Exons

The next officers in rank are four Exons. The first mention of Exon is in the ceremony of All Nights, which is fully described in the chapter relating to Charles II. They were added to the staff of officers in 1668 just about the time when Marsham’s account of All Night was written. The derivation and meaning of the word Exon has been and is a puzzle to many, but it is undoubtedly the French pronunciation of the word exempt. An exempt was an officer in the old French Garde Du Corps. “Exempts des Guedes du Corps” are described in a military dictionary as “Exons belonging to the Body Guards,” There was in France an officer of police called “Un Exempt (exon) de Police.” When Charles II formed his Horse Guards he created a Sir Thomas Seymour Sadler in the new uniform for Officers of The Body Guard ordered by William IV 1830-1

Sir Thomas Seymour Sadler in the new uniform for Officers of The Body Guard ordered by William IV 1830-1

commissioned officer who was styled indiscriminately the Exempt or the Exon, and in each of the two troops this officer ranked with the Captain. There is further confusion connected with the title of Exon, for in his commission he is styled corporal. But it appears that in Elizabeth’s reign “corporal” was a commissioned officer, and the term was synonymous with Captain. Down to the time of the Coronation of George III, which took place on 22 September 1761, Corporal was only another word for Exon, as may be seen on referring to the official programme of the Coronation, wherein mention is made of “the Corporals or Exons of the Yeomen of the Guard.” The Exempt in the French Garde du corps always had charge of the Night Watch, and the Exon is the English Body Guard was especially appointed for that service. Curiously enough the word Exempt is also used in the orders of the Yeomen of the Guard with its English meaning.

In 1711 the term "Exon" is used in Royal Warrant and both Corporal and Exon in the same Warrant.

Edited from The King's Body Guard 1485 - 1904 (by Col Sir Reginald Hennell Kt, DSO)
and compared with Dalton's "List of Officers of Army, 1600 and Upwards".

1	1668	Edward Ashton Esq	Appointed 12 Aug 1668. The warrant, dated 29 Oct 1669, for swearing in as Corporal or Exempt is spelt Aston. There was an Edward Ashton, Captain in Allen Apsley's Regiment of Foot (disbanded in 1667) Also, another in King's Troop of Guard, Lieutenant and Major in 1673.
2	1668	Hugh Houghton Esq	Appointed 12 Aug 1668. The warrant, dated 29 Oct 1669, for swearing in as Corporal or Exempt is spelt Horton. A Thomas Houghton, a Cornet in King's Own Regiment of Dragoons in 1678.
3	1668	Roger Gardner Esq	Appointed 12 Aug 1668. The warrant, dated 29 Oct 1669, for swearing in as Corporal or Exempt is spelt Horton. He was still a Corporal 26 Jul 1675.
4	1668	Richard Sadlington Esq	Warrant for swearing in as Corporal or Exempt 12 Aug 1668. Resigned before 1673. There was a Sadlington who was Ensign in Col Fitgerald's Regiment of Foot in 1673.
5	1675	William Houghton Esq	Was a Corporal 26 Jul 1675; re-sworn as Corporal on accession of James II in 1685. Again re-sworn on 12 Apr 1689. There was a William Houghton Adjutant-General to Prince Rupert in expedition by sea in 1673.
6	1675	John Pound Esq	Was a Corporal on 26 Jul 1675.
7	1675	Henry Dutton Esq	Was a Corporal on 26 Jul 1675.
8	1685	Robert Sawyers Esq	Appointed 5 Jan 1685. Was a Corporal at Coronation of James II in 1685. A Robert Sawyers was Ensign of the King's Coldstream Guards in 1678.
9	1685	William Barlow Esq	Appointed 5 Jan 1685. Was a Corporal at the Coronation of James II in 1685. A William Barlow served as a Corporal in the Earl of Peterborough's Regiment in 1685.
10	1685	Thomas Orme Esq	Was a Corporal 5 Jan 1685; also at the Coronation of James II in 1685. There was a Major Thomas Orme in Princess Anne of Denmark's Regiment of Foot in 1685.
