This evening, I was honoured to attend an evensong at St Paul’s Cathedral and a reception in the Great Hall at Guildhall to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Pikemen and Musketeers, in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent, as Regimental Colonel of the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC).
The Company of Pikemen & Musketeers is a ceremonial unit of the the HAC and one of only six royally-warranted bodies in the UK. The Royal Warrant, granted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1955 authorises the Company of Pikemen & Musketeers to parade no more than 63 members at any one time, that being the size of a company in the 17th century.
Only veteran members of the HAC who have had proven efficient service in the HAC’s Army Reserve Regiment are eligible to join the Company of Pikemen & Musketeers.
All join in the lowest rank, regardless of any previous military rank held. Members must be fit enough to competently complete the march of the Lord Mayor’s Show.
Their members are unpaid but give freely of their own time for drill practice and rehearsals as well as the parades and guards themselves. All pay a significant joining fee and are expected to clean and look after their armour, muskets and other kit to maintain the highest standards of turnout for the many prestigious occasions they parade for.
So what link does the HAC and the Company of Pikemen and Musketeers have to the City of London?
The Pikemen and Musketeers have been the Lord Mayor of London’s ceremonial bodyguards and escort the State Coach in the annual Lord Mayor’s Show. The HAC’s Armoury House is also located in the City of London, on City Road and the HAC were given the civic honour of Privileged Regiment status by the City of London Corporation’s Court of Aldermen in 1924.
So the relationship is long standing and distinguished in the City of London – hence a real honour to celebrate their milestone with them tonight.
