Her Majesty’s Palace and Fortress The Tower of London

Dated 08/06/2009,

By Chev. Dave Phillips KStG

On the 23rd of May 2009 at Rochester Cathedral I took the Oath of Knighthood and joined the International Knightly Order Valiant of Saint George.  Within the hour I was asked by the Grand Prior of The United Kingdom if I could produce an article about my fairly unique job and a little background about me, so here goes.

Originally from East London, I joined the army in 1979 and after basic training was posted to an Infantry Unit, The Royal Irish Rangers, and served in mainland UK, Northern Ireland Gibraltar and Cyprus, as part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force.  In 1988 in the Rank of Sergeant, I passed an intensive six-month selection course and transferred into the Small Arms School Corps.  I then worked as a specialist trainer in a variety of postings in the UK and across the world supporting the Armed Forces on a joint-service basis in order for them to train effectively. 

As well as my job at the Tower I also do voluntary work in several East London secondary schools with the Newham Education Business Partnership and I work as a Special Constable with the Metropolitan Police.  Throughout my career I have always been involved with charitable fund raising and have helped many worthwhile causes at home and abroad.  I am married to Judith and have three grown up sons.

History of the Tower

On the 14th of October 1066, William Duke of Normandy (William the Conqueror) defeated King Harold II at the Battle of Hastings and was then crowned King William I of England on Christmas day.   In 1078 William built a Citadel to overawe his newly conquered subjects and to defend the eastern entry to the city along the river Thames.  The Royal Palace and Fortress was erected at the south-eastern end of the wall that the Romans built around Londinium circa AD 200.  When completed in 1098 the Norman Keep was the tallest building in England and became known as the White Tower in the 12th century when it was whitewashed.  The defences of the Tower were improved over the next two centuries when the inner and outer curtain walls and moat were added.  Apart from later minor changes, the Tower we know today was completed by the end of the 13th century.

Apart from being a Royal Palace to all our monarchs for over 500 years, the Tower has also been used for many purposes in its long history:

• The Crown Jewels and Royal Regalia have been stored there since 1303
• Until 1810, the Royal Mint was located there
• The first Royal Observatory in England was in the White Tower
• It was an armoury for production and storage of munitions
• The Public Record Office was there until the 19th century
• The Royal Menagerie was there until it was moved to regents Park in the 19th century
• It was once the most famous prison in the world.  The list of prisoners kept at the Tower is as long as it is famous, and includes Thomas More, Anne Boleyn, Lady Jane Grey, Sir Walter Raleigh, Princess Elizabeth, Guy Fawkes and Rudolf Hess.
• It is my home!

Yeoman Warders

Although there have been guards at the Tower since the Norman Conquest, the first recorded mention is in 1326 when Edward II paid for 30 armed footmen to be stationed in the Tower to guard it.  After Henry VII defeated Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field during the War of the Roses in 1485, he formed the King’s Bodyguard of the Yeoman of the Guard.  They were dressed in a green and white uniform and carried an Arkabus (musket).

In 1509, Henry VIII formed the Body of Yeoman Warders and in 1526, he changed the uniform to a more splendid and predominantly scarlet one.  In 1550, the Duke of Somerset who was imprisoned in the Tower was so impressed with the treatment he received from the Yeoman Warders he asked if there was anything he could do for them.  The Yeoman Warders asked if they could be permitted to wear the very impressive uniform of the Yeoman of the Guard, which was duly granted.  The only difference in the uniforms is that the Yeoman of the Guard wears a shoulder strap across their shoulder (very like the Sam Browne), which was to support the weight of the Arkabus.

Tradition said that the monarch would pay for all uniforms of the Yeoman Body and that carried on for centuries until in 1858 Queen Victoria tasked Prince Albert to design a better version for everyday wear.  Along with Sir Robert Peel, Prince Albert designed the Blue Undress uniform which is based on a combination of a Tudor Knight and a Victorian police uniform.

Why be a Yeoman Warder?

