Field Gun Carriage Restored, Here - Before, at the bottom of the page

The Gun carriage was donated to The Shed by Frank Bowen's daughter and son-in-law. 

The Carriage has had a lot of sun exposure, wheel spokes were broken and missing and the brass works were badly tarnished.

Contact was made with HMS Collinwood Officers Association      https://hmscoa.org/index.html

We asked HMS Collinwood Officers Association if we were to honour Frank by restoration of this fine tribute that was obviously made with great care and affection, would they like it to return to HMS Collingwood?  The answer was a resounding yes! Please

Shed member Mick Norris took on the task and if we say so ourselves he has made a spectacular job. The carriage was stripped down to its component parts, the woodwork was cleaned and treated to bring it back to life. The brass work was polished and the wheel spokes were attended to and colour matched.

During this process, the detailed nature of its construction was discovered.  The Wheel rim has no joint and looks to be sections of shell casing. The wheel's construction is made of many individual components just as a full-size wheel would have been made.  The Handles and hinges were individually made from brass Even what looked like pins holding the Wheel Hubs on were found to be very very small handmade bolts and nuts.

Mick, Along with the assistance of Ian and David.  Frank would be proud and so should you be a job well done.  

We will be back in contact with HMS Collinwood Officers Association, to arrange its return, and form part of the naval heritage it is.

Frank Bowen was the Commanding Officer of HMS COLLINGWOOD, in Fareham Hants which is a huge RN training establishment. Its remit was the provision of specialist, electrical engineering training at all levels, apart from degree courses. 

The gun carriage would have been made in the Chippies' workshop as part of the tributes to Frank's departure from the establishment to take up a new posting. 

Below is Frank's Impressive Naval record:

Frank Bowen       Date of Death: 21|5|1995

Rank History   Rear Admiral on retirement

(Commodore Royal Navy)   14 Dec 82

Captain Royal Navy    1980 - Oct 1982

Commander Royal Navy   30 Jun 1974

Acting Commander Royal Navy  30-Jun-1966

Lieutenant-Commander Royal Navy  1966

Decorations and Post Nominals

CEng MIMechE rcds

Special Project Director | Sea Systems Controllers (WE)

1984

Weapons Department (Naval) | Special Project Director  1983

HMS COLLINGWOOD       1982

Deputy Chief Polaris Executive     1980

Royal College of Defence Studies     1979

HMS SAKER Royal Naval Base, Virginia USA   1977

HMS CENTURION       1976

Weapons Department (Naval)     1975

HMS SCYLLA Leander Class Frigate     1972

HMS COLLINGWOOD       1972

HMS SAKER Royal Naval Base, Virginia USA   1971

Weapons Department (Naval)     1969

The Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity Field Gun Competition.

It is held annually at HMS Collingwood in Fareham, Hampshire.

A video can be seen here  HMS COLLINGWOOD Open Day Field Gun Final run

The Shed on the Isle gives its thanks to all the Men and Women who serve to protect us, for their service.

November 2023 update:

The Gun Carriage has now been sent back to its Home at HMS Collingwood into the safe hands of Commander Fraser Hunt who has expressed a desire to place it in the  Atlantic Building at HMS  Collingwood as part of the Field Gun Display in the VIP area. 

January 2024:

Presentation of the Field Gun Carriage

The Field Gun Carriage will be presented back to HMS Collingwood Captain, Tim Davey By Emily Drever one of Frank Bowen's Daughters on the 8th Jan 2024. Also in attendance will be Executive Officer Fraser Hunt and the base Worksop Officer.

Pictures are below...

The Shed Thanks all involved 

Mick Norris and Ian Campbell-Briggs from the Shed

Derek Combs Seceratary of the Officers Association at Hms Collingwood

Captain Tim Hunt HMS Collingwood

Comander Frazer Hunt Executive Officer HMS Collingwood

Marie Arnott Public Relations Manager Central  Govenment and Defence HMS Collingwood

Hessle Plant Ltd (Castleford)

And of course the Family of Captain Bowen or should we say Rear Admiral Bowen R.I.P.   Thank you for your service, sir.