Royal Military Academy Sandhurst

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Royal Military Academy Sandhurst

Serve to lead

Sandhurst,
Berkshire


New College buildings
Principal:
Location
Grid reference: SU85876085
Location: 51°20’25"N, -0°46’7"W
City: {{{city}}}
Town: Sandhurst

The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is one of several military academies of the United Kingdom and is the Army's initial officer training centre. It is located in the town of Sandhurst in Berkshire, though its ceremonial entrance is in Camberley, Surrey. The academy's stated aim is to be "the national centre of excellence for leadership". All British Army officers, including late-entry officers who were previously Warrant Officers, as well as other men and women from overseas, are trained at the academy. Sandhurst is the British Army equivalent of the Britannia Royal Naval College and the Royal Air Force College Cranwell.

The boundaries of the academy straddle the border of Berkshire with Surrey. The county border is marked by a small stream known as the Wish Stream, after which the academy journal is named. The "Main Gate" is located on the east of the Academy on the London Road in Camberley.[1] The "College Town Gate", which is used for regular access, is located on the west of the Academy on Yorktown Road in Sandhurst.[1]

History

Old College buildings
A RMAS community open day

The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst was formed in 1947. Its predecessor, the Royal Military College, on the same site, was founded in 1801 for the training of officers for arms other than the Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers. In 1947, the Royal Military College was amalgamated with the Royal Military Academy in Woolwich (founded in 1741 for the training of officers for the Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers).[2]

Following the ending of National Service and the closing of the Mons Officer Cadet School in Aldershot in 1972, Sandhurst became the sole establishment for male initial officer training in the British Army,[3] taking over the responsibilities of Mons for training Short Service Officer Cadets, Territorial Army officers, and those joining the Regular Army as graduates.[4] For nearly half-a-century the welfare of overseas cadets was handled by Sandhurst volunteer Margaret Jones.[5] In 1984, the Women's Officer Training College Bagshot was also merged into Sandhurst. In 1992, a new Commissioning Course finally unified the training of male, female, and overseas cadets.[6]

The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst Collection illustrates the history of the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. The collection includes the Gentlemen Cadet registers, historic archives, uniforms, paintings, photographs, and other artefacts.

For the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, the newly created Academy hosted the running leg of the modern pentathlon competition.[7]

In 2012, Sandhurst accepted a £15 million donation from the government of United Arab Emirates for the Zayed Building, an accommodation block, named after Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founding ruler of the United Arab Emirates.[8] In 2013, Sandhurst accepted a donation of £3 million from the Government of Bahrain for the refurbishment of Mons Hall, named in honour of the men who fell in the Battle of Mons. It was renamed as King Hamad Hall in honour of the King of Bahrain, which generated some controversy in the United Kingdom.[8][9]

In 2015, Sandhurst appointed Colonel Lucy Giles as the first female college commander in its history.[10]

  • The Wellington Room, named after Field Marshal The 1st Duke of Wellington, showing a depiction of the Battle of Waterloo and the Duke's bust—RMAS Collection
    The Wellington Room, named after Field Marshal The 1st Duke of Wellington, showing a depiction of the Battle of Waterloo and the Duke's bust—RMAS Collection
  • Marlborough Room showing triptych on leather of the Battle of Blenheim by Horensburg RMAS Collection
    Marlborough Room showing triptych on leather of the Battle of Blenheim by Horensburg RMAS Collection

Sovereign's Parade

The 149th Sovereign's Parade in front of Old College

The first Sovereign's Parade was held on 14 July 1948, in front of King George VI. Three Sovereign's Parades are held each year outside the Old College to mark the "passing-out" and the final parade at Sandhurst of the Senior Division. All cadets, except for those who have been back-termed through injury or other reasons, are inspected by the Sovereign (or their representative), participate in the Trooping the Colour and parade past the Sovereign (or his representative) and guests. Guests consist of invited dignitaries and friends and families of the graduating cadets.[6]

One of the highlights of the Parade is Trooping the Colour. The Colour trooped is the Sovereign's Banner and the current banner is the third generation of itself, presented by Elizabeth II in March 1999;[11] the first Sovereign's Banner, known as the "King George V's Banner", was presented by George V on 6 November 1918[12] and the second one was presented by Queen Elizabeth on 27 October 1978.[13]

The honour of Trooping the Colour falls to the Sovereign's Platoon, the then-Champion Company/Platoon. The Sovereign's Platoon, which wears multi-coloured lanyards, using the colours of all three Divisions, is selected on merit and is the best platoon amongst the Division; these officer cadets are chosen from a competition in drill, orienteering, shooting and a cross-country race, ensuring they are of the best in endurance and teamwork.[14]

