When artillery gun shields became common

A weapons-history answer places the early spread of artillery gun shields around the Boer War era, especially on lighter pieces, while warning against reading later equipment back into colonial settings.

Question

When did artillery begin using gun shields against small-arms fire?

Short answer

Early adoption is tentatively placed around the Boer War era, especially on lighter guns, with shields becoming more common afterward.

Notes

The chronology is tentative because it is recalled during the stream. The first recognisable service adoption is associated with the Boer War period, particularly for lighter artillery, with shields becoming more common afterward. Local or experimental fittings could precede formal procurement, so a single first-use date would oversimplify the change. Films set in earlier colonial wars can also project the familiar silhouette of later shielded guns backward because audiences expect artillery to look that way. A later comment links the pressure for change to Royal Artillery crews being exposed to effective Boer fire. The sequence runs from experiment and battlefield need toward routine equipment.