Agenda item

The Deputy Chairman welcomed representatives of the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) – Tony Gabb, a veteran Squadron Commander and Captain of the Company of Pikemen and Musketeers, Major Iain Morpeth, also a veteran Squadron Commander and Vice President of the HAC, Colonel Howard Wilkinson, Regimental Colonel of the HAC and Chris Huxtable, Adjutant of the Company of Musketeers and Pikemen.

The HAC explained that they intended to present on the nature of the relationship between the City of London and the Honourable Artillery Company. It was reported that the current President of the HAC was the new Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Roley Walker.

They began by speaking of the HAC of relatively more modern times. It was acknowledged that, whilst the Company of Pikemen and Muskateers were perhaps the most familiar face of the HAC to many by virtue of the ceremonial role they undertook in the City, the HAC was fundamentally about the regiment in which all had served. Reference was made to the Second Boer War in the 1880s to which the HAC had sent 200 men to South Africa as part of the City Imperial Volunteers, raised and funded by the City under the guidance of the Lord Mayor, Sir Alfred Newton and the Court of Common Council. During that war, the HAC had lost 6 men. In the First World War the HAC raised three infantry battalions and seven artillery batteries with a total of over 13,000 members of the company serving either with the HAC or other unit. 4,000 members were commissioned into other units of the armed forces. More than 1650 members lost their loves in the War with their names commemorated on war memorials all over Europe with the London Units in which they served engraved on the memorial outside the Royal Exchange. In the Second World War, the HAC raised three gunner regiments, one anti-aircraft regiment with the infantry battalion forming an Officer Cadet Training Unit. Here, over 700 men serving with the HAC and other units lost their lives. Since the Second World War and following the Reserve Forces Act 1997, which allowed reservists to be mobilised for theatres other than war. Members of the HAC have therefore served in UN peacekeeping duties in Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan. Nearly 25% of the Company of Pikemen and Muskateers have served overseas in some capacity.

It was reported that the HAC was also a charity and affiliated with three Public School Combined Cadet Forces as well as supporting two local School Academy CCFs in Islington and Hackney. Aside from the Sword of Honour given for the best Officer Cadet by the Worshipful Company of Accountants, the HAC reported that they were financially unsupported by the Livery but acknowledged that they benefitted from Livery relations in many other ways.

The Committee were informed that the HAC comprised some 2,500 members of whom some 450 are active soldiers, 500 are non-regimental but ex-military from other units, 1500 veterans and 50 associated members, a new category for partners of long-serving members.

The HAC reported that their formal start date was 25^th August 1537 – just over 13 years short of 500 years ago – when King Henry VIII gave the overseers of the fraternity of the Guild of St George a Royal Charter and Letters Patent authorising them to establish a corporation for the defence of the realm and to be know as the Fraternity or Guild of Artillery. This date made the HAC the second oldest military body in the western world. The use of the word Honourable seems to have crept in from the 1680s before being confirmed by Queen Victoria in 1860. Following its formation at a time before England had a standing army, The Guild of St George became the Artillery Company of London under Queen Elizabeth I. During Elizabeth I’s reign, better regulations concerning the militia, a citizen arm came into force which in London relied upon Wards to provide the manpower with the Lord Mayor and Aldermen fulfilling the roles of the Lord Lieutenant and appointed officers of the four trained bands. Due to the requirements placed on the City by the Crown, a symbiotic relationship evolved between the City, the trained bands and the Artillery Company and the HAC’s relationship with the City flourished with orders in Council in 1612 directing the Lord Mayor and Aldermen to select the officers of the Artillery Company. During the reign of Charles I, further orders in 1632 required all officers of the trained band to be enrolled in the Artillery Company and in 1633 the Court of Aldermen established the Court of Assistants to the Artillery Company providing them with rules and orders for the company’s governance. During the 17^th and 18^th century, the offices of President and Vice President of the HAC were almost invariably held by Aldermen and, over time, some 120 Lord Mayors have become members of the HAC, of whom 5 have served since 1943. Although not members per se, this continued to date with the Lord Mayor, Sheriffs, Aldermen and the Recorder of London deemed to be honorary members of the Court and eligible to sit in on Court meetings at any time.

The Committee were informed of the history of the company during the Civil Wars. It was reported that, at some point, all members of the HAC were required to be Freemen of the City which continued until 1778. The Company of Pikemen and Musketeers had recently welcomed 9 new members admitted to the Freedom as a group which the HAC continued to encourage as did the Court of Assistants with new members of the Court.