11	1689	John Biggs Esq	Warrant sworn as Corporal 12 Apr 1689. Was on duty as Corporal at Windsor in 1706. Died or retired in 1718.
12	1689	Robert Sawyers Esq	Nominated for next vacancy on 22 Nov 1675. Appointed 12 Apr 1689. Warrant re-sworn as Corporal 5 Jan 1690.
13	1689	Robert Uphill Esq	Warrant sorn as Corporal 9 Apr 1689. There was a Richard Uphill, Cornet in the Independent Troop of Horse in 1685 (disbanded after Sedgemore)
14	1690	Paul Cotton Esq	Warrant as Corporal in 18 Dec 1690.
15	1702	George Davenant Esq	Was a Corporal in 1702. On duty at Windsor in 1709. Died as Corporal in 1711.
16	1703	Ambrose Meers Esq	Was a Corporal in 1703 and also 1705. Died or retired in 1705.
17	1703	William Dormer Esq	Was a Corporal in 1703 and also 1705.
18	1705	John Capell Esq	Appointed Corporal 29 Mar 1705-6. Retired or died 1717.
19	1705	Chiverton Christopher Chatterton Esq	Appointed Corporal 23 Dec 1705 vice Dormer.
20	1711	Horatio Walpole Esq	Appointed Corporal and Exon 7 May 1711 vice Davenant.
21	1712	Henry Killigrew Esq	Was Exon in 1712. Died or retired 1714
22	1714	Thomas Windham Esq	Appointed Corporal 8 Oct 1714.
23	1714	Thomas Whitmore Esq	Appointed Corporal 13 Nov 1714 vice Killigrew.
24	1717	Soloman Ashley Esq	Sworn Corporal 10 Jul 1717 vice John Capel. Resigned 1732.
25	1718	Prescott Maynard Esq	Appointed Corporal 15 Nov 1718 vice John Biggs.
26	17??	Edward Le Grand	Appointed Corporal ?
27	1732	Leonard Childe Esq	Sworn Exon 19 Jul 1732 vice Solomom Ashley (resigned 1732)
28	1732	Francis Clarke Esq	Appointed 19 Jul 1732. Retired 1734.
29	1734	Trevor Borret Esq	Appointed 5 Apr 1734 vice Francis Clarke. Resigned or died 1743.
30	1735	Theophilus Bland Parson Esq	Appointed Corporal Apr 1735 vice Le Grand (promoted Ensign 5 Apr 1735).
31	1740	John Towers Esq	Appointed Corporal 1740 vice Leonard Childe. Died or retired 1744.
32	1743	Richard Hobson Esq	Appointed Corporal 30 Apr 1743 vice Borret. Died, resigned or retired 1743.
33	1743	Matthew Hickeringill Esq	Appointed 30 Apr 1743. Died 1743.
34	1743	Peter Fenoulhet Esq	Sworn Corporal 7 Dec 1743 vice Matthew Hickeringill. Re-sworn Corporal or Exempt 17 Mar 1761. Knighted Sep 1761. Died or retired 1764.
35	1744	Ralph Congreve Esq	Sworn Corporal 28 Jul 1744 vice John Towers. Retired or died 1751.
36	1744	Samuel Horsey Esq	Appointed 28 Jul 1744. Retired or died 1756. See Cockayne.
37	1747	George Melthrope Esq	Appointed Corporal 20 Jul 1747 vice Richard Hodson.
38	1751	Charles Prideaux Esq	Appointed Corporal 3 Jul 1751 vice Ralph Congreve.
39	1756	Thomas Mildmay Cockayne	Appointed Corporal 16 Nov 1756 vice Samuel Horsey. Retired or died 1760.
40	1757	Edward Hussey Esq	Appointed 1 Sep 1757.
41	1760	Savile Cockayne Cust Esq	Appointed 12 May 1760.
