cannoneer

noun

1. An artillery soldier who maintains and operates (historical) a cannon, or (now) some other piece of heavy artillery.

   “Luckily, the cannoneer was only mildly injured when his cannon malfunctioned.”

   “Then ſe the bringing of our ordinance / Along the trench into the battery, / VVhere vve vvil haue gabions of ſix foot broad / To ſaue our Cannoniers from muſket ſhot, […]”

   “The Irish cannoneers stood gallantly to their pieces till they were cut down to a man.”

   “Just as the spring came laughing through the strife / With all its gorgeous cheer; / In the bright April of historic life / Fell the great cannoneer.”

   “The American cannoneers, normally positioned well behind the front lines, found themselves unexpectedly thrust into a firefight. The cannoneers slammed shell after shell at the big German tanks, but the 105mm high-explosive rounds burst with little effect.”