RAA LIAISON LETTER 2025 – 2026 EDITION CANNONBALL SUPPLEMENT 121 It is most fittings that the Downes Gun is used for this purpose as the DRA appointment became the Director of Artillery -Army (DARTY-A) appointment which became today’s HOR appointment (beginning in 1998). This decision will see the Downes Gun travel full circle from initially being acquired by a DRA (Colonel Howard) in the early 1960’s to now being adopted as the symbol of office for the HOR. Acquisition Major MF Downes Presentation Gun I met Colonel Ray Reeves at the opening of the new School of Artillery in Bridges Barracks Puckapunyal in my role as PMC of the Regimental Officers Mess. Colonel Reeves was a long retired Gunner officer who was very keen on the recording and preservation of RAA history. It was in this context that the topic of the Downes Model Gun came to be discussed. It was clearly something that did not sit well with Colonel Reeves. During the same evening I also had the privilege to chat with Major General John Whitelaw a former RCC and legendary donor and advocate for the preservation of Gunner history. The Downes Gun was discussed in our chat in the presence of Colonel Ray Reeves. As a result of these conversations I received a letter from Colonel Reeves dated Monday 23 March 1998 outlining the events, as far as he could recall them, surrounding the discovery, purchase, repair and eventual loss of a brass or bronze trophy gun which the then Director, Royal Artillery (Colonel EJH Howard) had intended to present to the Officers Mess, School of Artillery. Colonel Ray Reeves wrote that he was asked by Colonel Howard to purchase the model gun on his behalf at an at auction in Melbourne. This makes the claim that it was purchased in Adelaide a distraction at best or simply just not the case. Colonel Reeves wrote that after its purchase and repair the Gun never left Melbourne but was acquired from Colonel Howard by what can only be described as less than appropriate circumstances. The extract below is Colonel Reeves recollection also 40 years after the fact. Shortly after completing my tour of duty as SORA 2 at the Directorate I received a 'phone call from Colonel Howard in Canberra regarding a gun he had heard was for sale at an Auction Room in Richmond [Melbourne]. He was most excited about the find as he thought it would be an excellent trophy to present to the School Mess. He asked me to inspect the gun at the viewing and if it was what he thought I was to bid for it and he would go to 200 pounds for it. As this time would be about late 60 early 61 this was a lot of money. However when I visited the Auction Room, I discovered that there was a lot of, interest in the piece which was a model of a horse or bullock drawn Landi Service equipment SBML of 18 pounder calibre (It could have been 24 pounder). The gun is engraved on the upper surface of the piece in front of the vent as near as I can recall "Presented to Major M.F. Downes by his class of instruction Woolwich 1877". The gun was purchased for 200 Australian Pounds. After cleaning, minor repairs such as replacing brake shoes and chains, the gun was mounted on a wooden base and-handed over to Colonel Howard when he visited Melbourne to attend a Gunner dinner at Batman Avenue. When I arrived at the dinner the gun was on display in the anti-room and caused much comment Note: This is where the backstory provided by Colonel Reeves contradicts the content of the television interview. The reporter in their opening question refers to the Downes gun as being seen on Colonel Howards desk which is different to Colonel Reeves statement that it never left Victoria. Nevertheless Colonel Reeves recalls that during the course, of the dinner a CMF officer, Lieutenant Colonel Eason, on indulgence from the DMP made the astonishing announcement that "The DRA has graciously donated the gun to the Gunners of Victoria." or words, to that effect. Of course, this was met with much applause. Colonel Howard was clearly taken aback and just sat there. Later I asked him, why he had made the gift he said that he had made no such offer and when I pressed for not refuting the statement said the shock and applause had left him flabbergasted. Eason it may be noted was well known for this type of behaviour. I am sure that Colonel Howard not being aware of Eason’s cheek was too much of a gentleman to put him down at dinner in front of his brother officers. Colonel Reeves commented that “I have never heard of nor have seen the gun since that night.” Note: The RAA Assoc of Victoria currently holds the Downes Gun in its procession and has agreed to a “long term loan” of the gun to the RC.
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