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The Honourable Artillery Company

The Honourable Artillery Company was established under Royal Charter by Henry VIII in1537 and is the oldest Regiment in the British Army. Based just outside the City walls in London the HAC was originally an infantry unit and the word Artillery was then used to refer to any weapon which projected a missile. However, between 1781 and 1973 the unit comprised both infantry and artillery sub-units. Today the HAC provides Surveillance and Target Acquisition Patrols in support of the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps(ARRC). Each Sabre Squadron is affiliated to an ARRC Division, with whom they regularly train at home and abroad. In 1997 The Regiment completed demanding exercises in France and Belize. In addition the Regiment regularly sends individuals on Operations in support of Regular units. However, in May 1997 the HAC deployed its first formed unit on Operations since the WWII when a patrol deployed on a six month tour of Bosnia.

The HAC was the first Regiment to be given the privilege of marching through the City of London with "drums beating, colours flying and bayonets fixed" and was also charged with the responsibility for the maintenance of law and order with in the City during the 17th century. Today the Regiment maintains close links with the City and draws the majority of its recruits from the area. It is always on the look-out for young, high calibre individuals capable of meeting the requirements of its challenging role.

As well as its operational role the Regiment is privileged to be the unit chosen to carry out State and Ceremonial functions within the City walls. This includes firing Royal Salutes at Her Majesty's Tower of London on the occasions of Royal Birthdays, State visits and the State Opening of Parliament. The HAC also provides the Guards of Honour in the Guildhall Yard for State visits when it exercises its right to march through the City.

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