In the past, the Sovereign's Platoon from the Senior Division formed the Colour Party with the Banner on the left flank of the parade; after the inspecting officer had completed inspection, the Colour Party would move to the centre place of the parade before the Saluting Base, awaiting the new Sovereign's Platoon to take possession of the Banner.[15][16] The new Sovereign's Platoon would keep the Banner until handing it to the next Sovereign's Platoon in the next Sovereign's Parade; they had the privilege of leaving the parade before other divisions after the Senior Division officer cadets had marched into the Old College and the remainders of the parade would salute the banner while they were leaving the parade square.[15]

Nowadays, the handover of the Sovereign's Banner from the senior Sovereign's Platoon to a new one dissipates. What replaces it is that the Sovereign's Platoon of Senior Division, instead of the new one, marches to receive the Banner. The Ensign, at the end of the parade, also marches into the Old College whilst carrying the Banner.[17]

At the end of the Parade, the Colours and the Senior Division leave the parade ground via the Grand Steps of the Old College building. They are followed by the Academy Adjutant on horseback (the origins of this tradition are unclear).[6]

Awards

Each Commissioning Course has awards granted to outstanding cadets. The following awards are presented during the Sovereign's Parade. Others are merely listed in the Parade programme. A system of Cadet Government also recognises merit by the appointment of Senior Under Officers, Junior Under Officers, Cadet Sergeants and Cadet Corporals.[6]

Sword of Honour

The Sword of Honour is Awarded to the Officer Cadet considered by the Commandant to be the best of the intake. The Sword of Honour is donated and crafted by Pooley Sword.[18]

King's Medal

This is awarded to the Officer Cadet who has achieved the best overall results in military, academic and practical studies. The King's Medal is presented on behalf of The Sovereign.[19]

Royal Memorial Chapel south aspect

International Sword

Awarded to the International Cadet considered by the Commandant to be the best of the intake. The International Sword is donated by the Ministry of Defence, the State of Kuwait, in memory of Sheikh Ali Al Sabah, the former Defence Minister, the State of Kuwait.[19]

International Award

This is awarded to the International Cadet who has achieved the best overall results in military, academic and practical studies. The International Award is donated by the State of Qatar.[19]

MacRobert Sword

The MacRobert Sword is awarded to the Officer Cadet considered by the Commandant to be, overall, the best of the Short Commissioning Course. This sword is also donated by the MacRobert Trust and produced by Pooley Sword.[20]

The King Hussein Award

This is awarded to the most improved International Cadet. The King Hussein Award is donated by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in memory of the late King Hussein of Jordan.[21]

The Hodson's Horse Merit Award

This is awarded to the International Cadet who has produced an overall performance of particular merit. The Hodson's Horse Merit Award is donated by the Hodson's Horse British Officers' Memorial Trust.[21]

The Commandant's Merit Award

This is awarded at the discretion of the Commandant for exceptional achievement.[21]

The Commandant's Coin

In recognition of sustained and exemplary performance of merit and superb representation of their countries the Royal Military Academy.[21]

Sandhurst Medal

Sandhurst Medal ribbon bar

In December 2016, the academy and its charitable trust created the Sandhurst Medal. Unlike most British medals, it is not awarded or authorised by the Sovereign and is instead awarded privately by the Sandhurst Trust. It may only be awarded to international cadets who have passed out from Sandhurst, not British graduates, and must be purchased for £250.[22] Notable graduates such as Abdullah II of Jordan have mounted the medal on their military uniforms.[23]

Chapel

There are two chapels within the academy. The Royal Memorial Chapel, dedicated as Christ Church; and the Roman Catholic Chapel (Christ the King). The Royal Memorial Chapel also contains the South Africa Chapel, which was originally the sanctuary of the second Chapel before it was enlarged. The original chapel was what is now known as the British Indian Army Memorial Room. The Royal Engineers designed the original Chapel, which features red brick, terracotta moulding, interlocking pediment copies and corbels in 1879. The chapel was dedicated by King George VI on 2 May 1937, after architect Captain Arthur C. Martin enlarged the building in a Byzantine style. The Memorial stained glass and Windows in the chapel honour the Brigade of Guards, Rifle Brigade, Royal Fusiliers, and the Hampshire Regiment, among other units. Some memorials, including one honouring alumni of the US Military Academy at West Point, are carved into the black marble flooring.[24] On panels devoted to the particular campaigns in which they died, are the names of former cadets killed in action. At intervals above the panels are circular tablets to the memory of College Governors. The names of former cadets who have died on active service in the field, or elsewhere are listed in the spaces between the panels. Other tablets on the walls of the porch of the Church were moved there from the old Chapel. At the nave near the chancel steps, old Regimental colours hang from the pillars.[25]

The college cemetery has (in 2017) 21 graves and headstones maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.[26]

  • Royal Memorial Chapel portico
    Royal Memorial Chapel portico
  • Entrance to the cemetery
    Entrance to the cemetery
  • Foreground: some of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission maintained headstones & graves
    Foreground: some of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission maintained headstones & graves

