289 
1 /,'^y 
THE ARTILLERY BRANCH 
OF THE 
HONOURABLE ARTILLERY COMPANY OP LONDON. 
BY 
CAPTAIN J. A. LABALMONDIERE, R.A. 
AXD 
LIEUT. A. L. MORAN T, H.A.C. 
The ancient and interesting regiment known as the Honourable Artil¬ 
lery Company dates from a period before the existence of any corps 
forming* part of our present military system. 
Enrolled by Royal Charter in 1537, the members of the Guild or 
Fraternitie of St. George met for instruction and practice in the “science 
of artillery, that is to witt for Longe bowes, Crosbowes and Hand- 
gonnes.” The Tessel ground, Bishopsgate, was the original artillery 
garden where in 1581 the gunners of H.M. Navy were trained under 
the Master-Gunner of the Tower, an officer with whom the Company 
remained at feud for many years. Circumstances compelled the Com¬ 
pany to change its ground, and in 1641 the present Artillery ground 
in Moorfields was acquired, containing about six acres, on which a 
hundred years later, in 1735, the Armoury house was built. From the 
earliest times the Company has been mainly formed of infantry, and 
since the review of the corps by George I., in 1722, the uniform has 
been scarlet. 
The name “Artillery Company” has often caused misconception as 
to its composition, but it must be remembered that in the 16th Century 
the term “ Artillery ” was applied to any bolt or missile discharged 
from any weapon, and that infantry is the natural development -of 
archers, arquebusiers and of the pikemen who were always associated 
with them. 
It was not until the commencement of the 18th Century that the 
Company possessed artillery pieces of its own and then they were “bat¬ 
talion guns ” after the custom which prevailed to a later date in the 
regular army. Among the warlike stores of the Company in 1 738 we 
find record of three field pieces and one mortar piece, and some years 
later (1745) during the ferment caused by the rebellion of the young 
Pretender, twenty-one pieces of cannon, one mortar, and sixteen co¬ 
horns belonging to the Corps were sent to the Tower for safe custody. 
Previous to this time if guns were required for the “ exercises ” they 
6. VOL. XXI. 39 
Royal 
Charter, 
1537. 
Artillery 
Armament. 
