Links with the Armed Forces
The Company has a traditional association with the armed forces.
HMS Kent
The Company's first association with the Royal Navy was in 1666, assisting with
the funding of the second Royal London. The Company was then asociated with the
modern HMS London from 1906 to 1998, when the ship was decommissioned. The Company
has now established an association with HMS Kent which was launched by HRH Princess
Alexandra in May 1998, joined the fleet in December 1999 and was commissioned
in June 2000.
Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
In 1957 the Company formed an association with the 1st Battalion Royal Fusiliers
(City of London Regiment). In 1960 a regimental expedition conquered an unclimed
9,000 ft. peak in the Canadian Rockies and named it Mercers' Peak. New Regimental
and Queen's Colour Belts were presented by the Company to the 1st Battalion in
September 1967.
In 1968 the association continued with the 3rd Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
to which the Company has made a number of gifts, including a sit of guidon poles.
To commemorate the Tercentenary of its association with the City of London in
1985, the Regiment presented the Company with a statuette in silver of an 18th
Centrury Regimental Drummer.
In 1992 the 3rd Battalion of the Regimental merged with the 1st and 2nd Battalions
and the association continues with both these Battalions.
No. 6 Squadron, Royal Air Force
The most recent association, since 1977, is with No. 6 Squadron, Royal Air Force.
This Squadron, one of the 'Original Seven', remained at full combat strength since
the date of its formation in 1914 until its recent disbandment on 31 May 2007.
At that time, the Squadron was equipped with Jaguar close support and strike
aircraft and was stationed at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire. The Squadron is due
to reform in 2009 with the state-of-the-art Thyphoon swing-role combat fighter.
Silver competition trophies and two auspicious paintings by the renowned aviation
artist, Mike Rondot, have been donated to the Squadron by the Company.
