Association Silver Centrepiece Project
Project Update - July 2022
The designation of "the Artillery Clerks' Section" was first created under Army Order 54 of 1903 and remained in force until the establishment of the Adjutant's General Corps in 1992. Having proudly served the Royal Regiment of Artillery for 83 years, the cohort of Artillery Clerks were required to change their cap badge and allegiance, and complete their individual service chiefly within the Staff and Personnel Support arm of the newly formed Corps.
All Artillery Clerks were enlisted primarily as Artillerymen before being selected to assume the essential administrative and personnel support duties within the various Headquarters and Field and Training Regiments of the Royal Regiment of Artillery, leaning on their personal pride to serve and support others as enthusiastic members of the Gunner family around the world in peace time and on active service.
From after WW2 it looks possible that the status of Artillery Clerk was only bestowed on those soldiers in the Royal Artillery who attained the educational and clerical grades in the rank of Sergeant through to Warrant Officer Class 1, and this definitely became the norm from the 1950s. This unique privilege served to create a "special bond" which exists to this day.
The Artillery Clerks' Association was formed in Woolwich in 1998 and next year (2023) marks our 25th anniversary. With this in mind, the members are looking to preserve their proud heritage as well as the memory and role played by Artillery Clerks in the last century.
Commemoration
The proud members of the Artillery Clerks' Association feel that a suitable way to honour the service of all of the thousands of Artillery Clerks since 1903, regardless of rank, would be to commission a silver centrepiece to coincide with the 25th Anniversary of the formation of the Association in 2023 and 120 years after the conception of the Artillery Clerks' Section in 1903.
The image shown above reflects a vision of the proposed future piece complete with details regarding piece size, markings, and annotations. Further details can be found via the Association Silver Piece Flier that was sent out to members earlier this year (2022).
The centrepiece will provide a permanent commemorative reminder of the Association and the service of its members, especially the value and high regard with which Artillery Clerks were held by their fellow gunners, officers and soldiers alike. This singular historic flagship of our contribution to the professionalism of the Royal Regiment will be securely housed, displayed and maintained with other regimental artifacts in the Central Sergeants' Mess at Larkhill Garrison, the new spiritual home of the Royal Artillery.
Proposed Design, Dimensions, and Projected Costs
Fully fabricated crossed quills and the letters AC, mounted on a black wooden two-part plinth.
The silver section will be manifested by a detailed, hand engraved, fully fabricated "Crossed Quills" mounted on a silver base, astride the letters "AC" underneath, which will be raised at an angle, so it is visible while looking at it front on. The base will have the Royal Artillery badge engraved on the front centre, the Royal Horse Artillery badge to the right, the Royal Artillery Association cypher to the left, and the Army Order on the back. The wording of the front and rear engraved silver plates is shown on the attached diagram. The silver portion will be mounted on a two-part black wooden base, elevated by four cannon ball feet (one in each corner). The Crossed Quills would be enclosed by a Perspex case and the whole centrepiece will be transported in a bespoke wooden case.
Dimensions are given below:
- Total Height: 14 inches;
- Silver height: 10 inches;
- Wooden base height: 4 inches.
The total exceeds should be £8,760 (that is the cost of the Centre Piece).
Fundraising Initiative
We have now launched an ambitious campaign to raise the funds needed to complete the final design and commission this new silver centrepiece in commemoration of our Association. To date £1500 has been granted from our own General Purpose Fund (GPF). In addition to this sum a further £2,175 has been raised from the RAA and individual donations (total so far £3,675). (Please note that Gift Aid will be claimed on individual contributions i.e. £100 donation will be worth £125 to the Silver Centre Piece Fund).
We are currently engaged in researched and targeted approaches to grant-making trusts and foundations, companies, community and professional associations, individuals and livery companies of the City of London.
Any donations towards the costs of the silver piece are gratefully accepted with thanks. There are two options available for providing a donation:
Post: By cheque to the Treasurer: 9 Fairfield Road, Ainsdale, Southport, Merseyside PR8 3LH, made payable to the ‘Artillery Clerks’ Association’, anotated on the back with "DONSILVER23" or;
Electronic transfer: Make an electronic bank transfer, using "DONSILVER23" as the reference, to the account details provided below:
- Acct No: 40945706
- Sort Code: 20-75-01
Please click the donation button at the top of the page and complete the form to inform the Treasurer accordingly
Additional Information
The centrepiece will be added to the Association's property inventory for insurance purposes. If our fundraising appeal exceeds our target of £8,760, all surplus donations will be presented to our charity of choice - the Royal Artillery Charitable Fund - which helps serving and veteran Gunners and their dependants. On the dissolution of the Association, all funds, property (including the Association Standard and Silver Centrepiece) and archives of the Association shall be made over to the Royal Artillery Association.
It is envisaged that donors to the project will be invited to the Artillery Clerks' Association annual reunion and dinner scheduled for June 2023 at the Central Sergeants Mess in Larkhill, Salisbury where their contributions will be duly acknowledged, and the centrepiece will be formally unveiled.
Association Silverware Donations Fund
Currently the donation fund for the Silverware Project stands and £4,400.00 with donations from various institutions (including our own) and individual members shown below.
The Treasurer will apply to HMRC for Gift Aid against all donations and currently this equates to an extra £462.50. Therefore, in total the silverware fund stands at £4,862.50:
- ACs' Association
- British Members Council
- Royal Artillery Association
- Astick R
- Brown G (The Late)
- Corker P
- Cussell DJ
- Cussell HJ (The Late)
- Falzon JF
- Grenham MI
- Hutchinson JM
- Hutchinson JM
- Hyatt GO
- Hyatt GO
- Jones A
- Moss AG
- Norris D
- Reynolds JH
- Spencer PG
- Sykes A
Details how to donate to the fund can be found on our Association website and also on our Facebook X-Quills pages.