John Slough, a director of Arms Fairs, had the idea to commemorate the centenary of the battle.
It was decided that a 100-gun salute involving 16 First World War field guns would be a fitting tribute. Slough is able to organise this because he has a collection of Great War guns which can be brought into action with the addition of volunteer gunners and horses.
Gun teams are coming from every Allied and Commonwealth nation involved in the battle. The High Commissioner for Canada is the patron and will be unveiling a plaque on the day.
Slough has a strong personal link to the battle: his grandfather, Albert Slough, a sergeant fitter in the Royal Field Artillery, was killed in action at Hill 60 in October 1917.
As ATG spoke to the busy LAAF organisers, they were in fact just off to their Battle Proms concert at Ragley Hall (August 12) where they arrange 200 cannon for the 1812 Overture and Beethoven’s Battle Symphony.
The 98th LAAF event was held in the Hotel Ibis, in Earls Court, west London, on April 22. As the traditional September or October fair is on hold, the next one – the 99th – will be on April 7, 2018.