Outside links

 ("Wikimedia Commons" has material
about Royal Military Academy Sandhurst)

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "CC 173 Commandant's Parade". Sandhurst Trust. https://www.sandhursttrust.org/event/7011A000001EIlPQAW/. 
  2. ↑ "Letter from E.I.J. Bell Esq. No.3 Company, No.11 Platoon in Royal Military College re Facilities in Sandhurst". 31 January 1937. http://www.war-letters.com/0023/0014.html. 
  3. ↑ "Mons Officer Cadet School". http://www.sandhurst.mod.uk/history/history9.htm. 
  4. ↑ Some key dates in the history of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and its predecessors The Churchill Society
  5. ↑ "Margaret Jones" (in en). The Times. 2023-12-12. SSN 0140-0460. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/margaret-jones-tjq7g0g09. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Sovereign's Parade Programme. RMA Sandhurst. April 2012. 
  7. ↑ 1948 Summer Olympics official report. p. 47.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Matthew Teller (26 August 2014). "Sandhurst's sheikhs: Why do so many Gulf royals receive military training in the UK?". BBC. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-28896860. 
  9. ↑ Tom Whitehead (17 February 2013). "Row over renaming of Sandhurst hall after Bahrain donation". Daily Telegraph. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/9875995/Row-over-renaming-of-Sandhurst-hall-after-Bahrain-donation.html. 
  10. ↑ "Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to get first female college commander". BBC News. 12 December 2015. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-berkshire-35082705. 
  11. ↑ New Banner Parade of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst - YouTube
  12. ↑ "Court Circular". The Times. 7 November 1918. p. 9. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CS151325543/TTDA?u=glo_earl&sid=bookmark-TTDA&xid=525d2c6b. 
  13. ↑ "Court Circular". The Times. 28 October 1978. p. 14. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CS235111260/TTDA?u=glo_earl&sid=bookmark-TTDA&xid=58d5f945. 
  14. ↑ "The Sovereign's Parade, April 1985". 15 October 2015. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QntoTGiz8VM. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "THE SOVEREIGN'S PARADE AT SANDHURST – SOUND – COLOUR". http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/1d1a5f3bea90447cb0d7490b62abb67b. 
  16. ↑ "The Sovereign's Parade At Sandhurst – 1962". 21 July 2015. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJuq3vXTTTE. 
  17. ↑ "Sandhurst Commissioning Parade – 15/04/16 – CC152". 18 April 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNU5IA6r5c0. 
  18. ↑ "Exeter man awarded Sword of Honour". Radio Exe. 3 October 2018. https://www.radioexe.co.uk/news-and-features/local-news/exeter-man-awarded-sword-of-honour/. 
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 "178th Sovereign's Parade". Ministry of Defence. http://www.army.mod.uk/training_education/24563.aspx. 
  20. ↑ "London Officer Cadet tops course at RMA Sandhurst". The Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Association for Greater London. http://www.glrfca.org/news/detail/216. 
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst "The Sovereign's Parade"
  22. ↑ "Sandhurst Medal – RMAS INTERNATIONAL GRADUATES ONLY". https://shop.sandhursttrust.org/pages/sandhurst-medal. 
  23. ↑ "King Abdullah of Jordan warns Daesh on the rise again" (in en). 2020-01-13. https://www.arabnews.com/node/1612286/middle-east. 
  24. ↑ "Royal Memorial Chapel Sandhurst". http://www.royalmemorialchapel.com/. 
  25. ↑ Mockler-Ferryman, Augustus Ferryman (1900). Annals of Sandhurst: a chronicle of the Royal Military College from its foundation to the present day, with a sketch of the history of the Staff College. London: William Heinemann. https://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/augustus-ferryman-mockler-ferryman/annals-of-sandhurst--a-chronicle-of-the-royal-military-college-from-its-foundat-hci.shtml. 
  26. ↑ "Sandhurst Royal Military Academy Cemetery". https://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/71544/SANDHURST%20ROYAL%20MILITARY%20ACADEMY%20CEMETERY. 
  • Mockler-Ferryman, A. F. Annals of Sandhurst: A Chronicle of the Royal Military College From Its Foundation to the Present. Whitefish, Montana: Kessinger Publishing, 2007 (reprint; original 1900). ISBN 1-4326-6558-8.
  • Thomas, Hugh, 1931– The story of Sandhurst London, Hutchinson 1961
  • Christchurch the Chapel of The Royal Military College: Enlarged and Beautified to the Glory of God and in memory of The Sandhurst Cadets who have died in the service of their country Gale & Polden Ltd, Aldershot, 1937.
  • Goodley, Heloise An Officer and a Gentlewoman Constable and Robinson, London, 2012
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