BOWS TO RI FLES

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 4047, 3 May 1932, Page 7

BOWS TO RI FLES

Within half a mile of the Bank of England lies an open space of six acres, once part of Finsbury Fields, that ancient practice ground of Loudon archers. It has been known for nearly three centuries as the Artillery Ground, and contains a dignified Georgian building —Armoury House, the headquarters of the Honourable Artillery Company, the oldest regiment in the world. No othqr combatant unit can boast unbroken traditions extending over four centuries, nor are there many corporate bodies with roots more deeply embedded in English history. Incorporated by Royal Charter of Henry VIII. in 1537 as the Guild of Artillery, its original members were bidden to practise the science and feat of shooting with longbow, crossbow, and handgun for the better defence of the realm. For a full century the company occupied the Old Artillery Ground off Bishopsgate—the original lease, dated 1538, was discovered last year. Not until Kill did the city fathers lease to the company its present ground, then the “ uppermost field in Finsbury.” It is not surprising to find that such a regiment cherishes unique traditions, says a writer in the ‘ Sunday Times.’ Some of its members fought in the wars of Henry VIII.; others fought in the last defence of Calais. The regiment attended the funeral of Sir Philip Sidney, and its members rallied in readiness to repel the Spanish Armada. For centuries the company trained its members to be officers of trained bands, and, as such, many of them served the Parliament in the Civil War. Others fought with distinction on the Uoyali't side. The company marched in the funeral of Oliver Cromwell, and welcomed Charles H. at the Restoration. But always the old corps has remained abreast of the times. They cast aside their longbows for muskets and pikes; they discarded the pike for the bayonet. When the Army first adopted the rifle the company followed suit. And so this amazing survival of a hand of citizen archers has always remained not only a force to be reckoned with, but one with power of expansion within itself. In the Great War the company sent and maintained live batteries and two battalions on active service, besides supplying over I,UOU officers for other units. The regiment won forty-two battle honours, and the roll ot dead contains 1,7(10 names. To-day its establishment is two batteries of horse artillery and one battalion of infantry. Each evening the walls of Armoury House resound to words of command, the tramp ot feet, and the clang of breech-blocks. On Saturday swarms of stalwart members, products of flu' public schools, betake themselves to the mimic warfare ot the football or hockey field. In truth, the old Artillery Compauj is still verv much alive.