kopje with the gun at the top--one recognises the great advantage
gained in giving the men as much latitude as possible, and bringing
them into action after a march comparatively fresh. For these reasons
I would advocate that a gun limber should be made for any service gun,
with the object of allowing a certain amount of extra room for the
gun's crew's gear and stores.

In respect to range finding, the mekometer (range finder) as supplied
to the Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Artillery and also to every
company in a regiment (and which therefore was easy to borrow during
the campaign), proved most useful to us i