Following a very kind invitation from the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) 35 members and guests of the WCoSP visited Armoury House, the HAC’s Headquarters, on the evening of Thursday 4 July.  The date of the visit was both significant as it was, of course, both Election Day and US Independence Day, which was particularly relevant to two of our American members who joined us on the evening.

This was a wonderful opportunity to visit a building few of us had been to before and learn more about the HAC.  Once everyone was seated in The Medal Room, Andrew Nicholls, who had arranged the visit, introduced the evening’s event before handing over to Major Patrick Marsland-Roberts TD, Chair of the HAC Livery Association and a Past Master Carmen in 2017.   Patrick welcomed the guests and then summarised his own background and explained that the Livery Association encourages members of the HAC, and especially younger ones, to join Livery Companies and thereby forge closer links between the HAC and the Livery world. 

Handing back to Andrew the audience was then treated to a fascinating summary of the history and traditions of the HAC – which was first incorporated by Royal Charter by King Henry VIII in 1537 and became a registered charity in 1964.  The HAC is the oldest regiment in the British Army and its remit is ‘for military exercise and training and for the better defence of the realm’. The King is the Captain-General and the HAC has the right to bear arms in the City – a privilege granted to just a few military units! 

Among many ceremonial duties and operational commitments undertaken by the HAC the most visible to the general public is probably taking part in the annual Lord Mayor’s Show in November, as well as firing Gun Salutes at the Tower of London. 

Andrew’s briefing ended with a short video about the HAC, especially focussing on its operational role (the HAC is the Army’s only Reserve Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Regiment) as well as their ceremonial commitments.

The guests were then split into 3 groups, led by Simon Crome, Ian Dyson, Patrick Marsland-Roberts, for separate tours of Armoury House. Included in the tour was a visit the private museum, which opened in 2011 and provides a chronological overview of HAC history since 1537. We were also privileged to be invited into Armoury of the Company of Pikemen and Musketeers. Robert Rafferty (Ensign of Musketeers) was ably supported by Neil Good and Simon Enoch and explained the intricacies of their uniforms as well as their fearsome looking – and heavy – weapons.  They soon had the Master dressed up in a breastplate and helmet which, naturally, the Master took in his stride! 

It was then back up to The Medal Room for the reception of delicious canapés and wines, during which the Master thanked and paid a special tribute to Major Marsland-Roberts, Andrew and all their colleagues involved in the arrangements, for a truly delightful and informative evening.  It was a huge privilege for the Company to be invited to Armoury House.  The Master also thanked the Sponsor of the event, SecuriGroup, and presented a framed certificate to Russel Kerr, their Managing Director. 

The HAC has a full and comprehensive website so to find out more about this fascinating part of the British Army, please click on the link https://hac.org.uk