The tall chap in the middle is my father's younger brother, Don O'Donnell. Don was the bombardier on this Sexton 25pdr of 431 Battery 147RHA Essex Yeomanry.
On 6 June 1944, he and his crew landed this gun, 'Dunmow' on Gold Beach, Normandy to liberate Europe from fascism.
Like almost ...
On 6 June 1944, he and his crew landed this gun, 'Dunmow' on Gold Beach, Normandy to liberate Europe from fascism.
Like almost ...
June 6, 2026 at 12:30 PM
The tall chap in the middle is my father's younger brother, Don O'Donnell. Don was the bombardier on this Sexton 25pdr of 431 Battery 147RHA Essex Yeomanry.
On 6 June 1944, he and his crew landed this gun, 'Dunmow' on Gold Beach, Normandy to liberate Europe from fascism.
Like almost ...
On 6 June 1944, he and his crew landed this gun, 'Dunmow' on Gold Beach, Normandy to liberate Europe from fascism.
Like almost ...
Waking up to a pot of tea and a selfie with a very, very clean 25pdr. I'll try and think about something to say about last night's private panel discussion, but I'll need more tea first.
December 4, 2024 at 10:00 AM
Waking up to a pot of tea and a selfie with a very, very clean 25pdr. I'll try and think about something to say about last night's private panel discussion, but I'll need more tea first.
The same Hargest who saw a tank armed with a 25pdr and a Besa?
March 11, 2025 at 1:26 PM
The same Hargest who saw a tank armed with a 25pdr and a Besa?
Thats a 25pdr without a muzzle break… hmmmm time to start digging
#OTD in 1944. A 25-pounder from 83/85 Battery 11 Field Regiment in a waterlogged position near Scorticate, Italy. #WW2 #HISTORY
October 3, 2023 at 7:32 AM
Thats a 25pdr without a muzzle break… hmmmm time to start digging
On this day:
The Regiment is on the move again.
#familyhistory #royalartillery #ww2history #ww2 #25pdr #231brigade #50division #guardsarmoured #sexton #GAD #marketgarden #opmarketgarden
The Regiment is on the move again.
#familyhistory #royalartillery #ww2history #ww2 #25pdr #231brigade #50division #guardsarmoured #sexton #GAD #marketgarden #opmarketgarden
September 27, 2025 at 3:27 PM
On this day:
The Regiment is on the move again.
#familyhistory #royalartillery #ww2history #ww2 #25pdr #231brigade #50division #guardsarmoured #sexton #GAD #marketgarden #opmarketgarden
The Regiment is on the move again.
#familyhistory #royalartillery #ww2history #ww2 #25pdr #231brigade #50division #guardsarmoured #sexton #GAD #marketgarden #opmarketgarden
Next up will be one of the new Battlefront plastic platoons, along with the crews for a PSC 18/25pdr battery.
March 1, 2026 at 7:33 PM
Next up will be one of the new Battlefront plastic platoons, along with the crews for a PSC 18/25pdr battery.
A bit Unusual #TankTuesday the Australians converted some M3 Grants to 25pdr SPG's. Vid about 7mins
youtu.be/ztnrtgmpzNc?...
youtu.be/ztnrtgmpzNc?...
March 26, 2024 at 6:24 PM
A bit Unusual #TankTuesday the Australians converted some M3 Grants to 25pdr SPG's. Vid about 7mins
youtu.be/ztnrtgmpzNc?...
youtu.be/ztnrtgmpzNc?...
Finally completed the ANZAC infantry for the 9th Australian rifles. Total refurb from my original Flames of War army i first collected. Next up is seemingly a million 25pdr, bofors and HMG's!
#wargaming
#ANZAC
#WW2
#wargaming
#ANZAC
#WW2
July 5, 2024 at 12:11 PM
Finally completed the ANZAC infantry for the 9th Australian rifles. Total refurb from my original Flames of War army i first collected. Next up is seemingly a million 25pdr, bofors and HMG's!
#wargaming
#ANZAC
#WW2
#wargaming
#ANZAC
#WW2
I’m no @redfivemodels.bsky.social … but then 1/76ths is a lot smaller than 1/6th.
