A BRIEF HISTORY
The Honorable Artillery Company is the oldest regiment in the British Army and the second most senior unit of the Territorial Army. The true date of the Company's origin is unknown. Claims have been made that we existed in the Middle Ages or even earlier, but of these we have no proof.The Company's birth is, therefore, generally reckoned from the 25th August 1537 when Henry VIII issued a charter to the then guild of St. George and authorised it to begin a perpetual corporation for the better increase of the defence of this our realm, with the name of Fraternity or Guild of Artillery of Longbows, Crossbows and Handguns. The word Artillery in the Company's title had originally no connection with guns or gunnery. It is used in its obsolete sense, meaning any missile or weapon of volley, such as a crossbow or musket.The Company has always enjoyed a special relationship with the City of London, and the Lord Mayor and Aldermen are honorary members of our Court. For the first two hundred years of its existence, the Company trained the officers of the Trained Bands which the City produced in times of national emergency, and from its earliest time has a tradition of providing officers for many other regiments of the Army. The Company also has a long history of assisting with the maintenance of law and order within the City; and still today assists the police by providing a detachment of the Special Constabulary in the Metropolitan Police Force.For its part in suppressing the Gordon Riots in 1780, the Company was presented by the Corporation of the City with two artillery guns, and thus for the first time had to commence training in the handling of artillery. From that time on, the Company had the unique distinction of providing both artillery and infantry units within the same regiment, in both peace and war. The Company acquired its first battle honor in the South African War in 1900, when detachments of artillery, infantry and mounted infantry served abroad for the first time as part of the City Imperial Volunteers.In 1907 the HAC became part of the newly formed Territorial Force. Its property, ancient civil rights and privileges were safeguarded, however, by the passing of a special act in Parliament, the Honorable Artillery Act, 1900.In the First World War, the Company played a full part with nearly thirteen thousand men serving in its own units, and a further four thousand officers provided for other units. Forty-two battle honors were won.
The Company was again fully involved in the Second World War, providing four artillery regiments, and winning a further seventeen battle honors. The Infantry Battalion in this war was used as an officer training unit, and in all three thousand eight hundred men were granted commissions in regiments throughout the Army. Today, the Regiment contains three operational squadrons, a gun troop, a signal squadron and an HQ squadron. In time of war, the Regiment provides small patrols which gather intelligence and control of artillery fire in the forward area, for the Regular Army. We also have a Band and Corps of Drums. The Regiment carries out ceremonial duties in the City of London, providing Guards of Honor and firing salutes at the Tower of London on special occasions.The Company's close links with the City are maintained by its Company of Pikemen and Musketeers who provide the Lord Mayor's bodyguard for ceremonial occasions and attend other ceremonies in the City. The more recently formed Light Cavalry Group also performs on ceremonial events, and the Metropolitan Special Constabulary Detachment continues in its historic role. The Company maintains close links with the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts which was founded in 1638 by members of our Company who had been trained at the Artillery Ground. Armory House was built by the members in 1735 and has been the headquarters of the Company ever since. The House and its grounds play a prominent part in the life of the City hosting a variety of ceremonial, business, social and sporting events throughout the year. This unique site has five acres of playing fields and the Company has a full range of sports clubs.Her Majesty the Queen, continuing the tradition of her predecessors, is our Captain General and last visited the Company in June 1996.
Currently, there are 2,400 members of the Company of whom 400 are in the Active Unit, and the remainder Veterans. About half of the members work in London in a wide range of professions and positions; the Company has many contacts in useful places.
In 1924, when the regular detachment from the Royal Artillery stationed at HM Tower of London was disbanded as part of government economies, the HAC took over the task of firing the salutes from this Royal Fortress. The Regiment had fired salutes from there on previous occasions, the first recorded being on 18 March 1771.
Whilst a Royal Salute normally comprises 21 guns, increased to 41 if fired from a Royal Residence, 62 guns are fired from the Tower on Royal anniversaries and 41 on Royal or State occasions. Early engravings show guns on both the battlements of the Tower and an the wharf, and an early regulation stated that 21 rounds would be fired from the carronades and 41 discharges from the chamber guns. It is believed that the guns on the wharf were the carronades, and it has been suggested, though not verified, that they were fired to indicate the loyalty of the citizens of London to their Sovereign.
Acknowledgements -
Brigadier Michael Bray, Chief Executive, Honorable Artillery Company - for the use of the text
Janet Johnson - for the use of her photographs