Worlds oldest existing unit in active service

A

AlexKall

Active member
"The world's oldest extant regiment dates back to the year 1521 when the men of Dalecarlia chose 16 young men as body guards for Gustav Vasa. Since the year 1523 the section, now enlarged, has been known as the Royal Corps of Halberdiers and, under various names, the regiment has had its natural home at the Palace in Stockholm. The Halberdiers were transformed in 1619 into the Household Company which accompanied Gustavus Adolphus wherever he went in Europe. It was from this time too that the unit was classed as a regiment. In 1633 the company brought the king's body home from Lützen and thereafter formed the basis of Queen Christina's new guards regiment within the royal household."

Source: http://www.livgardet.mil.se/article.php?lang=eng&id=1447

Video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=2VJKBSv8A-k&search=Swedish%20Military
 
Think its because it was at first soldiers from the Swiss army and later it was formed into the vatican's army? I'm not sure heh. You got me there on that, but sources say that Livgardet is the oldest regiment (sorry I titled it unit as in the video clip) still in service. There must be an explenation, one is mine but thats just my thought.
 
If by a "Regiment" one means a military unit commanded by a Colonel, then the Swiss Guard is a regiment that dates to 22 January 1506. Its size has fluxuated over the centuries, but as a military unit with a standard and command structure mirroring that of a regiment, the Swiss Guard is the oldest unless anyone can find an even older still active regiment.

It's size today however is better compared to a Company but certainly bigger than a section or a Platoon (c.f = UK, USA, Commonwealth models).

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Yeoman of The Tower Of London......Thirty-seven Yeoman Warders -- also called "Beefeaters"-- live at the Tower, as its guards: a tradition that goes back to King Henry VIII's bodyguards, established in 1485.
New Yeoman Warders are sworn in on Tower Green after the Tower has closed to the public. The oath of allegiance dates back to 1337. After the ceremony the new recruit joins the other Yeoman Warders and his health is toasted by the Chief Yeoman Warder from the ceremonial punch bowl.
 
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Which one are the most oldest existing unit in active service? Yeoman of The Tower Of London or Dalecarlia? :?
 
[SIZE=+1]The Honourable Artillery Company is the oldest Regiment in the British Army but, paradoxically, the second most senior unit of the Territorial Army. In 1537, the Overseers of the Fraternity or Guild of St George received a Charter of Incorporation from King Henry VIII. According to the Charter, the Guild was intended for The better increase of the Defence of this our Realm and maintenance of the Science and Feat of shooting Long Bows, Cross Bows and Hand Guns”. The Guild became known as ‘The Gentlemen of the Artillery Garden’, after its practice ground in Spitalfields, then simply as ‘The Artillery Company’. The word ‘artillery’ was used at that time to describe archery and other missile weapons, while guns were known as ‘great artillery’. The courtesy prefix ‘Honourable’ was first used in 1685 and officially confirmed by Queen Victoria in 1860. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]Captains of the Artillery Garden provided officers for the London Trained Bands, a citizen militia, most notably when they assembled at Tilbury Camp in 1588 to oppose the Spanish Armada. Members of the Artillery Company fought on both the Royalist and Parliamentary sides during the Civil War of 1642 to 1649. Although the Company’s silver was lost during that war, its archives survive from 1657 onwards. Since 1633, a Court of Assistants, similar in its constitution to the governing bodies of many of the City Livery Companies, has governed the HAC. The first Annual General Court for which a record can be found was held in 1660. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]The Company has always had strong connections with the City. In the early part of the 17th Century, the Court of Aldermen appointed the chief officers and paid the professional soldiers who trained members of the Company. Even today, the Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Sheriffs are honorary members of the Court of Assistants.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]Since the Restoration, the Company has provided Guards of Honour in the City for visits by members of the Royal Family, foreign Royalty and other Heads of State. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]The Company’s role in restoring order to the City following the Gordon Riots of 1780 prompted the gift of its first cannon by the City Corporation and led to the creation of an HAC Artillery Division.[/SIZE]


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One of the two cannon encased in the entrance to Armoury House




