Honourable Artillery Company

Honourable Artillery Company
Crest and Motto of the Honourable Artillery Company
Active	1087; chartered 25 August 1537–
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Role	Surveillance and Target Acquisition (STA)
Size	One regiment
Part of	1st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade
Garrison/HQ	London
Motto(s)	Arma pacis fulcra (Latin: "Armed Strength for Peace")
March	Quick – The British Grenadiers Slow – The Duke of York Canter – Bonnie Dundee Trot – The Keel Row Walk – The Duchess of Kent
Commanders
Captain-General	Her Majesty The Queen
Colonel Commandant	General Sir Richard Barrons KCB, CBE
Notable commanders	Lt. Col. Edward Heath General Sir Richard O'Connor, KT, GCB, DSO, MC, ADC
Insignia
Tactical Recognition Flash	Only worn by Corps of Drums
Plume	None Bearskin cap
Abbreviation	HAC

The Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) was incorporated by Royal Charter in 1537 by King Henry VIII and is considered one of the oldest military organisations in the world. Today it is a registered charity whose purpose is to attend to the "better defence of the realm", this purpose is primarily achieved by the support of the HAC Regiment and a detachment of Special Constabulary to the City of London Police. The word "artillery" in "Honourable Artillery Company" does not have the current meaning that is generally associated with it, but dates from a time when in the English language that word meant any projectile, including for example arrows shot from a bow. The equivalent form of words in modern English would be either "Honourable Infantry Company" or "Honourable Military Company."

In the 17th century its members played a significant part in the formation of both the Royal Marines and the Grenadier Guards whilst more recently regiments, battalions and batteries of the Company fought with distinction in both World Wars and its current Regiment, which forms part of the Army Reserve, is the oldest surviving regiment in the British Army, and the second most senior in the Army Reserve. Members of the Regiment and Specials are drawn, for the most part, from young men and women working in and around the City and Greater London. Those leaving the active units may become Veteran Members and remain within the fraternity of the Company.

The HAC can trace its history back as far as 1087, but it received a Royal Charter from Henry VIII on 25 August 1537, when Letters Patent were received by the Overseers of the Fraternity or Guild of St George authorising them to establish a perpetual corporation for the defence of the realm to be known as the Fraternity or Guild of Artillery of Longbows, Crossbows and Handgonnes. This body was known by a variety of names until 1656, when it was first referred to as the Artillery Company. It was first referred to as the Honourable Artillery Company in 1685 and officially received the name from Queen Victoria in 1860. However, the Archers’ Company of the Honourable Artillery Company was retained into the late 19th century, though as a private club. Founded in 1781 by Sir Ashton Lever, it met at Archers’ Hall, Inner Circle, Regent's Park, London. The Archers' Company remained a part of the regiment operated from 1784 to the late 1790s, along with Matross, Grenadier (established on 11 August 1686) and Light Infantry companies/divisions, with a Rifle or Jaeger Company introduced around 1803.