Soldiers from the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers have exercised their Privileged Regiment status under their Freedom of the City of London, 100 years since the privilege was granted. With drums beating, colours flying and bayonets fixed, hundreds of personnel, veterans, cadets and association members led off from the Tower of London in a special parade through the streets of the capital. They paraded for a mile and a half before being inspected at Guildhall to mark the centenary celebrations.
The parade was led by the City Marshal, whose role can be found in letters patent of Queen Elizabeth I dated 1595 which gave powers to a marshal to maintain order in the City. Today he is the Lord Mayor’s peacekeeper and represents the Lord Mayor at all Entry of Troops. He challenges, then escorts those regiments honoured to be allowed to exercise their privilege to march through the City ‘with drums beating, bayonets fixed and colours flying.’
Brigadier Jez Lamb, Deputy Colonel for London for the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, told Forces News the historical ties between the city and the regiment date back ‘well over 300 years’. He said, “We were the City of London Regiment originally, raised as the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, the City of London Regiment. The Fusiliers had a relationship with the Tower of London since 1685 and with the City shortly after.
The personnel can only march the streets like this thanks to having the Freedom of the City – bestowed upon them in 1924.
Brig Lamb said it was a “very proud moment”, with the regiment rarely getting to exercise the privilege. “Having so many of the Fusilier family all in one place at one time is a huge privilege in its own right. But more to the point, we get to show ourselves off a bit to the general public and to the City of London.”
The Fusiliers’ influence, however, stretches far beyond London – with past deployments including Northern Ireland, the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan. Looking ahead, the Fusiliers are preparing to become the first in the Army to receive the new mechanised infantry vehicle – Boxer – next Easter.