Airfix 25pdr field gun with Morris C8 (Quad) Tractor (forerunner of the Hummer if ever I saw one!) and limber.
Stowage bits from ReDog. Strelets figure. (More figures to follow)
Airfix 25pdr field gun with Morris C8 (Quad) Tractor (forerunner of the Hummer if ever I saw one!) and limber.
Stowage bits from ReDog. Strelets figure. (More figures to follow)
July 27, 2025 at 7:50 PM
I’m no @redfivemodels.bsky.social … but then 1/76ths is a lot smaller than 1/6th.
Airfix 25pdr field gun with Morris C8 (Quad) Tractor (forerunner of the Hummer if ever I saw one!) and limber.
Stowage bits from ReDog. Strelets figure. (More figures to follow)
Airfix 25pdr field gun with Morris C8 (Quad) Tractor (forerunner of the Hummer if ever I saw one!) and limber.
Stowage bits from ReDog. Strelets figure. (More figures to follow)
Hargest criticised a British tank crew for timidity in not opening fire on a Tiger, despite being equipped with a 25pdr and a Besa
Of course, no such tank or AFV was thus equipped
Of course, no such tank or AFV was thus equipped
March 11, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Hargest criticised a British tank crew for timidity in not opening fire on a Tiger, despite being equipped with a 25pdr and a Besa
Of course, no such tank or AFV was thus equipped
Of course, no such tank or AFV was thus equipped
Couple of smashing games of desert action tonight I. The barn. First against @leeparnell.bsky.social in a swirling melee of a game that saw some great fortune for me in a race to dig Lee off the objective as his prime force did the same back!
A turn of fortune sealed the win.
#wargaming #ww2
A turn of fortune sealed the win.
#wargaming #ww2
August 15, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Couple of smashing games of desert action tonight I. The barn. First against @leeparnell.bsky.social in a swirling melee of a game that saw some great fortune for me in a race to dig Lee off the objective as his prime force did the same back!
A turn of fortune sealed the win.
#wargaming #ww2
A turn of fortune sealed the win.
#wargaming #ww2
Four 25pdr for the Italy Theatre all finished. Classic models from Battlefront with oodles of character on their pre formed bases.
#wargaming
#toysoldiers
#wargaming
#toysoldiers
August 21, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Four 25pdr for the Italy Theatre all finished. Classic models from Battlefront with oodles of character on their pre formed bases.
#wargaming
#toysoldiers
#wargaming
#toysoldiers
The final Greek squad failed their order test and looked doomed. However, a devastating 25pdr artillery strike destroyed the final Turkish squad. The Greeks hold on to Buffavento Castle. In the actual battle they did repulse the first attack but the castle fell on the next day.
July 21, 2024 at 2:53 PM
The final Greek squad failed their order test and looked doomed. However, a devastating 25pdr artillery strike destroyed the final Turkish squad. The Greeks hold on to Buffavento Castle. In the actual battle they did repulse the first attack but the castle fell on the next day.
It being 6th June, here's uncle Don, dad's younger brother. He's the tall chap in the middle. Behind him is 'Dunmow' a Sexton 25pdr of 431 Battery 147th RHA Essex Yeomanry.
They landed on Gold Beach 81 years ago to liberate Europe from fascism.
This was not, as Trump claimed "a bad day".
They landed on Gold Beach 81 years ago to liberate Europe from fascism.
This was not, as Trump claimed "a bad day".
June 6, 2025 at 9:47 AM
It being 6th June, here's uncle Don, dad's younger brother. He's the tall chap in the middle. Behind him is 'Dunmow' a Sexton 25pdr of 431 Battery 147th RHA Essex Yeomanry.
They landed on Gold Beach 81 years ago to liberate Europe from fascism.
This was not, as Trump claimed "a bad day".
They landed on Gold Beach 81 years ago to liberate Europe from fascism.
This was not, as Trump claimed "a bad day".
Operation Husky:
#familyhistory #royalartillery #ww2history #ww2 #Sicily #25pdr #sicilia #168brigade #50division
#familyhistory #royalartillery #ww2history #ww2 #Sicily #25pdr #sicilia #168brigade #50division
July 10, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Operation Husky:
#familyhistory #royalartillery #ww2history #ww2 #Sicily #25pdr #sicilia #168brigade #50division
#familyhistory #royalartillery #ww2history #ww2 #Sicily #25pdr #sicilia #168brigade #50division
My father used that great combination with the RHA in WW2, until they converted to the 25pdr Sexton just after D-Day. He had a long war. 1939 to 1946. Long gone now.