42	1760	William Trent Esq	Appointed 21 May 1760 vice TM Cockayne. Re-sworn as Corporal or Exempt 17 Mar 1761.
43	1761	Cheret Jones Esq	Sworn as Corporal or Exempt 17 Mar 1761.
44	1762	Everard Buckwith Esq	Sworn as Corporal or Exempt 24 Mar 1762.
45	1763	Nathaniel Causton Esq	Sword as Corporal or Exempt 25 May 1763. Resigned or died 1782.
46	1764	Samuel Warburton Esq	Appointed Corporal or Exempt 14 Aug 1764 vice Sir Peter Trenoulhet.
47	1771	? Gascoine Esq	Appointed 24 Feb 1771.
48	1773	Nathaniel Garrick Esq	Sworn Corporal 23 Mar 1773.
49	?	? Froggart Esq	No date of appointment. Died or resigned 1778.
50	?	? Bellingham Esq	No date of appointment. Resigned 1788
51	1780	Walter Kinneir Esq	Appointed 24 Jul 1780. There was a Maj Frank Walter Kinneer, Major, 63rd Regiment.
52	1780	Joseph Jonothan Bulter Esq	Appointed 24 Jul 1780.
53	1782	Robert Fagg Arnold Nash Esq	Appointed Corporal 18 Mar 1782 vice Francis Barker.
54	1782	Joseph Baxter Esq	Appointed Corporal Apr 1782 vice Nathaniel Causton.
55	1782	George Stone Esq	Appointed Corporal Apr 1782 vice Arnold Nash.
56	1782	Francis Baker Esq	Appointed Apr 1782. Resigned or died 1805.
57	1786	William Annesley Esq	Appointed Corporal 3 Mar 1786 vice Froggart.
58	1788	John Follows Esq	Appointed Exempt Nov 1788 vice Bellingham. Was Ensign with 61st Foot in 1780.
59	1790	Stephen Remnant Esq	Appointed Corporal 12 Feb 1790 vice Joseph Butler. Resigned or died 1805.
60	1796	William Jenkins Esq	Appointed Exon 8 Jun 1796.
61	1805	Roger Monk Esq	Appointed Exon 31 May 1805 vice Francis Baker. Re-appointed 4 Apr 1831. Knighted 12 May 1831. Died Oct 1831. Bequeathed money to give the Guard dinner annually on the Sovereign's birthday.
62	1805	Isaac Housley Curteis Esq	Appointed Exon 31 May 1805 vice Remnant. Re-appointed and knighted at the Coronation in 13 Sep 1831.
63	1817	W Russ Whyting Esq	Appointed Exon 29 Sep 1817. Resigned 6 Mar 1831.
64	1830	Henry Cipriani Esq	Appointed Corporal 24 Jul 1830. Re-appointed Corporal 4 Apr 1831. Knighted at Coronation 13 Sep 1831 and appointed Senior Exon.
65	1831	Charles or John Hancock	Appointed Corporal 7 Mar 1831 vice Whyting. Knighted 1841.
66	1831	Sir Isaac Housley Curteis Esq	Re-appointed Corporal 4 Apr 1831. Knighted at the Coronation 13 Sep 1831.
67	1831	Samuel Hancock Esq	Appointed Corporal 15 Aug 1831 vice Monk. Knighted 1831.
3 Dec 1835 only Officers of Army to be Appointed
68	1836	Thomas Derinzy Esq	Appointed 20 Feb 1836. There was a Thomas R Derinzy of the 83rd Foot.
69	1837	Capt William Bellairs	Appointed Exon 19 Sep 1837. Knighted 17 May 1848.
70	1838	Jonothan P Nuttall Esq	Appointed Exon 25 May 1838. Was a local-rank Lt Col in India in 1825.
71	1839	Thomas Seymour Sadler	Appointed Exon 1 Jun 1839. Knighted 28 Feb 1849.
72	1844	Capt John Kincaid	Appointed Exon 12 Sep 1844. Knighted 1844. Major in the Rifle Brigade (retired 1831)
73	1847	Henry Chard Esq	Appointed Exon 20 Feb 1847.
