The Company of Pikemen & Musketeers was formed in 1925 to perpetuate the colour and pageantry of the past after the Army had adopted drab khaki uniforms. It has been providing colour and pageantry at events in the City of London and elsewhere ever since.
The form of drill used is taken from a manual entitled Militaire Discipline first published in 1638 by Colonel William Bariffe, a member of the HAC and a parliamentarian army officer. He was a leading military writer of his time and his drill manuals were used by both sides during the English civil war. Although many of the orders are similar to those used in the British Army today you still hear some delightfully original orders such as ‘Have a care’, ‘Assume a lazy posture’ and ‘Charge for horse and draw your sword’.
Seventeenth century marches and music are provided by the Company’s own drums and fifes.
From 1925 the Company was present at the Lord Mayor’s Show and sometimes attended the Lord Mayor, but it is only since the Second World War that the Company has regularly escorted his State Coach. In 1955 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II granted the Company a Royal Warrant, authorising it to parade and tasked it to provide a ceremonial bodyguard for the Lord Mayor of the City of London.