[SIZE=+1]In 1830, King William IV ordered the uniform of the HAC to be based on that of the Grenadier Guards. Thirty years later, control of the Company moved from the Home Office to the War Office and, in 1889, a Royal Warrant gave the Secretary of State for War full control of the Company’s military affairs. The Light Cavalry was formed in 1861 as a reconnaissance unit for the infantry, becoming a horse battery in 1891 and accounting for the Regiment’s link with the Royal Horse Artillery (RHA). In 1979, the Court agreed to reconstitute the Light Cavalry for ceremonial tasks. [/SIZE]
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HAC Uniform 1803

HAC Uniforms 1829

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HAC Uniform 1804

HAC Uniforms 1853






[SIZE=+1]
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The HAC received its first Battle Honour, ‘South Africa, 1900-02’, for its service in the Boer War. Almost two hundred members of the Company served in South Africa, the majority in the City Imperial Volunteers as infantry, mounted infantry, and in a Field Battery that was officered and for the most part manned by members of the Company. The Company became part of the newly formed Territorial Army with the passing of the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act in 1907. Its property and privileges are protected by the Honourable Artillery Company Act 1908 [/SIZE]




[SIZE=+1]Two Infantry Battalions and five Batteries of the HAC fought in the First World War. The 1st Battalion served in France and Flanders, with particular distinction at Hooge, Beaucourt, and Gavrelle. The 2nd Battalion saw active service in France and in Italy, where it played an important role in the crossing of the River Piave. Two Batteries went to the Middle East to fight in Aden, Egypt, and Palestine, while two Reserve Batteries and a Siege Battery fought in France. In total, almost thirteen thousand members of the Company served during the First World War and over sixteen hundred of these were killed or died of wounds or sickness. Three members of the HAC were awarded the Victoria Cross. Lieutenant A. O. Pollard, VC, MC, DCM (1893-1960) and Lieutenant R.L. Haine, VC, MC (1896-1982) received the medal for conspicuous bravery and determination while they were fighting with the 1st Battalion at Gavrelle in April 1917. Lieutenant (Acting Captain) T. T. Pryce, VC, MC & Bar (1886-1918), who was originally a private in the 1st Battalion, won a posthumous Victoria Cross as an officer in the Grenadier Guards. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]A detachment of HAC Metropolitan Special Constables was formed in 1919 .The Artillery Division of the HAC was granted the privilege of firing Royal Salutes at the Tower of London in 1924. The following year saw the formation of the Company of Pikemen and Musketeers. [/SIZE]
 
Excuse me Gentlemen, but I am sorry, the Yeomen Warders are not a military unit!!! - they are just fancy dressed Prison Guards who when not spruced up for the usurping House of Windsor are feeding ravens in the tower whose ancestors plucked out the eyes of the poor unfortunates imprisoned there. Yes Beefeaters have to have served in the military to qualify but they are not a fighting military unit - they are just prison guards.

So that still makes the SWISS GUARD the winner so far. :rockin:

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The Yeoman of the guard are still military unit and they are just as busy as the Vatican guard in directing tourist. May I ask when the Vatican guard was last in Action.
 
AlexKall said:
"The world's oldest extant regiment dates back to the year 1521 when the men of Dalecarlia chose 16 young men as body guards for Gustav Vasa. Since the year 1523 the section, now enlarged, has been known as the Royal Corps of Halberdiers and, under various names, the regiment has had its natural home at the Palace in Stockholm. The Halberdiers were transformed in 1619 into the Household Company which accompanied Gustavus Adolphus wherever he went in Europe. It was from this time too that the unit was classed as a regiment. In 1633 the company brought the king's body home from Lützen and thereafter formed the basis of Queen Christina's new guards regiment within the royal household."

Source: http://www.livgardet.mil.se/article.php?lang=eng&id=1447

Video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=2VJKBSv8A-k&search=Swedish%
20Military
Click to expand...

what weapons were used in the video? :)
 
Youtube is slow so I can't check, but I would guess AK4 (possibly AK5) and Finnish built SISU

Should have put "regiment" as the title. Livgardet is operational in many countries world wide, they're in charge of the training for Swedish peacekeepers :)

LeEnfield said:
Fow.....The Yeoman beat Dalecarlia by some 36 years
Click to expand...

Yeah should have put "regiment" heh
 
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