The Mace-Bearer Magazine - Guild of Mace-Bearers

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THE ROYAL HOSPITAL CHELSEA Unlike Regiments in the British Army, The Royal Hospital has no Colour, Standard or Guidon to parade on formal occasions. For that reason, and also to honour Her Majesty’s upcoming Golden Jubilee in 2002, the then Governor General Sir Jeremy Mackenzie GCB, OBE, DL, decided that clearly some kind of ceremonial device was needed for the Royal Hospital and it was at this moment that he considered that a ceremonial Mace, similar to those carried by Sergeants at Arms in The House of Commons and for Lord Mayors around the country, would be eminently suitable. Such a ceremonial device should also be gilded and in keeping with long established military tradition in Britain, as with Regimental Colours should ideally be presented to the Hospital by the Sovereign herself. Later in the year we were delighted to learn that Her Majesty had graciously agreed to present the Mace to The Royal Hospital and also that Mr Ronald Gerard OBE kindly wished to fund the construction of the Mace. HISTORY The actual ceremony for the handover was choreographed by the indomitable Garrison Sergeant Major for London District, WO1 (GSM) Alan G 'Perry' Mason MVO MBE, Coldstream Guards, (coincidentally this was also to be his final parade in that post) to take place during the Golden Jubilee review of the Royal Companies of Bodyguards that was held in the grounds of Buckingham Palace on 5th July 2002. On that day drawn up on the lawn from right to left in order to be reviewed by Her Majesty were 36 Her Majesty’s Body Guard of The Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms The Military Knights of Windsor The Body of Yeomen Warders of Her Majesty’s Tower of London The In Pensioners of the Royal Hospital Chelsea The Queens Body Guard for Scotland, the Royal Company of Archers The Queen’s Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard An august gathering of living military history if ever there was one! At the completion of the review, Her Majesty then presented the Sovereigns Mace to its first bearer, In Pensioner Des Loat (Late Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers).
Since 2002 there have only been 3 holders of the appointment “Sovereign’s Mace Bearer”, following Des Loat in 2003 was George Kelsall (Late Blues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards)) and since 2008 Cas Butler, Late Welsh Guards (Pictured). All selected for their bearing, enthusiasm and in no short measure, their physical ability (at no tender age) to carry the 24 pound mace during often protracted parades such as on Founders Day, the annual parade, to commemorate the Hospital’s Founder King Charles II. The Mace bearer is however but one element of the Mace Party which also comprises 4 In Pensioners escorts armed with halbards and a Hospital Warrant Officer as the commander. The halberds represent the half-pike/spontoon issued to 17th&18th century serjeants for maintaining the straight lines that the British infantry were famous for fighting in and who traditionally provide the escort to the Regimental colours. The Warrant Officer rather than an Officer in command is due to the nature of the Royal Hospital establishment which is somewhat lean in staff and so the officers carry out the parade duties of company commanders with their In Pensioners, leaving the Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant (RQMS) to look after the Mace which is the role of an RQMS in Cavalry Regiments anyway. The Mace is paraded at various times throughout the year as required but notably for Founders and Remembrance Day, Friends and Corporate events in the Royal Hospital and more recently during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Armed Forces Muster at Windsor Castle and when exercising its rights under the Freedom of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea conferred on the Hospital in 2006 by parading through the streets of the Borough. When not on parade the Mace normally resides in the Royal Hospital museum where it can be viewed, resting upon the woolsack, itself on a purpose built table as described below and alongside the Freedom Scroll from the Royal Borough. T-SHIRTS John Rochester, RQMS (C), Compliance Manager & Curator, Royal Hospital, Chelsea Black T-Shirts with Gold Lettering. Available in sizes Small to XXL. £15.00 each. Please contact the editor (editor@macebearer.com) if you would like one of these. 37
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