Gunner (rank) facts for kids
A Gunner (often shortened to Gnr) is a special rank in some armies, like the British Army and other armies from the Commonwealth of Nations. It's usually the same rank as a Private, which is one of the first ranks a soldier gets. Gunners are mostly found in the artillery corps, which are the soldiers who operate big guns and cannons.
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The Role of a Gunner
In the Royal Artillery of the British Army, and in artillery groups of other Commonwealth countries, a Gunner is a soldier who works with cannons and other large weapons. This rank is similar to a Private in other parts of the army. After being a Gunner, the next rank up is usually a lance-bombardier. In the Royal Canadian Artillery, the next step is a Bombardier.
Famous Monuments
There is a special bronze statue of a Gunner at the Royal Artillery Memorial in Hyde Park Corner, London. This statue is called "The Ammunition Carrier." It is part of a larger memorial that remembers the Royal Artillery Regiment's service. It also honors the soldiers who were lost during World War I.
The memorial has other bronze figures too. These include "The Captain" at the front and "The Driver" on the left side. At the back, there is "The Fallen Soldier." The entire monument is topped with a large stone howitzer, which is a type of cannon.
The bronze statues were created by an artist named Charles Sargeant Jagger. The stone part of the monument was designed by Lionel Pearson. The Gunner statue, along with an officer, a bombardier, and an unknown soldier, are characters in Charlie Fletcher's book Stoneheart.
See also
- British Army Other Ranks rank insignia
- Comparative military ranks
- Canadian Forces ranks and insignia
