Was it really forty-five years ago; the Silver Jubilee?
The central sketch depicts the Queen’s arrival at St Paul’s in 1977 with an HAC Guard of Honour in the foreground. I am lurking somewhere in the second row. The surrounding pictures are of the HAC’s various military and a ceremonial role.
Yesterday the HAC fired a 61-gun salute at the Tower of London. Her Majesty’s Mounted Ceremonial Battery, the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery fired a 41-gun salute in the Green Park. A 21-gun salute is the usual, but add twenty if it is fired in a royal park and another twenty if it is fired in the City of London.
The Honourable Artillery Company dates back to 1087 but waited until 1537 to receive a Royal Charter from Henry VIII. Nevertheless it is the oldest British regiment. You might be interested in older military units still in operation.
Moroccan Royal Guard, founded by Sultan Yusuf ibn Tashfin in 1088.
King’s Own Immemorial 1st Infantry Regiment, founded by Ferdinand III of Castile in 1248.
1st Infantry Regiment, founded by Louis XI of France in 1479.
Yeoman of the Guard, founded by Henry VII in 1485.
Papal Swiss Guard, founded by Pope Julius II in 1506.
9th Infantry Regiment “Soria”, founded by Ferdinand II of Aragon in 1509.
Life Guards, founded by Gustav Vasa of Sweden in 1521.
Tercio Viejo de Sicilia, founded by Charles I of Sicily in 1534.
Spanish Navy Marines, founded by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, in 1537.
The Honourable Artillery Company comes next, the 10th oldest military unit still operational. I hope Prime Minister and classicist (or vice versa), Boris Johnson, recalls the HAC motto, Arma Pacis Fulcra (armed strength for peace), when he next talks to the President of Russia.
Much appreciated. Forwarded to two HAC friends and friend in Madrid with an interest in the Spanish regiments. E
The Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers date from 1539 so definitely younger than The HAC however peculiarly they do aspire to being the more senior Reserve Regiment…
Something we can discuss when I am your guest at the Worshipful Company of Ironmongers; Royal Charter 1467.
I seem to recall being the model for the figure on the left of the top-left hand corner pic – the patrol crossing the railway line. though the fully-loaded and bulging Bergen was added later by the artist. The forerunner of photo-shopped; paint-shopped?