SERJEANT FOR THEInsert Front Cover COMMONS Image House of CommonsSERJEANT LibraryNo. 25 Document (CommemorativeFOR THE COMMONS Edition) HOUSE OF COMMONS LIBRARY DOCUMENT NO.25 (COMMEMORATIVE EDITION) 3 SERJEANT FOR THE COMMONS COMMEMORATIVE EDITION 600th Anniversary 2015 is a particularly special year of anniversaries at Parliament. In addition to the 800th anniversary of the signing of Magna Carta, it marks 600 years since Henry V appointed one of his Royal Serjeants, Nicholas Maudit, to attend upon the Commons specifically. The Serjeant, much as he was six centuries ago, remains a central figure in the House of Commons. In July 2015, Serjeants at Arms and Ushers of the Black Rod from across the Commonwealth and USA will meet in Westminster for a Professional Development Conference. This quinquennial event provides an opportunity for delegates to reflect and to celebrate the long history of the role, to assess current challenges, and to look forward as to how it may continue to evolve over coming centuries. This commemorative book aims to create a wider awareness of the office and highlights some of the key events (and characters) that have helped to shape it. SERJEANT FOR THE COMMONS House of Commons Library Documents The Commons Library has produced a series of documents on a range of historical subjects relating to the work, membership, offices and other aspects of the House of Commons. The series was edited initially by David Menhennet and, subsequently, by Chris Pond and then Oonagh Gay. Access to the collection The Library documents series are available as a collection in hard copy from the main Library (published by HMSO to 1997 and by the Stationery Office Limited from 1997). General Editors: David Menhennet (to 1990) Chris Pond (1990 to 2007) Oonagh Gay (2008 – present) 5 House of Commons Library Documents Number Title 1 Acts of Parliament: Some Distinctions in Their Nature and Numbering 1955 2 A Bibliography of Parliamentary Debates of Great Britain 1967 3 The Mace in the House of Commons 1971 4 Official Dress Worn in the House of Commons 1960 5 Access to Subordinate Legislation 1963 6 Ceremonial in the House of Commons 1967 7 The Journal of the House of Commons: a bibliographical and historical guide 1971 8 Votes and Standing Orders of the House of Commons: The Beginning 1971 9 Erskine May’s Private Journal 1857-1882: Diary of a Great Parliamentarian 1972 10 William Lambarde’s Notes of the Procedures and Privileges of the House of Commons 1977 11 Ceremonial and the Mace in the House of Commons 1980 12 Erskine May’s Private Journal 1883-1886 1984 13 Serjeant for the Commons 1986 (4th edition 2009) 14 Secretaries to Mr Speaker 1986 15 English Constituency Histories 1265-1832 1986 16 Debates and Proceedings of the British Parliaments: a guide to printed sources 1986 17 Observations, rules and orders of the House of Commons: an early procedural collection 1989 18 The Royal Mace in the House of Commons 1990 19 Chaplain to Mr Speaker: religious life of the House of Commons 1991 20 In Parliament 1939-1950 1991 21 The House of Commons Library: a history 1991 (2nd edition 2000) 22 Secretary to the Speaker: Ralph Verney’s papers 1999 23 The Early History of the House of Commons Library 2001 24 Members of Parliament 1979-2010 2011 25 Serjeant for the Commons (Commemorative Edition) 2015 SERJEANT FOR THE COMMONS House of Commons Library Document No 25 (Commemorative Edition) General Editor: Oonagh Gay Serjeant for the Commons Revised by Lawrence Ward Serjeant at Arms Oonagh Gay House of Commons Library Acknowledgements Most of the images reproduced here are available in the Palace of Westminster Curator’s Office, Parliamentary Archives or the House of Commons Library. Efforts were made to track copyright of other images and obtain permission, but in some cases without success. With grateful thanks to Lisa Wrobel, Antonia Garraway, Portia Dadley, Mari Takayanagi 7 Contents 600th Anniversary 3 House of Commons Library Documents 4 Illustrations 9 Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II 10 Foreword by Speaker 11 Chapter One - Introduction 16 Chapter Two - Development of the Disciplinary Powers of the House of Commons 24 Chapter Three - World Wars and Parliament 36 Chapter Four - Serjeants and disruption in the twentieth century and beyond 40 Chapter Five - The differing responsibilities of the Serjeant at Arms 47 Chapter Six - The wider Commonwealth family 56 Appendix 58 2. Speaker Henry Brand, the Speaker’s Procession in 1884 by Francis SERJEANT FOR THE COMMONS Wilfred Lawson (enlarged image to focus on the Serjeant at Arms carrying the Mace). 9 Illustrations 1. Front cover image: Serjeant at Arms staff – 20. This Fell Serjeant – strict in his arrest, cartoon 33. Destroyed House of Commons Chamber. (Serjeant at Arms office photograph). of Lord Charles Russell by Coide in Vanity Fair Photographs of the Palace of Westminster: war- 2. Speaker Henry Brand, the Speaker’s Procession 12 April 1873 [Ref: WoA 3026], © Palace of time damage and post-war reconstruction, 1910- in 1884 by Francis Wilfred Lawson (enlarged Westminster Collection. 