UNITED KINGDOM: GUN SALUTES FIRED AT THE TOWER OF LONDON TO MARK DEATH OF BRITAIN'S QUEEN MOTHER

Record ID: 338327

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: GUN SALUTES FIRED AT THE TOWER OF LONDON TO MARK DEATH OF BRITAIN'S QUEEN MOTHER
  • Date: 1st April 2002
  • Summary: (L3) LONDON, ENGLAND; UNITED KINGDOM (APRIL 1, 2002) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. WIDE OF HER MAJESTY'S TOWER OF LONDON 0.02 2. MV/WS: 105 MM LIGHT ARTILLERY GUNS OF THE HONOURABLE ARTILLERY COMPANY REGIMENT ARRIVING (2 SHOTS) 0.12 3. PAN: CROWDS WATCHING 0.16 4. MV: 105 MM LIGHT ARTILLERY GUNS BEING SET UP 0.30 5. SV: GUN MASTER ARRIVING 0.37 6. SLV'S/SV: GUN MASTER GIVING THE ORDER FOR FIRST 105 MM ARTILLERY GUN TO FIRE (3 SHOTS) 0.50 7. CU: ANOTHER 105 MM ARTILLERY GUN FIRING 0.55 8. LV: CROWD WATCHING GUNS FIRING 1.01 9. SV/SLV: BEEFEATERS/ CROWD (2 SHOTS) 1.08 10. CU: SOUNDBITE (English) LIEUTENANT COLONEL MARK VINCENT, COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE HONOURABLE ARTILLERY COMPANY REGIMENT, SAYING: "The guns here we're using are 105 millimetre light guns, especially converted for ceremonial purposes, but they're the same model that is used in service by the military today - there are light guns deployed to Afghanistan, and one of these guns, before it was converted, was one of the guns used in the Falklands war." 1.29 11. SLV: GUN FIRING 1.33 12. CU: SOUNDBITE (English) VINCENT: "Clearly, it's a very sad occasion. But I think it's telling that over the Easter Weekend that when the soldiers were off duty that they've all come in within 24 hours to volunteer to take part in the salute." 2.02 13. SLV/SV: MORE OF SALUTE/ BRITISH UNION JACK FLAG FLYING AT HALF MAST ON THE TOWER OF LONDON 2.10 14. LV: CROWDS WATCHING GUN FIRING AS A BARGE PASSES ALONG THE THAMES RIVER 2.20 15. SCU: SOUNDBITE (English) BRITON BILL WATSON, OF LONDON, SAYING: "The country is I think, very shocked, although Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother was 101, you some how didn't expect it to happen in her daughter's jubilee year." 2.33 16. SCU: SOUNDBITE (English) BRITON STEPHEN LANE, OF LONDON, SAYING: "I think most people will feel that the Queen Mother had a long life, and one that she enjoyed, and the country enjoyed her time with them, and I think that whilst obviously there is great sadness, for many people it is a sadness tinged with happiness and joy for a very full life." 2.51 17. SCU: SOUNDBITE (English) WORLD WAR TWO VETERAN JOHNNY FANTIMAN, 82, SAYING: "Well, I feel it very strongly because I am myself, I'm very emotional , it gets to me knowing full well that she'd been in the East end of London, and she never left the town, she kept there through all the bombing, during the blitz." 3.17 18. PAN: GUN FIRING 3.33 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 16th April 2002 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LONDON, ENGLAND; UNITED KINGDOM
  • City:
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Reuters ID: LVA3IF7NK3D1V4LA4L2DDT74VAH
  • Story Text: Gun salutes have been fired across the United Kingdom
    to mark the death at the weekend of Britain's Queen Mother.

    At the royal Tower of London, a crowd gathered to watch
    four 105 mm artillery guns being fired over the Thames River
    in a salute.


    A series of 41-gun salutes across England, Scotland,
    Wales and Northern Ireland on Monday (April 1) marked the
    Queen Mother's passing. Artillery were firing from noon (1100
    GMT) at one-minute intervals for 40 minutes.

    At Her Majesty's Tower of London, which overlooks the
    Thames River in London, a large crowd gathered to watch the
    gun salute.

    Four 105 mm light artillery guns belonging to the
    Honourable Artillery Company were hauled into place
    overlooking the river in preparation for the salute.

    At precisely 12 noon, the gun master of the Honourable
    Artillery Company gave the command for Gun Number One to fire.

    The gun roared into action, sending up a cloud of smoke and
    causing many of the watching crowd to flinch at the sound.

    Lieutenant Colonel Mark Vincent said that the salute was a
    fitting tribute to the Queen Mother, who held a special place
    in the minds of the country's military.

    "Clearly, it's a very sad occasion. But I think it's
    telling that over the Easter Weekend that when the soldiers
    were off duty that they've all come in within 24 hours to
    volunteer to take part in the salute."
    He added that the 105 mm artillery guns had been rendered
    non operational and were just used for ceremonial salutes, but
    that they were similar to the ones being used by the British
    Army currently deployed in Afghanistan. And one of the guns,
    he said, had been used in the Falklands campaign.

    Many in the crowd appeared moved by the solemn salute.

    Londoner Bill Watson said that although the Queen Mother
    was 101, "you somehow didn't expect it (the death) to happen
    in her daughter's jubilee year."
    Stephen Lane, another Londoner, said that although there
    was sadness, the Queen Mother had lived a very full life.

    "I think most people will feel that the Queen Mother had a
    long life, and one that she enjoyed, and the country enjoyed
    her time with them , and I think that whilst obviously there
    is great sadness, for many people it is a sadness tinged with
    happiness and joy for a very full life," he said.

    A veteran of World War Two, 82-year-old Johnny Fantiman,
    said he was very sad at her passing, particularly because of
    her role during the World War Two, when the Royal family
    remained in London during the Blitz.
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