74	1847	Charles H Broadwood Esq	Appointed 14 Jul 1847. Resigned 1848.
75	1848	Capt Richard Phibbs	Appointed Exon 17 Aug 1848. Resigned 1856. Was Ensign in 48th Foot in 1832.
76	1849	Lt Hook Wilson Bellairs	Appointed Exon 16 Feb 1849. Resigned 1852. There was a Edmund Hook-Wilson Belliars a Lt in the 7th Foot, Royal Fusiliers.
77	1851	Capt T Parker Rickford	Appointed Exon 24 May 1851. Resigned 1869. Was Captain in 23rd Foot, Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
78	1852	Capt William Lewis Grant	Appointed Exon 31 May 1852. Resigned 1853. Was Captain in 7th Foot, Royal Fusiliers.
79	1853	Lt John Wardlaw	Appointed Exon 2 May 1853. Resigned 1855. May have been with East India Company.
80	1853	Capt George Warmham MacDonald	Appointed Exon 6 Feb 1855. Resigned 3 Nov 1862. Was Ensign in 19th Foot in 1848. Retired as Captain in 19th Foot 1854-5.
81	1856	Capt Magnus FM Herbert	Appointed Exon 13 Mar 1856. Resigned 1859. Captain in the 48th Northamptonshire.
82	1859	Capt William Barron	Appointed Exon 24 May 1859. Resigned. Captain with 82nd Foot (maybe 91st Regiment).
83	1862	Lt Col C Doyle Patterson	Appointed Exon 13 Feb 1862. Late of 10th Foot.
84	1862	Col Oliver Paget Bourke	Appointed Exon 21 Jul 1862. Resigned 1873. Was Lt Col in 17th Foot.
85	1862	Lt Col Jonothan Henry Cooke	Appointed Exon 5 Nov 1862. Resigned. Was Lt Col 21st Foot.
86	1864	Lt Col Jonothan Augustus Todd	Appointed Exon 23 Apr 1864. Lt Col in 14th Hussars.
87	1869	Capt Francis B Morley CB	Appointed Exon 23 Jan 1869. Late of 40th Foot. There was a Maj Francis Morley of the 3rd Foot (The Buffs).
88	1873	Col Henry Hume CB	Appointed Exon 22 Nov 1873. Brevet-Col, Gentlemen-at-Arms; late Grenadier Guards.
89	1880	Lt Col Francis Baring	Appointed Exon 13 Jun1880. Late Lt Col in Scots Guards.
90	1884	Col RG Ellison	Appointed Exon 24 Feb 1884. Ensign 1892. Late of 47th Foot.
91	1889	Lt Col Horatio P Vance	Appointed Exon Apr 1889. Promoted Lieutenant Dec 1893. Late 38th Foot.
92	1892	Maj Edmund Halbert Elliot	Appointed Exon 20 Apr 1892 vice Sir T Morley (died). Late Royal Artillery & Royal Horse Artillery. Promoted Clerk of the Cheque and adjutant 1901. Awarded MVO 15 Jul 1907. Promoted Ensign 28 Feb 1908. Knighted 1911.
93	1892	Lt Col The Hon Francis Lionel Lydston Colbourne	Appointed Exon 16 Nov 1892. Late 83rd Regiment. Resigned 1 Apr 1912.
94	1894	Col Reginald Hennell DSO	Appointed Exon 24 Feb 1894. Late Indian Army. Honourable the Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms.. Promoted Clerk of the Cheque 22 Apr 1895. Promoted Lieutenant 11 Nov 1901. Awarded CVO 1910. Knighted 1911. Awarded OBE 1919.
95	1895	Capt Houston French	Appointed Exon 26 May 1895. Late 2 Life Guards. Promoted to Clerk of the Cheque and Adjutant 28 Feb 1908. Awarded MVO 1911. Awarded CVO 1920. Promoted to Lieutenant 28 Jul 1925. Knighted 3 Jul 1926. Died 11 Jun 1932.
