City of London Livery Companies have military affiliations which continue the long tradition of close association between the City and the armed forces of the Crown. These were established over a thousand years ago and can be traced back to the militias who were recruited to guard the City Walls before the time of the Norman Conquest. The Company is proud of its affiliations, which are detailed below. They enable us to show our support for those protecting our country, which they often do considerable personal cost. There is engagement through visits between the parties, and regular welfare support from the Company, and its related charity.
Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth (Navy)
The College is an educational institution of the highest calibre and of great importance to the defence of our nation, providing a steady stream of well-trained officers to the Royal Navy, RNR and RNAS. Senior figures from the Company attend passing out parades and similar events at the College, and there have been visits by larger groups to ensure that we all understand its work and thus how we can best support it. Small groups of officers attend our events and on occasion provide briefing notes to ensure we remain familiar with the College’s current challenges and opportunities.
Honourable Artillery Company (Army)
Our second Master, Sir Douglas Morpeth, was Commanding Officer of this historic reserve army regiment, which provides specialist forward observation officers to direct fire from the guns of the Royal Artillery. There are periodic visits to the HQ at Armoury house, just north of the City and we welcome the CO to our Annual Banquet, presenting a Sword of Honour to that year’s Top Officer and providing other support as needed. HAC Pikemen and Musketeers also grace many of our high-profile events.
Special Boat Service (Tri-Service)
The SBS is the maritime-specialist regiment of UK Special Forces and a vital element of our armed forces and its counter-terrorism command. This relationship was established by our 32nd and 33rd Masters, Henry Gold and Rachel Adams. We support the regiment on a number of welfare and other fronts, but due to the nature of its work, Members have always appreciated that there is little more that can be said on this, though the sharp-eyed spot the odd unfamiliar face at our events, as guests of the Company, while the Master periodically makes a return visit.
Special Forces Support Group (Tri-Service)
SFSG, as it is known, is a key part of UK Special Forces Group, providing heavy weapons, perimeter control and other support and back-up to units within Group while on operations. A fairly new regiment, SFSG has considerable welfare and other needs, with which we are proud to assist. Members visit the unit and receive briefings, and they visit us and welcome the support we provide.
47 Squadron (RAF)
The RAF operates on the basis of roles, to which it allocates a Squadron, when that role needs staffing, putting the Squadron “back to sleep”, when that role is no longer needed. Our Squadron, 47, has a long and distinguished history, stretching right back to the formation of the RAF. Its most recent role was flying Lockheed Hercules transport aircraft, and providing the UK’s tactical delivery and air drop capabilities. Now the Hercules has recently been phased out of service, the Squadron is in abeyance and awaits its next role. In the meantime, the Company continues its close relationship via the Squadron Association, through which it still provides welfare support and funding, and with which it still presents its annual Sword of Honour to a top officer.
Harrow and Wembley Sea Cadets
The Company is exceptionally proud of the outstanding and sustained record of achievement of this premier cadet unit, which routinely wins prizes and secures other marks of excellent, under the leadership of its OC, Lt Richard Crick. The young people he commands train hard and take part in a wide range of activities, both on and off the water. We support them with funding, prizes and visits and they provide our carpet guards and join our float whenever we take part in The Lord Mayor’s Parade.
2158 (Sevenoaks) Squadron, Air Training Corps
Introduced by former Court Assistant Michael Richardson, just prior to the 2022 lockdown restrictions, this Air Cadet unit is of similarly high calibre and seems to excel at everything it does. The cadets visit us for carpet guards and to meet with the officers of 47 Squadron, and we visit them at their training base and when out on exercise. We support them financially and in other ways.