The King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, is a ceremonial unit of the British Army, quartered at Woolwich. It is a mounted unit and all of its soldiers are trained to care for and drive teams of six horses, each team pulling a First World War-era QF 13-pounder gun; six teams are used in the unit's Musical Drive. The Troop's duties include firing salutes on royal and state occasions, participation in parades, and the duties of the King's Life Guard at Horse Guards for one month each year. The unit provides the gun carriage and team of black horses for state funerals.[3] The unit is most often seen providing gun salutes on state occasions in Hyde Park, and Green Park.
The King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery
Officer (left) and trumpeter of the King's Troop on duty at the Queen's Birthday Parade
At the suggestion of Brigadier John Anquetil Norman, the King declared that the Riding Troop would be known as 'The King's Troop'.[5] The King enacted his proclamation on 24 October 1947 by amending the page on the visitors' book by striking out the word "Riding" and inserting "King's".[6] On her accession, Queen Elizabeth II declared that the name 'The King's Troop' would remain in honour of her father.[3]
On 6 September 1997, the coffin of Diana, Princess of Wales, was carried on a gun carriage by members of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery.[7]
The King's Troop was for 65 years stationed at St John's Wood Barracks before it was relocated to Napier Lines (also known as King George VI Lines) at the traditional Royal Artillery Barracks at Woolwich in February 2012.[8][9] Because of the greater distance from central London, the troop can no longer ride to many ceremonial events. Horses are transported by vehicle to stables in central London for appearances at Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace and elsewhere.[10]
The King's Troop has about 140 members. Women were able to apply from 1996, and eventually made up about 40% of the Troop.[3]
The King's Troop riding in Hyde Park in preparation for a Royal Salute for the birthday of Prince Charles in 2012.
Musical Drive
The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery performed their Musical Drive at every Royal Tournament from its formation in 1947 to the final Royal Tournament on 2 August 1999. The Musical Drive can be seen at shows around the United Kingdom and always at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in May every year.[11]
Many of the manoeuvres of the Musical Drive have remained unchanged since it was first performed in 1897. The start, known as the Big Drive, features the Scissors, where the whole team criss-cross at gallop, displaying choreography, teamwork and discipline. Another manoeuvre, the Wagon Wheel, depicts an inner wheel, spokes, and an outer wheel.[12]
For a "Hero's Welcome" event in Windsor in May 2008[13] there were six gun teams, each of ten horses and seven riders. Women, first admitted to the King's Troop in 1996, made up one-third of the display team. Major Erica Bridge was the first female officer commanding the King's Troop.[14]
Trooping the Colour
Together with the Household Division the King's Troop has appeared every June since 1997, when it made its first appearance, at Trooping the Colour, on Horse Guards Parade to celebrate the King's/Queen's Official Birthday. At the end of the event, the King's Troop ranks past the King.[15]
After the ceremony, the King's Troop moves to Green Park, adjacent to Buckingham Palace, firing a 41-gun salute, which is a 21-gun salute with an additional 20 rounds fired because the gun position is in a Royal Park.[16]
King's/Queen's Life Guard
One of the regular duties undertaken by the King's Troop is to mount the King's Life Guard on Horse Guards Parade. Although this is primarily the role of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, every summer this unit goes away for 2–3 weeks for summer training (and to provide a break for their horses) to Norfolk. During this period, the King's Troop takes over responsibility for providing the mounted sentries.[17]
Clarke, W.G. (1993). Horse Gunners: The Royal Horse Artillery, 200 Years of Panache and Professionalism. Woolwich: The Royal Artillery Institution. ISBN09520762-0-9.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery.
Official site
Col Anand We Gunners An (unofficial) History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery
March 12, 2023
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The King s Troop Royal Horse Artillery is a ceremonial unit of the British Army quartered at Woolwich It is a mounted unit and all of its soldiers are trained to care for and drive teams of six horses each team pulling a First World War era QF 13 pounder gun six teams are used in the unit s Musical Drive The Troop s duties include firing salutes on royal and state occasions participation in parades and the duties of the King s Life Guard at Horse Guards for one month each year The unit provides the gun carriage and team of black horses for state funerals 3 The unit is most often seen providing gun salutes on state occasions in Hyde Park and Green Park The King s Troop Royal Horse ArtilleryOfficer left and trumpeter of the King s Troop on duty at the Queen s Birthday ParadeActive17 April 1946 presentCountryUnited KingdomBranch British ArmyTypeSaluting BatteryRoleCeremonialPart ofHQ London DistrictGarrison HQNapier King George VI Lines 1 Royal Artillery Barracks Woolwich Station 2 Nickname s The Troop PatronGeorge VIAnniversariesTroop Day 24 OctoberEquipmentQF 13 pounder gunWebsiteThe King s Troop RHA Contents 1 History 2 Role 2 1 Musical Drive 2 2 Trooping the Colour 2 3 King s Queen s Life Guard 3 Order of precedence 4 Film The Troop 5 See also 6 Notes 7 Bibliography 8 External linksHistory Edit The purpose built Napier Lines barracks at Woolwich home of the King s Troop since 2012 After the Second World War King George VI expressed the view that following the mechanisation of the last batteries of horse drawn artillery a troop of horse artillery should be retained to take part in the great ceremonies of state Accordingly the Riding Troop was reformed on 17 April 1946 at Shoeburyness as a six gun Royal Horse Artillery battery for the Household Division 4 At the suggestion of Brigadier John