author
Ralph Willett Adye
1764–1804
An officer of the Royal Artillery, he is remembered for writing a compact gunnery manual that became a trusted guide for British artillery officers. His short life linked active military service with practical military writing that stayed useful well after his death.
1 Audiobook
The bombardier, and pocket gunner
by Ralph Willett Adye
About the author
Baptized in 1764, Ralph Willett Adye served in the Royal Artillery and spent nearly three decades in the army. Records describe him as being commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1781 and serving until his death at Gibraltar in 1804.
He is best known as the author of The Bombardier, and Pocket Gunner, a practical manual for artillery officers. First published in the 1790s and reissued in later editions, it earned a reputation as a handy standard reference for gunnery and artillery practice.
Although not a widely known literary figure today, Adye's work offers a vivid glimpse into the working knowledge expected of artillery officers in the era of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars. For listeners interested in military history, his writing has the appeal of a book made for real use in the field, not for ornament.