Royal Artillery

The Company has a close association with the Royal Regiment of Artillery and a number of Liverymen are either past or serving members of the Regiment. We are proud to have had former Master Gunner, St. James Park, Field Marshall The Lord Vincent, GBE, KCB, DSO and also his successor, General Sir Alexander Harley, KBE, CB as Honorary Court Assistants.  General Sir Timothy Granille-Chapman the present Master Gunner St. James Park was made a Freeman of the Company in July 2009 with a view to his joining the Court as an honorary member once he has received the Freedom of the City of London and been clothed in the Livery.

The association stems from the wheel and in the 1670 Bylaws of the Company it is decreed "That if at any time hereafter notice and command shall bee given too this Company to furnish His Majestys Trayne of Waggons or Artillery with wheelwrights to attend the service thereof Thereupon this Company shall appoint fitt and able persons admitted to this Society for the said work". It is also worth recording that the Royal Artillery is the only regiment in the British Army to have the traditional wheel incorporated within their cap badge.

The English first used guns in battle alongside longbows at Crécy in 1346. Since then it has used them in almost every war and campaign it has fought throughout the world, but it was almost four hundred years before a permanent force of artillery was formed.

In peacetime, guns were kept in castles and were looked after by Master Gunners, skilled in their manufacture and knowledgeable in their use.

In wartime, men were recruited and trained into a Trayne of Artillery until on the 26th May 1716 the first two Companies of Artillery were formed by Royal Warrant at Woolwich.

The guns of the Royal Artillery are the Regiment's Colours, in the same way that the flags and guidons of infantry regiments are theirs, leading them into battle.

The Colours represent pride in the Regiment, so the guns are protected and retained at all costs. If the situation demands that they are left behind they must be disabled or destroyed.

The gun depicted on the cap badge is a 9pdr Rifled Muzzle Loader of about 1871, and the rammer used to ram the charge into the muzzle is also seen, to the left of the carriage wheel. Ubique, surmounting the gun, means "Everywhere", and the motto below Quo Fas et Gloria Ducunt, "Where right and glory lead us".

More information regarding the history and traditions of the Royal Regiment of Artillery can be found by visiting the Royal Artillery Museum at Woolwich or visiting their website at www.firepower.org.uk

In recognition of the close links between the Livery Company and the Royal Artillery the Company make annual award in the form of 'The Openshaw Cup' to the best Warrant Officer on the Gunnery Career Course in July each year at The Royal School of Artillery, Larkhill and the best Gunner Students at the Army Foundation College in Harrowgate.  Likewise to the best NCO of 106 (Yeomanry) Regt RA

The Company in addition to affiliating with 96, 97 and 109 (Cadet) RA Detachments of the South East Army Cadet Force, based at Erith, Grove Park and Woolwich have recently entered into a futher affiliation with 106 (Yeomanry) Regiment RA based at Grove Park.  It is intended that each year, The Master and other members of the Company will visit the Regiment during its annual camp where The Master will present 'The Wheelwrights Cup' to the best junior NCO.  The Cup was presented to the Company by Past Master Kenneth M. Davidson for the purpose.  A similar affiliation has been formed with with 1st Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery.  In order to maintain continuety Past Master Ken Davidson has been appointed as the Company's 'Military Liaison Officer'.

On their return from operations members of the Company attended the medals parade of 1 RHA at Tidwore, where the Military Liaison officer had the rare priviledge of assisting General Sir Timothy Granville-Chapman present campaign medals to the Regiment.