The
Royal Army Chaplains' Department (RAChD) is an all-officer corps that provides
ordained clergy to minister to the
British Army.
As of 2007, there are about 280 serving regular chaplains (commonly known as "
padres") in the British Army; these can belong to either one of several
Christian churches, or to the
Jewish faith, although currently all chaplains are Christian. Uniquely within the British Army, the Royal Army Chaplains' Department has two cap badges, for its Christian and Jewish officers. There are also chaplains in the
Territorial Army and the
Army Cadet Force.
Army chaplains, although they are all
commissioned officers of the British Army and wear uniform, do not carry arms (and are the only officers not to carry swords on parade). At services on formal occasions, chaplains wear their medals and decorations on their clerical robes (many chaplains have been decorated for bravery in action, including three
Victoria Crosses).
The RAChD's
motto is "In Hoc Signo Vinces" "In this Sign You will Conquer". As seen in the sky before the battle of Milvian bridge by the Roman Emperor Constantine. Its
regimental march, both quick and slow, is the
Prince of Denmark's March, erroneously known as the
Trumpet Voluntary.
From 1946 until 1996, the RAChD's Headquarters, Depot and Training Centre were at
Bagshot Park in
Surrey, now the home of the
Earl and
Countess of Wessex. In 1996, they moved to the...
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