Gentleman Usher to the Sword of State is a position in the British Royal Household. On certain state occasions he is responsible for the Sword of State, and delivers it to whichever person has been designated to bear it before the monarch.
Responsibility for the Sword of State is included in a list of instructions for Gentlemen Ushers which was published in the reign of King Charles II:
List of Gentlemen Ushers to the Sword of State 10 January 1837 – 1874?: Sir William Martins vacant 23 July 1901 – 1 December 1915: Sir Spencer Ponsonby-Fane 27 June 1919 – 20 May 1924: Sir Edward Goschen, 1st Baronet 3 November 1924 – 1933: Sir Reginald Brade 10 March 1933 – 22 March 1946: Lieutenant General Sir Lewis Halliday 22 March 1946 – 4 November 1966: Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Barratt 3 February 1967 – 1973: General Sir William Stirling 26 October 1973 – 7 April 1980: Admiral Sir Desmond Dreyer 7 April 1980 – 2 May 1988: Air Chief Marshal Sir John Barraclough 2 May 1988 – 1997: General Sir Edward Burgess 1997 – 1 December 2005: Admiral Sir Michael Layard 1 December 2005 – ????: Air Chief Marshal Sir John Allison 2013 – present: General Sir Kevin O'Donoghue
See also Gentleman Usher
References