Military Affiliations

There is a long tradition of links between City of London Livery Companies and units of the United Kingdom’s Armed Forces. The Curriers' Company is no exception and is proud to support the UK Armed Forces and has specific links to all the Armed Services.

These close affiliations are maintained through the award of prizes for excellence to young servicemen and women and other contributions.

The Company has enjoyed an affiliation with a British Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment since 1982, in the form of 33 Regiment. When it was decided in 1998, that the Regiment’s four Territorial Army Squadrons warranted their own Headquarters, 101(City of London) Engineer Regiment EOD(V) was formed. The Curriers Company then appropriately transferred its affiliation to this new unit, based in Catford, London. In addition to the friendship exchanged between the Curriers and 101 Regiment, the Company presents a trophy to the Squadron that wins the annual inter-squadron training competition.

The Curriers first forged a link with No 7 Squadron, Royal Air Force in 1999. The Squadron operates Chinook support helicopters at RAF Odiham in Hampshire, specialising in providing tactical airlift for Special Forces’ operations. The Squadron marked their 100th Anniversary with a series of events in central London in 2014.

In 2002, No 7 Squadron RAF came under joint command, along with 657 Squadron Army Air Corps, which flies the Lynx helicopter in a similar role, to form the Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing (JSFAW). Therefore, in June 2007, the Company formally embraced the new joint unit by presenting a scroll of affiliation to JSFAW to complement the original affiliation with No 7 Squadron, RAF, which still endures. The Company makes periodic visits to RAF Odiham.

The Curriers started their first affiliation with the Royal Navy in June 2012 with the University Royal Navy Unit at Cambridge University and HMS Trumpeter, a coastal patrol ship. The aim of the URNU organisation is to educate a wide spectrum of high-calibre undergraduates who show potential as society’s future leaders and opinion-formers in the role and need for the Royal Navy.

HMS Trumpeter, one of twelve P2000 ships, was until 2024 the focus of the Cambridge URNU with sea training conducted onboard during weekends and deployments, with up to 12 students and 5 regular ship’s company embarked. She has now been redeployed up to Newcastle, but the Curriers continue to retain links with her.