KING’S BODYGUARD.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 254, 7 August 1937, Page 9

KING’S BODYGUARD.

STANDARD WITH HONOURS. For the first time for nearly three centuries His Majesty’s Bodyguard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms is to have a standard which records its remarkable history. Raised by Henry VIII. on his accession in 1509 as his personal guard, the corps* was styled “The King’s Speres.” It accompanied him to France, and was actively engaged at Guinegatte, near Terouenne, on August 16, 1513—an action better known as “The Battle of tho Spurs.” The corps also took paid in the Siege of Boulogne in 1544. Three years later, this distinguished unit was present at the Battle of Pinkie during ”An expedition to Scotland” in 1547, and also at Edgehill and other battles of the civil wars of the reign of Charles 1., when the King’s Life Guards, now the Life and Horse Guards, took over its duties in the field. The obligation of such service, however, exists to this day, as it is embodied in the oath on appointment. The name of the corps, which is the “Nearest Guard” to the Sovereign, was changed to the “Band of Gentlemen Pensioners” in 1526, and bore that title until 1834, when William IV. gave it the present designation. The original standard of the corps in time of war was St. George’s Cross., which in certain records is described as with four “bends”—-lines running diagonally across the flag—until 1685, when the bends were discontinued. This original standard was lost—it is believed to have been destroyed in the time of Cromwell —and so, until 28 years am, when a new standard of modern design was brought into use, the Gentlemen-at-Arms had a stan-dard-bearer but no standard! The new standard, of which, as stated above, His Majesty has graciously approved, bears battle honours which are older than those of tho Colours of any army unit. These are: ‘ Guinegatte, 1513,” and “Boulogne, 1544.” The “bends” discontinued in 1685 are reincluded in the new design, which is 16thcentury in character, and now enclose the words “Gentlemen-at-Arms.” The new standard embodies tho cross of St. George, and bears the cypher of the present Monarch with the Imperial Crown, and the Portcullis badge of Henry VIII., founder of the corps, with the Tudor Crown. It is interesting to note that the present standard-bearer of the corps is Brigadier-General Sir Archibald F. Homo, K.0.V.0., C. 8., C.M.G., D. 5.0., the honorary treasurer of the British Empire Service League since its inception.