Who we are

Purpose

The Honourable Artillery Company was established and incorporated with a grant of a Royal Charter by Henry VIII on 25 August 1537 "for the better defence of this realm." From the 17th century the Company has been described as a regiment and remains so to this day. It is the oldest regiment in the British Army and, alongside the five Foot Guards regiments, one of few never to have been amalgamated with another.

Structure

The Regiment has over the years included infantry, artillery and light cavalry. Since 1974 its role has been focussed on intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and gunnery. Today it consists of a major army reserve unit of an RHQ and five sub units, which is based in Finsbury Barracks, adjacent to Armoury House. This barracks is owned (in Trust) by the Company but leased to the Greater London Reserve Forces & Cadet Association and they, on behalf of the MOD, maintain the barracks for the occupation of the HAC unit.

The Regiment supports two HAC badged CCF contingents in local academies in Islington and Hackney. They offer challenging and enjoyable activities for young people, and prepare them to play an active part in the community while developing valuable life skills.

Governance

The Regiment’s civil and financial affairs, together with its clubs and societies, are managed by the Court of Assistants and the staff employed by the Company to administer the membership, finances, property, and the facilities of Armoury House, the Artillery Garden and Welsh Pencelli Estate.

In 1964 the Company was registered as a charity, (Charity No: 208443) so it could effectively financially support the regiment. Its charitable purpose, in line with the charter, is “for military exercise and training and for the better defence of the realm”.

Annual grants from the Court of Assistants financially support the serving units of the Regiment, including the two CCFs, thus continuing to meet both the intent of the Royal Charter and the charitable purpose. In addition, the Company supports a unit of the City of London Special Constabulary, and the ceremonial units of the Pikemen & Musketeers, the Light Cavalry and the Corp of Drums all of whom are housed in Armoury House.

Find out more

Our sub-pages describe the component parts of our Regiment, active and retired. Please read about the modern HAC, a major unit of the Army Reserve, and about our unique Detachment of Special Constables of the City of London Police. This is our active or serving element.

Read also about our cadets, the Company and how we administer the Trust, our many veteran members who have ceased active soldiering but remain committed to their Regiment, and the affiliations in the United States and South Africa of which we are so proud.

The Honourable Artillery Company (also known as the HAC) is one of the oldest military organizations in the world. We were originally incorporated by Royal Charter by King Henry VIII on 25th August 1537 and subsequently became a registered charity in 1964 (Charity No 208443). Our charitable goals remain consistent with those in our Royal Charter: "for military exercise and training and for the better defence of the realm".

Today, the Charity Commission records the activities of the Company as being support to the HAC Regiment of the Army Reserve, support to the HAC Detachment of Special Constabulary of the City of London Police, support to the Benevolent Fund and our ceremonial sub-units, and conservation of the Company estate and treasures.

Click on the sections below to find further details.

The Company

The Company consists of approximately 2,500 members, some 400 of whom are actively serving either with the Regiment or the Special Constabulary. The remainder are either veteran members who have previously served in the Regiment or Special Constabulary, or non-regimental members who have given military or police service to the Crown elsewhere.

The Regiment

Since 1908 the HAC has been a regiment of the Army Reserve (formerly the Territorial Army) and the Ministry of Defence is entirely responsible for training, equipping and (through the Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association) housing the Regiment, although much of our charitable funding goes towards supporting the Regiment.

Special Constabulary

Established in 1919, our Detachment of Special Constabulary is attached to the City of London Police and assists in maintaining law and order in the City of London from its base in Armoury House

Pikemen & Musketeers

The Company of Pikemen & Musketeers comprises veteran members of the HAC. Its primary duty is as the bodyguard for the Lord Mayor of London when on official business.

Light Cavalry

The Light Cavalry is our mounted ceremonial sub-unit which provides an escort for the Lady Mayoress of London as well as guard duties and demonstrations at other events.