To be employed at the Tower Of London was to be housed, clothed, fed, issued weapons and relatively well paid.  Initially Warders had to purchase their job from the Lieutenant for 250 guineas but some unscrupulous Lieutenants would only employ old infirm men so there would be a quick turnover in men and therefore more profit.  That practice changed when positions were handed down through families or sold on retirement.  However, if a Yeoman Warder died in service, the money was not paid to the family but went to the Constable of the Tower.  As everyone wanted to pass the position on to their son or retire rather than dying in service it became customary to toast the health of new Yeoman Warders by declaring 'May you never die a Yeoman Warder'.  The same toast is still used to this day each time a new Yeoman Warder is sworn in.  The practice of buying and selling positions ceased on 10 July 1668 on the orders of James II.

In 1826 Arthur Wellesley, The Duke of Wellington, became Constable of the Tower and decided to improve the calibre of the Yeoman Warders.  He gave orders that ‘no person should be admitted to be a Warder of the Tower but deserving, gallant and meritorious discharged serjeants from the army'.  I am the 378th Yeoman Warder to be recruited from the military.

To become a Yeoman Warder the eligibility is 22 years military service, to have been awarded the Long Service & Good Conduct medal (for 18 years exemplary service), hold the rank of Warrant Officer and be under 55 years of age.  On successful completion of six months probation, Warders may work at the Tower until they are 65.

Yeoman of the Guard

Yeoman Warders are also sworn in at St James' Palace as a Member of HM Yeoman of the Guard in Extraordinary.  It is only after this swearing in that Yeoman Warders are permitted to wear State Dress uniform.  The Yeomen Of The Guard are appointed under similar eligibility to Yeoman Warders but are not salaried and only work about ten days a year.

Roles of the Yeoman Warder

Or to use the correct title:

Yeoman Warder of Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress the Tower of London, Member of the Sovereigns Bodyguard of the Yeoman of the Guard Extraordinary.

Our main duties in the past included, manning the gates, manning the night watch, guarding state prisoners and latterly taking visitors on guided tours around the Tower.  Apart from guarding prisoners very little has changed and to this day our duties include:

• Security of the Tower including the Crown Jewels and Royal Regalia
• Interpreting history for our visitors
• Ceremonial duties in the UK and abroad

Why Beefeater?

There are several theories as to why we were given the nickname of Beefeaters.  The generally accepted story is that the Warders were rationed by the monarch and the local population would deride this perk by referring to the Warders as Beefeaters and the nickname stuck.  During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, each Warder was given a ration of 8lbs of meat and 10 pints of beer a day, sadly no longer the case!

Life behind the walls today

The Tower of London is the most visited historic attraction in the UK and currently attracts 2.9 million visitors a year.  Apart from sharing our home with tourists from across the globe, life within the Tower is pretty normal and is akin to living in a small village.  There are 40 families, about 120 people living here and we have our own licensed club which some of you visited last year.  Commuting costs are nil and my car can sit idle for weeks at a time.  We work a shift pattern of 7 days on and 2 off, and every third week we have a long weekend.

Wiffle Ball in the moat – Boxing Day 2008 Tower residents Vs the American Embassy

Housing

Contrary to popular belief, we do not live in grace and favour accommodation.  We pay rent at a rate of 8½ % of our gross pay as well as all other utilities such as council tax, gas and electricity.  We also have our own doctor and padre living at the Tower.

Special Constable

In February 2009, as part of the Employee Supported Policing programme I attended selection and training to become a Special Constable.  I am now released from work for two days each month to patrol the local borough of Tower Hamlets as part of the St Katherine’s & Wapping Safer Neighbourhood Team.   As a volunteer Police Officer I have exactly the same powers as my regular counterpart and on completion of a one year probationary and further training period, will be qualified to work alone in the Metropolitan area.  At the time of writing I have now worked four shifts for the police and thoroughly enjoying my latest role in helping the local community.

Further information

If you would like more information about the Tower I would urge you to visit the Historic Royal Palaces website (www.hrp.org.uk).  There is a lot of useful information there and free downloads for your children or grandchildren.  If you are ever in the Tower please feel free to look me up and say hello.

Chev. Dave Phillips KStG, Rhino Charge Nanuyki, Kenya 2006