96	1902	Col Fenwick Bulmer de Sales la Terriere	Appointed Exon 18 Jan 1902. Late 18th Hussars; 5th Batt. Royal Fusiliers. Died 21 Jun 1925.
97	1906	Capt W. Colin MacRae CBE	In the St James's Palace record of service Captain MacRea signs the record as Exon but the date of his appointment shows him as Lieutenant. Retired at 75yrs in July 1944.
98	1908	Lt Col John Cecil Wray MVO	Appointed Exon 16 Mar 1908. Promoted Clerk of the Cheque & Adjutant 28 Jul 1925. CVO confirmed 3 Jun 1927. Resigned Feb 1937.
99	1912	Lt Col George Reginald Lascelles	Appointed 6 Apr 1912. Awarded OBE 1919.
100	1925	Col Robert Chaine Alexander McCalmont DSO	Appointed 28 Jul 1926. Awarded DSO 1916 (The Somme). Promoted to Clerk of the Cheque & Adjutant Feb 1937. Awarded CVO May 1937 (Coronation). Promoted Lieutenant 31 Aug 1945. Brigadier General on Retirement Irish Guards.
101	1925	Maj Edward Boscawen Frederick	Appointed 28 Jul 1925. Former 7th (Royal) Fusiliers.
102	1926	Lt Col William Gibbs	Appointed 17 Nov 1926. Former Corps 7th Hussars.
103	1932	Brig Gen Lord Roundways CMG DSO MVO	Appointed 1932. No further information in St James's Palace Record of Service.
104	1937	Maj Hon Edwin Alfred Cecil Weld-Forester	Late The Rifle Brigade.
105	1937	Lt Col Ralph Charles Bingham DSO	Appointed 1937. Former Coldstream Guards. Retired 1955. Died Jan 1977.
106	1947	Maj Gen Allan Henry Shafto Adair CB DSO MC & Bar	Born 3 Nov 1947. Appointed 21 Nov 1947. Former Grenadier Guards. Awarded DSO 27 Aug 1940. Awarded CB 29 Mar 1945. Awarded Cmdr Order of Leopold with Palm & Croix de Guerre 1940 with Palm. Died 4 Aug 1988.
107	1950	Lt Col Victor Buller Turner VC	Appointed Jan 1950. Former Rifle Brigade. Promoted Ensign 1951. Promoted Clerk of the Cheque & Adjutant 1955. Awarded VC in Western Desert following heroic action 1942.
108	1950	Brig Gen William Greenwood Carr DSO and Bar	Appointed 30 Jun 1950. Former 12th Lancers. Promoted Ensign 1955. Promoted Lieutenant 17 Jan 1970.
109	1951	Lt Col Gerald Hugh Grosvenor DSO	Appointed 31 Jul 1951. Former 9th Lancers. Resigned 14 Apr 1964 on being appointed Lord Steward to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
110	1955	Lt Col JD Hornung OBE MC	Appointed 15 Apr 1955. Former Irish guards. Promoted Clerk of the Cheque & Adjutant 1967. Promoted Lieutenant 10 Mar 1971 vice Brigadier Carr. Died 1978.
111	1964	Col Hugh T Brassey OBE MC	Appointed 14 Apr 1964. See link.
112	1967	Col Alan Brooke Pemberton CVO MBE	Appointed 3 Nov 1967. Former Coldstream Guards. Born 11 Sep 1923. Promoted Ensign 10 Mar 1971 vice Col Brassey. Promoted Clerk of the Cheque & Adjutant 1 Apr 1979. Appointed Lieutenant 5 Oct 1985 vice Col Brassey. Died 1 Apr 2010.
113	1970	Capt Sir Charles Edward McGrigor Bt	Appointed 17 Jan 1970. Former Rifle Brigade. Born 5 Oct 1922. Resigned 5 Oct 1985. Died 1 Oct 2007.
