THE roar of artillery boomed out across the ancient capital of the north as the Army marked the 64th anniversary of the Queen’s accession to the throne.

In a ceremony with roots dating back almost two centuries, the 21-gun salute in York’s Museum Gardens blasted out on the stroke of noon.

The Army’s senior officer in the north of England, Major General Giles Hill, hosted local dignitaries at the first of six annual Royal Salutes in York, one of only 12 saluting stations in the country – and the only one in the north of England.

Soldiers from 3/29 (Corunna) Battery, 4 Regiment Royal Artillery travelled from their base at Alanbrooke Barracks in Topcliffe, near Thirsk with three 105mm light field guns that were used in action in both the Falklands and Afghanistan.

Holding off the weather in raincoats and under umbrellas, the public was entertained with music from the Band of The Yorkshire Regiment before the guns fired.

Maj Gen Hill, formerly of the Parachute Regiment, took command of 1st (United Kingdom) Division in April last year with the divisional headquarters completing its move to York’s Imphal Barracks in July.

Addressing the guests after the salute, he said: “Service is very important to me, to all our soldiers and actually to all the other people here today. Service to our country is a common endeavour in one form or another and it makes me hugely proud to be wearing this uniform.

“I think this has been reflected in the floods where two battalions from 1st UK Division worked literally on our doorstep, more broadly in West Yorkshire and across the Pennines.

“I would like to say what a great privilege and honour it was to work with those agencies and the civil society that worked so hard and made such a difference to the local community.”

Headquarters 1st (United Kingdom) Division commands seven regional brigades spread throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

As an adaptive force it also works with other countries’ troops, both on exercises to strengthen the UK’s defence and by sending small military teams in a mentoring role with developing nations