Tower of London
ABOVE: Yeoman Warders with John Keohane (who
was Yeoman Gaoler when this photo was taken) and Tom Sharp, Mr. Keohane's
predecessor as Chief Yeoman Warder. INSET BELOW: A Yeoman Warder
gives directions to young visitors.
Yeoman Warders ("Beefeaters")
 Thirty-six
Yeoman Warders guard the Tower of London with the help of a British Army unit.
They report to the Yeoman Gaoler and the Chief Yeoman Warder (the two gentlemen
on the right side of the group photo above). In addition to keeping an eye on
the Tower, the Yeoman Warders lead free tours and answer questions for visitors.
Sample Q&A:
Tourist: "Where was Ann Boleyn beheaded?"
Yeoman Warder (touching finger to neck): "Right about here."
The Yeoman Warders also have ceremonial duties, including the
nightly Ceremony of the Keys
and attending such events as royal coronations and the Lord Mayor's Show in the
City of London.
Natasha Woollard of the Tower's press office and John Keohane,
the Yeoman Gaoler, were kind enough to supply a number of facts about the Yeoman
Warders:
-
The erroneous nickname "Beefeater" probably dates back to
the time when Yeoman Warders were given a daily ration of meat. (Records show, that in 1813, the
daily ration for the 30 men on duty was a remarkable 24 pounds of beef, 18 pounds of
mutton, and 16 pounds of veal.)
-
To apply for a position as a Yeoman Warder, you must have 19
years' of service with good conduct as a senior non-commissioned officer from
the Army, Royal Air Force, Royal Marines, or Royal Navy. (Only a small number of
applicants are accepted.)
-
New Yeoman Warders are sworn in on Tower Green, where they take
an oath of allegiance that dates back to 1337. After the ceremony, the new
recruits' health is toasted by the Chief Yeoman Warder from a ceremonial
punchbowl. (The punchbowl was a gift from Yeoman Warder Wilkins, who was found
to be earning a living as an innkeeper in Southwark when he should have been on
duty.)
The Yeoman Warders have two uniforms:
-
The ceremonial uniform is worn for state occasions;
e.g., when the monarch visits the Tower or for any state occasion that the
Body attends. This uniform is predominantly red and goldwith red stockings,
a white ruff, and black patent shoes.
 Finally, the first woman
Yeoman Warder (a former Army accountant
named Moira Cameron) began working in uniform at the Tower of London on September 3,
2007.
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