Honorable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms

Image from the coronation series of the cigarette company "Player's & Son" 1937

Badge of the Gentlemen-at-Arms

The Honorable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms , often referred to as Gentlemen at Arms for short , is one of the various ceremonial bodyguards of the British monarch .

history

The unit was founded in 1509 as a mounted bodyguard by King Henry VIII . However, since 1526 the Gentlemen at Arms have dismounted. Since it was last used in combat in the English Civil War , the unit has only had ceremonial tasks, although it was part of the British Army until the 19th century .

present

The Gentlemen at Arms perform their task of guarding the British monarch on various important protocol occasions of the state, the royal family and the various British knightly orders , e.g. B. at the opening of parliament , Garter Day and the parties in the gardens of the royal palaces. They also appear at the coronation of British monarchs and state funerals .

The unit consists of five officers and 27 gentlemen. The highest ranking officer (captain) is always the group chairman (chief whip) of the ruling party in the House of Lords . In fact, the command is exercised by the lieutenant. Like the other officers, he must have previously served in the corps.

The gentlemen are all retired officers of the British Army (usually between major and colonel ); they must be younger than 55 when they join. They are retired when they turn 70.

The uniform of the Gentlemen at Arms corresponds to that of the British heavy guard dragoon around 1840. The helmet with a plume of swan feathers is always worn when the unit is on duty, even in churches. In addition to a cavalry sword , every gentleman is equipped with a ceremonial halberd .

Battle Honors

From the time when the corps did not have purely ceremonial tasks, it has some battle honors (honorable mentions, which are listed on the regimental flag).

Battle Honors (English terms):

• 1513 Battle of the Spurs
• 1520 Field of Cloth of Gold
• 1544 victories of Boulogne

Web links

• The Honorable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms

References and comments

1. ↑ The Field of Cloth of Gold was not actually a battle, but is carried out by the Corps as a Battle Honor