Yes indeed I do remember the length of Rod with a T-shaped end used to check if the shell had been fully rammed home......... also the many Adaptations by the sergeant firing the gun so that they stood further away and to one side........... also the removal of the gun crew when firing apart from... Me
presumably just in case there was a change of bearing.... I remember it was decided to use the largest charge on the first firing to get over everybody's nerves..... That was fine when they were stood some distance away
being the only one left sat on the gun .... Was slightly more worrying at first....... although I guess this was probably just an individual choice made by our gun sub. And not on order from above

You could well be right about the change over date for 68 Bty Jim, it was a long time ago . Bryan, if it was a personal choice by your gun sub (which I doubt), does it not tell you something