The Committee were informed that it was during the 1640s that the Company of Pikemen and Musketeers took their form as seen today. During the Civil Wars, the Artillery Company did not participate as a formal body. Following the restoration, members of the HAC and the London trained bands were to form what was to become the core of the Royal Marines at Armoury House 360 years ago. In 1772, the HAC were called in to separate factions rioting at Guildhall on a charge of election manipulation on behalf of John Townsend who was made Mayor that year as opposed to the notorious John Wilkes who went on to become Lord Mayor 2 years  later but went on to damage his reputation by ordering the picket guard sent to protect the Bank of England to fire on rioters during the Gordon riots in 1780. Following these riots, the HAC were awarded two brass cannons by the Court of Aldermen for its part in quelling rioters. These are on display at the entrance way of Armoury House. Shortly afterwards, with the complete reorganisation of the regiment in 1781, the authority of the Court of Aldermen appears to have changed and to be taken over by the HAC. That said, it would appear that the HAC still look to the Court of Aldermen on all matters of substance until at least the beginning of the 20^th century.

The HAC reported that they were extremely grateful to have been given the opportunity to talk on the very long and close relationship between the Company and this Honourable Court and why Aldermen still continued to receive HAC Court papers. They emphasised that they were keen to continue to foster the support and approval of the Court of Aldermen which was of the upmost importance to the wellbeing of the Company of Pikemen and Musketeers. They welcomed questions from the floor.

An Alderman queried what the Court of Aldermen could do to maintain this rich tradition of such close connections going forward. It was reported that this was high on the agenda of the Vice President at present and that internal discussions had already been held as to reestablishing an annual lunch for the Court of Aldermen, particularly for new Aldermen as a means if welcoming them to the HAC.

An Alderman commented that some on the Court had close links to defence and security and encouraged the HAC to make particular connections here. The HAC welcomed this suggestion, highlighting that they were effectively ambassadors for defence outside of the military. They also welcomed any relevant Livery Company links in this respect.

Another Alderman commented that it would be useful for this Committee to provide some context, particularly to new Alderman, as to the relationship with the HAC and the reasons behind them receiving HAC Court agenda papers and any expectations as to attendance here. It was noted that the HAC Court meeting held on the Tuesday after Lord Mayor’s Show Day was of particular interest given that the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs presented here and that the Aldermen were also invited to a Mess dinner and a St George’s Day dinner each year.

An Alderman, also SABTAC, commented that he had been in conversation with the Regimental Secretary of the HAC to seek to reintroduce an annual dinner at the Mansion House for the benefit of the HAC and their relations with the Court of Aldermen and wider Court of Common Council. It as hope that this could take place in the Spring/Summer of 2025.

Another Alderman queried the HAC’s engagement with the wider Livery. It was reported that there was an HAC Livery Association and that this had a significant number of members, including previous Lord Mayor Sir Clive Martin. There was also a civic dinner at which approximately 30% of Livery Companies were represented by their Masters making this a very material touch point.

An Alderman questioned the current role and background to the HAC Special Constabulary. The HAC reported that the detachment was in suspension at the moment because the City of London Police had decided to discontinue the role that the detachment had been providing. This was currently under review with a view to finding a redirected role and being able to take the detachment out of suspension. The Town Clerk expressed his keenness to be involved in future conversations on this. The HAC added that they were very keen to continue to provide training facilities for the City of London Police cadets

An Alderman spoke on reserve forces and what city firms could do to support reservists serving in the armed forces. He stated that there might be a role for the Court of Aldermen in this respect.

Another Aldermen spoke of the City Schools – both its independent schools and multi-academy trust schools – he queried what more might be done to foster relations between these and the HAC with particular refence to CCFs and use of facilities/sports field. The HAC underlined that the HAC effectively sponsored two Cadet Units within Islington at present – one at COLAI and one at Mossbourne. They commented that both had been an enormous success and that they would therefore welcome discussions around exploring this further for the City schools mentioned.

The Deputy Chairmen drew discussions to a close and thanked all for a very comprehensive and constructive debate. He underlined the Court of Aldermen’s sense of commitment to continuing to support the HAC and recommended that a small working group form to meet with the HAC to examine how best to take forward points raised today. It was suggested that this be made up of Alderman Levene, Alderman Edhem, Alderman Gowman, Alderman Hughes-Penney, Alderman Barr and Alderman Jones.