George Ellis digs into the genesis of CSR

In an article written for the Issue 22, September 2025 edition of the LERA Bulletin George Ellis writes about the the very early days of CSR and what might have been… The article below is republished and distributed with permission from the author.

7 July 1966, Bisley

While a United Services match was being held, 26 Royal Navy officers and men in No. 1 uniform escorted a gun carriage with a No. 4 rifle arranged on top of a coffin draped with the Union Jack. A piper played the lament. At the graveside, an officer said solemnly: “We are gathered here today to mourn the passing of our valued friend, the manually-operated musket. In spite of the advent of the gas-operated gadget, it has continued to demonstrate that it is the man behind the gun that counts.” An RAF officer dabbed his eyes with a handkerchief, stamped to the grave and scattered cartridge cases over the coffin. A Royal Marine officer placed a wreath of laurel leaves by the grave. Two army officers planted a cross. A bugler played the Last Post. The escorting party, who had carried reversed-arms No. 4 rifles, pointed them to the sky and let off a volley of blanks.

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