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The Motor Cycle Display Team
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Gnr Alan Harris jumps four 105mm Light Guns at
17 Trg Regt RA and Depot Open Day on the 1st Oct 1988.
The Royal Artillery
Motor Cycle Display Team
"The Flying Gunners"
This page is dedicated to the MCDT. Please send me your photos,
press cuttings etc, and they will be published here.
Past and Present
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31st Training Regiment Display Team
The Royal Artillery Motor Cycle Display Team originated from the 31st Training Regiment
Royal Artillery Display Team which was formed at Kinmel Park Camp, Rhyl, in the summer of 1949
and gave their first performance at the St Asaph Tattoo in July 1949.
The team was the brainchild of Captain David Miles, and used the normal issue Army Motor Cycles
of that time which were Matchless G3L machines. They were an immediate success and during their
early days gave displays in North Wales and Central Wales and the neighbouring English counties.
From the very start the emphasis was on a slick, polished and professional presentation, with really
well practiced precision riding for the team manoeuvres and a non-stop series of tricks, with the
next machine always in the arena before the previous one had left.
You will see that this high standard of polish and professionalism has been maintained and
perfected by the team of today. Although the display is varied in content from year to year, some
of the trick riding acts, and the clown act, have remained as they were originally conceived
in the team of 1949.
The team remained in Rhyl until 1961, when 31st Training Regiment was disbanded, and by
this time they had built up a reputation throughout the United Kingdom for the excellence of their
displays. They had also changed their machines from the aging WD Matchless to BSA 500cc Gold
Stars. This was the direct result of members of the team riding the BSA motor cycles in the 1960
International Six Day Trials, and the link between BSA and the team was to remain until 1974
when for various reasons which had nothing to do with the quality of the BSA, it was decided
to change to the Greeves Griffon QUB.
The Team moved in 1961 from Rhyl to Woolwich, the home of the Royal Regiment of
Artillery and became part of the Royal Artillery Recruiting Troop, and later the
Royal Artillery Display Troop. The Team are now based at Larkhill, Wiltshire.
Nowdays, the team represents the cream of the Army's riding ability, and the soldiers are
selected to be in The Flying Gunners for their riding skill and for their courage. The selection
is grueling, but the reward of "making the team" makes the process worthwhile.
Once a rider makes the team, he is trained in numerous motorcycle skills, from precision
riding to motorcross jumping, and this has always raised considerable media interest.
The team is self sufficient and must fund its own activities, however the soldiers are all from
operational Regiments, many having served in numerous theatres of conflict, from the Gulf
to Kosovo. All of the riders are proud to be Gunners, but above all else,
they are proud to be "Flying Gunners".
Motorbikes were introduced into the Royal Artillery during the First World War. They
were used by Gunner Regiments to reconnoiter gun positions and courier missions.
Today, the Royal Artillery will still use motorbikes in some very important roles. Battery Guides use
them when leading the Guns onto the Gun Position and they are also used by Royal Artillery Special
Forces Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols to infiltrate deep behind enemy lines on target
acquisition and observation missions.
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From Left to Right:
Brian Hailes, Dave Gatehouse, Chris Moles, Barry Sanderson, Harry Longstaff,
Johnny Hands, Mick Wilson, Dave Williams, Paul Hylands,
Scouse Lee, Tom Gleadhill, Ted Stringer,
Les Newnes, Not Known.
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Pathe News Shots from 31st March 1966
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Bass Sanderson in the Front
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Thanks to Mike (Geordie) Wilson for the photos.
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Mike on the Ladder
Here are some more Photo's sent in from Mike Wilson
My thanks to Dave Buck for the following Photo's
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My Thanks to Paul Massey for sending in these Photos of his
late Father James Massey who was a member
of the MCDT in mid 1960's
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Many of the following photos have been donated
by the RA Display Troop
Photos of the Early Years up until the 1980's
Ray Hudd in the driving seat at this Display in the early 80's.
Thanks to Ricky Hudd for sending this photo in.
In Memory of Ivor Mason and Geordie Dowd
Ivor and the Team with the late Barry Sheene
Kindly sent in by Pauline Mason
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The Lads with Benny Hill & his Girls
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The Bike Sheds in 2007
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Today's Flying Gunners
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The Flying Gunners Website
Flying Gunners,
1st Battery (The Blazers),
14 Regiment Royal Artillery,
Stirling Barracks,
Larkhill,
Salisbury,
Wiltshire,
SP4 8QT
Telephone: 01980 634118 or 01980 634326
Mobile: 07710 384309
Fax: 01980 634311
Please don't forget to send in your Photos or Items of interest for publication on this page