Anquetil Norman the King declared that the Riding Troop would be known as The King s Troop 5 The King enacted his proclamation on 24 October 1947 by amending the page on the visitors book by striking out the word Riding and inserting King s 6 On her accession Queen Elizabeth II declared that the name The King s Troop would remain in honour of her father 3 On 6 September 1997 the coffin of Diana Princess of Wales was carried on a gun carriage by members of the King s Troop Royal Horse Artillery 7 The King s Troop was for 65 years stationed at St John s Wood Barracks before it was relocated to Napier Lines also known as King George VI Lines at the traditional Royal Artillery Barracks at Woolwich in February 2012 8 9 Because of the greater distance from central London the troop can no longer ride to many ceremonial events Horses are transported by vehicle to stables in central London for appearances at Hyde Park Buckingham Palace and elsewhere 10 The King s Troop has about 140 members Women were able to apply from 1996 and eventually made up about 40 of the Troop 3 Role Edit Horses of the King s Troop pass Wellington Arch drawing the gun carriage upon which is the coffin of Diana Princess of Wales in 1997 13 pounder guns of King s Troop Royal Horse Artillery at the 2009 Trooping the Colour The King s Troop riding in Hyde Park in preparation for a Royal Salute for the birthday of Prince Charles in 2012 Musical Drive Edit The King s Troop Royal Horse Artillery performed their Musical Drive at every Royal Tournament from its formation in 1947 to the final Royal Tournament on 2 August 1999 The Musical Drive can be seen at shows around the United Kingdom and always at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in May every year 11 Many of the manoeuvres of the Musical Drive have remained unchanged since it was first performed in 1897 The start known as the Big Drive features the Scissors where the whole team criss cross at gallop displaying choreography teamwork and discipline Another manoeuvre the Wagon Wheel depicts an inner wheel spokes and an outer wheel 12 For a Hero s Welcome event in Windsor in May 2008 13 there were six gun teams each of ten horses and seven riders Women first admitted to the King s Troop in 1996 made up one third of the display team Major Erica Bridge was the first female officer commanding the King s Troop 14 Trooping the Colour Edit Together with the Household Division the King s Troop has appeared every June since 1997 when it made its first appearance at Trooping the Colour on Horse Guards Parade to celebrate the King s Queen s Official Birthday At the end of the event the King s Troop ranks past the King 15 After the ceremony the King s Troop moves to Green Park adjacent to Buckingham Palace firing a 41 gun salute which is a 21 gun salute with an additional 20 rounds fired because the gun position is in a Royal Park 16 King s Queen s Life Guard Edit One of the regular duties undertaken by the King s Troop is to mount the King s Life Guard on Horse Guards Parade Although this is primarily the role of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment every summer this unit goes away for 2 3 weeks for summer training and to provide a break for their horses to Norfolk During this period the King s Troop takes over responsibility for providing the mounted sentries 17 Order of precedence EditIn the British Army Order of Precedence the Household Cavalry is listed first and normally parades at the extreme right of the line However when the Royal Artillery is on parade with its guns they take on the honour of taking right of the line 18 Film The Troop EditA 35mm CinemaScope film The Troop was filmed in Windsor Great Park and at The Wood barracks The film had a royal premiere before the Princess Royal at BAFTA in September 1999 19 The Glory Film Co production was produced and directed by Marcus Dillistone the associate producer was Paul Anthony Viollet a former Troop Officer and the introduction was spoken by Sir John Mills Music was composed by Julian Scott and performed by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 20 See also Edit United Kingdom portal War portalBritish Army Honourable Artillery Company List of Royal Artillery Batteries Royal Artillery Royal Horse Artillery Royal Tournament Trooping the ColourNotes Edit Tom Sables 27 November 2020 Is Your Military Base Closing Read The Full List Of Sites Shutting Forces Network Retrieved 12 June 2021 Trooping the Colour The Queen s Official Birthday 2021 BBC retrieved 12 June 2021 a b c Robinson Helen n d The King s troop amp I The Lady Retrieved 7 February 2022 Clarke 1993 p 113 Obituary of Brigadier J A Norman The Times March 1994 The King s Troop Royal Horse Artillery Our History Army Retrieved 7 February 2022 Palace Announces Further Changes to Funeral Route BBC News September 1997 King s Troop RHA moves into state of the art facilities in Woolwich Defence News 8 February 2012 King s Troop moves to its spiritual home in Woolwich at BBC News 7 February 2012 Accessed 8 February 2012 Moore Bridger Benedict King s Troop hoof it 15 miles to new barracks Evening Standard London 8 October 2008 Accessed 3 February 2012 Sunday Programme Royal Windsor Horse Show Retrieved 1 September 2020 County show thrives in the rain Haselmere Herald 29 May 2014 Retrieved 1 September 2020 A Heroes Welcome Broadcast item at BBC One 11 May 2008 Roya Nikkhah King s Troop prepares for Royal Tattoo at Telegraph 13 April 2008 Trooping the Colour at official British Monarchy website Trooping The Colour Coach Holiday News 31 May 2011 New Faces at Horse Guards British Guild of Tourist Guides 18 July 2017 Retrieved 13 July 2019 The Royal Regiment of Artillery British Army units 1945 on Retrieved 23 April 2014 The Troop Film Royal Premiere at BAFTA at Glory Film Co The Troop An Epic Short Film at Glory Film Co Bibliography EditClarke W G 1993 Horse Gunners The Royal Horse Artillery 200 Years of Panache and Professionalism Woolwich The Royal Artillery Institution ISBN 09520762 0 9 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to King s Troop Royal Horse Artillery Official site Col Anand We Gunners An unofficial History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title King 27s Troop Royal Horse Artillery amp oldid 1113524701, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
