The name
Close enough to be brushed by the king's sleeve
The name was chosen from our own Scots and French ancestry, and from the one story in that shared history that carries both halves of it at once: Scots trusted at the heart of France.
La Manche is named for the Gardes de la Manche, the inner guard of the kings of France. From the Scottish Company of the royal bodyguard, the twenty-four oldest men were set apart as the Guards of the Sleeve. Their post was at the king's side, close enough to be brushed by his sleeve: in the hall, on campaign, and at his door through the night. Their captain was styled the First Man-at-arms of France.
They were defenders by station, not by occasion. The Scottish Company held its post without interruption for more than 360 years, a record without parallel in Europe, and its guards fell defending their king, at Montlhéry in 1465 and after. They were chosen for loyalty, trusted with defense, and kept for reliability, for four centuries.
That is the standard this name sets for us. Our work is to stand between our customers and failure: parts supplied to the drawing, kits assembled and inspected as though readiness depended on them, and quotes answered and deliveries made when promised. Loyalty, defense, reliability. It was a job description four centuries before it was ours.
Defence
Defenders by station, not by occasion. We stand between our customers and failure.
Commitment
A post held without interruption for more than 360 years. Quotes answered and deliveries made when promised.
Reliability
Chosen for loyalty and kept for reliability, for four centuries. The record behind every delivery can be produced.
Steadfast
They fell defending their king and did not leave the post. We do not walk away when an order gets hard.