1984, [Parliamentary Archives Ref: OOW/12, image to focus on the Serjeant at Arms carrying 21. The arrest of Mr Bradlaugh in the House of OOW/12/9/001]. the Mace) [WoA 2955], © Palace of Westminster Commons, print of original by F. Daddy 1880 34. A posed portrait of officers of the House on Collection. [Ref: WoA 3392], © Palace of special occasions connected with the Palace. 3. The Serjeant at Arms Office (inside), Karen Neale Westminster Collection. Speaker’s Procession on VE Day, 8 May 1945, (website: www.karenneale.co.uk), Westminster 22. Speaker Henry Brand, the Speaker’s Procession [Parliamentary Archives Ref: HC/SA/SJ/7/2/ and Other World Heritage Sites – December in 1884 by Francis Wilfred Lawson (original number 36]. 2004 [Ref: WoA 6385]. © 2015 Karen Neale. image) [WoA 2955], © Palace of 35. Mary Frampton serving a warrant on Arthur 4. The Serjeant at Arms Office (outside), Karen Westminster Collection. Scargill, President of the National Union of Neale (website: www.karenneale.co.uk), 23. The Terrace by Milly Childers 1909. Sir David Mineworkers November 1982 [Parliamentary Westminster and Other World Heritage Sites – Erskine (Serjeant 1885-1915 on the Terrace [Ref: Archives Ref: PIC/P/758]. December 2004 [Ref: WoA 6384]. WoA 3439]. © Palace of Westminster Collection. 36. Security breach events in Parliament – Hunting © 2015 Karen Neale. 24. Sketch, “The House of Commons all Sixes and ban debates, 12 September 2004, © UK 5. Nicholas Maudit – The memorial brass to Sevens” for ‘Punch’. March 1890. [Parliamentary Parliament Copyright, Parliamentary Recording Nicholas Maudit in Wandsworth Parish Church Archives Ref: HC/LB/1/112/275]. Unit (PRU). [reference unknown]. 25. Sketch, “Neutral Ground: the Serjeant- 37. Campaign group “Plane Stupid” on the roof of 6. Jill Pay, Serjeant at Arms 2008–12 (Serjeant at at-arms “At Home”” for ‘Punch’. 13 June the Palace of Westminster, 23 February 2008 Arms office photograph). 1885. [Parliamentary Archives Ref: HC/ (two images), © Creative Commons Copyright. 7. The 40th Serjeant, Lawrence Ward, State LB/1/112/321]. 38. Lawrence Ward, Serjeant at Arms, © UK Opening of Parliament 2013 (Serjeant at 26. The defeat of obstruction in the House Parliament Copyright, Jessica Taylor. Arms office photograph). of Commons: Removal of Mr Parnell by 39. Lieutenant General David Leakey CMG CBE 8. State Opening of Parliament 2015, © UK Order of the Speaker – 1881, artist unknown MA, Black Rod (Black Rods office photograph). Parliament Copyright, Jessica Taylor. [Parliamentary Archives Ref: HC/SA/ 40. Doorkeepers (Serjeant at Arms SJ/7/2/4.001]. 9. Lawrence Ward, State Opening of Parliament office photograph). 2015, © UK Parliament Copyright, Jessica Taylor. 27. Newspaper report from The Daily Mirror. 41. Westminster Hall on Fire 1834 by George A suffragette’s “graffiti” on a wall in St 10. Victor Akinbile, Associate Serjeant at Arms B. Campion, 1834 [WoA 1669]. © Palace of Stephen’s entrance causes “outrage”, 1906-1927, Westminster Collection. (Serjeant at Arms office photograph). [Parliamentary Archives Ref: HC/SA/SJ/10/12 11. Mr Speaker’s procession – The Speaker of the 21.3]. 42. Filming Suffragette in the Central Lobby of House of the Commons processes to Central the Houses of Parliament, 8 April 2014. © UK 28. Picture from the illustrated London News held Parliament Copyright, Jessica Taylor. Lobby, © UK Parliament Copyright, by the Commons Library of a Suffragette being Catherine Bebbington. removed by Doorkeepers from the Ladies Gallery 43. Queen Mary’s Lying in State 1953, 12. Original designs for the female version of of the Commons having chained herself to the [Parliamentary Archives Ref: HC/SA/SJ/7/3 the Serjeant’s uniform produced by Ede & window grill. number 8]. Ravenscroft, © Copyright 2015 Ede 29. Official internal memo from Serjeant at Arms to 44. Lying in State of King George VI in Westminster & Ravenscroft. ban the admittance of (Estelle) Sylvia Pankhurst Hall, 1952. [Parliamentary Archives Ref: HC/ 13. Photograph of a sketch of Colonel Henry (and her associate) – daughter to Emmeline SA/SJ/7/3 number 55]. Seymour’s uniform, Colonel Henry Seymour Pankhurst the British political activist and leader 45. State Visit Barack Obama, President of the (Serjeant at Arms, 1812-1835) [Parliamentary of the British suffragette movement. 16 April United States, and Lawrence Ward, Serjeant Archives Ref: HC/SA/SJ/7/2/2]. 1919. [Parliamentary Archives Ref: HC/SA/ at Arms, May 2011, (Serjeant at Arms office SJ/10/12 64.4]. 14. Uniforms and trimmings, volumes of sketches of photograph). uniforms with descriptions and amendments to 30. “What is Justice” campaign leaflet for the 46. Canadian Association of Sergeant at Arms the pictures, 1948; 1955, [Parliamentary Archives Suffragists’ Vigilance League, 1906-1927. meeting, Halifax NS, August 2013 (Serjeant at Ref: HC/SA/SJ/3/3] (two images).