January 19, 2025 at 1:58 PM
My father used that great combination with the RHA in WW2, until they converted to the 25pdr Sexton just after D-Day. He had a long war. 1939 to 1946. Long gone now.
#25pdr #nostalgia #familyhistory #veteran #royalartillery #ww2history #ww2 #TheDDayStory #gunnerstalk #abbreviations #armyspeak #talklikeagunner
February 6, 2025 at 9:26 PM
#nostalgia #familyhistory #veteran #royalartillery #ww2history #ww2 #wargames #Sicily #armyspeak #talklikeagunner #detachment #guncrew #25pdr #gunnerstalk
March 16, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Read a book recently that was describing German prisoners reactions to British artillery particularly the 25 pdr they genuinely believed that it was an auto loader due to the speed of firing and couldn’t believe that it was manually loaded. Agree on the 88 but the 25pdr arty stonk dealt with it !
August 10, 2026 at 6:19 AM
Read a book recently that was describing German prisoners reactions to British artillery particularly the 25 pdr they genuinely believed that it was an auto loader due to the speed of firing and couldn’t believe that it was manually loaded. Agree on the 88 but the 25pdr arty stonk dealt with it !
There used to be (it may have ceased due to security worries or the cost involved) "Artillery Day" at Larkhill, and this included firepower demonstrations with live ammunition, including a competition between the University OTC units with 25pdr guns firing H.E. ammunition. I got to see it years ago.
June 13, 2025 at 3:17 PM
There used to be (it may have ceased due to security worries or the cost involved) "Artillery Day" at Larkhill, and this included firepower demonstrations with live ammunition, including a competition between the University OTC units with 25pdr guns firing H.E. ammunition. I got to see it years ago.
Were those tranquilliser darts fired from the 25pdr gun that now sit atop the cliff at Dunbar?
December 4, 2024 at 8:43 AM
Were those tranquilliser darts fired from the 25pdr gun that now sit atop the cliff at Dunbar?
I cannot believe I missed the opportunity to pun here.
Best I can do is show the clergy lighting the way to prayer
Best I can do is show the clergy lighting the way to prayer
January 23, 2025 at 3:15 PM
I cannot believe I missed the opportunity to pun here.
Best I can do is show the clergy lighting the way to prayer
Best I can do is show the clergy lighting the way to prayer
On this day:
B Echelon finally catches up.
#familyhistory #royalartillery #ww2history #ww2 #25pdr #231brigade #50division #guardsarmoured #sexton #GAD #marketgarden #opmarketgarden
B Echelon finally catches up.
#familyhistory #royalartillery #ww2history #ww2 #25pdr #231brigade #50division #guardsarmoured #sexton #GAD #marketgarden #opmarketgarden
September 26, 2025 at 5:58 PM
On this day:
B Echelon finally catches up.
#familyhistory #royalartillery #ww2history #ww2 #25pdr #231brigade #50division #guardsarmoured #sexton #GAD #marketgarden #opmarketgarden
B Echelon finally catches up.
#familyhistory #royalartillery #ww2history #ww2 #25pdr #231brigade #50division #guardsarmoured #sexton #GAD #marketgarden #opmarketgarden
The opening turn saw Mike advance, but causing little trouble beyond killing two stands from my Rifle Platoon. My first turn saw the 25pdr kill one Italian 88 (,putting his platoon out of command) and my Sherman ambush completely miss the M14 in front of them.
2/
2/
September 23, 2023 at 9:44 PM
The opening turn saw Mike advance, but causing little trouble beyond killing two stands from my Rifle Platoon. My first turn saw the 25pdr kill one Italian 88 (,putting his platoon out of command) and my Sherman ambush completely miss the M14 in front of them.
2/
2/
The legendary 25-pdr field gun. Incredibly versatile light artillery used across all theatres.
July 22, 2025 at 3:22 PM
The legendary 25-pdr field gun. Incredibly versatile light artillery used across all theatres.