114	1971	Maj Bruce Middleton Hope Shand MC and Bar	Appointed 10 Mar 1971. Former 12th Royal Lancers. Promoted Ensign vice Col Pemberton 1 Apr 1979. Promoted Clerk of the Cheque & Adjutant vice Col Pemberton 5 Oct 1985. Died 11 Jun 2006.
115	1979	Col Greville Wyndham Tufnell	Appointed 1 Apr 1979. Former Grenadier Guards. Born 7 Apr 1932. Promoted Ensign vice Maj Bruce Shand mc 5 Oct 1985. Promoted Clerk of the Cheque & Adjutant vice Maj Bruce Shand mc 22 Jan 1987. Promoted Lieutenant vice Col Alan Pemberton cvo mbe 11 Sep 1993. Relinquished appointment 7 Apr 2002.
116	1985	Col Shaun Longsdon	Appointed 5 Oct 1985. Former 17th/21st Lancers. Born 5 Dec 1936. Appointed Ensign vice Col Tufnell 22 Jan 1987. Promoted Clerk of the Cheque & Adjutant vice Colonel Tufnell 11 Sep 1993. Promoted Lieutenant vice Col Tufnell 8 Apr 2002. Retired 4 Dec 2006.
117	1985	Maj Charles R Marriott	Appointed 29 Oct 1985. Former Rifle Brigade. Born 5 Feb 1936. Promoted Ensign vice Col Longsdon 11 Sep 1993. Promoted Clerk of the Cheque & Adjutant vice Col Longsdon 9 Apr 2002. Retired 4 Feb 2006.
118	1987	Maj Charles Samuel Enderby	Appointed 22 Jan 1987. Former 9th/12th Royal lancers. Born 18 Sep 1939. Promoted Ensign vice Col Longsdon 10 Apr 2002. Promoted Clerk of the Cheque & Adjutant vice Maj Marriott 5 Feb 2006. Promoted Lieutenant vice Col Longsdon 5 Dec 2006. Relinquished appointment 18 Sep 2009. Awarded LVO 2010.
119	1993	Maj Michael Thomas (Tom) Noel Hamilton Wills	Appointed 11 Sep 1993. Former Coldstream Guards. Promoted Ensign vice Maj Enderby 6 Feb 2006. Promoted Clerk of the Cheque & Adjutant vice Maj Enderby 6 Dec 2006. Promoted Lieutenant vice Maj Enderby 19 Sep 2009.
120	2002	Lt Col William John (Johnny) Hodsoll Moss MBE	Appointed 11 Apr 2002. Former Welsh Guards. Promoted Ensign vice Maj Tom Wills 7 Dec 2006. Promoted Clerk of the Cheque & Adjutant vice Maj Tom Wills 20 Sep 2009.
121	2006	Brigadier David Innes OBE	Appointed 5 Feb 2006. Former Royal Green Jackets. Born 25 Feb 1947. Promoted Ensign vice Lt Col Johnny Moss mbe 18 Sep 2009.
122	2007	Col Michael Kingscote	Appointed 2007. Former 17th/21st Lancers.
123	2009	Maj Henry Robertson	Appointed 4 Sep 2009. Former 9th/12th Lancers.
124	2011	Maj Christopher Cox	Appointed 2011. Former Coldstream Guards.

* Notes
1.   Knighted 1761
2.   Died or Resigned 1778
3.   No date of appointment. Resigned 1788
4.   Knighted 1831
5.   Knighted 1831
6.   Knighted 1841
7.   Knighted 1831
8.   Knighted 1848
9.   Knighted 1849
10. Brig Gen CB CMS (1914-18)
11. Knighted 1852

Send mail to qbg@hotmail.co.uk with questions or comments about this web site. Copyright © 2008 The Yeomen of the Queen's Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard Last modified: Tuesday, 23 August 2011 18:04

Send mail to qbg@hotmail.co.uk with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2008 The Yeomen of the Queen's Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard
Last modified: Tuesday, 23 August 2011 18:04