Regimental Colours

Nov 24, 2015

The term ‘Colours’ covers Cavalry Standards and Guidons as well as Infantry Colours.

A regiment’s Colours are a development of the banners of medieval nobility and had the practical purpose of providing a conspicuous rallying point in battle.

Colours, through their embroidered names of battles and campaigns, are the memorials to the great deeds of a regiment and are the symbol of its spirit as expressed in these deeds.

During battle, acts of great bravery were often carried out in the defence of the Colours. They were the rallying point of a regiment and the scene of its last stand. The loss of Colours to the enemy was felt as a significant dishonour.

The first King’s Regulations relating to Colours were in 1747. Each regiment of Foot was required to carry two colours. One of these was to be the King’s, or First, Colour; the other was to be called simply the Second Colour. This later took the name Regimental Colour.

1938 - The Governor, Singapore, presenting the new King's Colour to the 1st Battalion

1938 – The Governor, Singapore, presenting the new King’s Colour to the 1st Battalion

1939 - Dignitaries at the Laying up of 1st Bn's old Colours

1939 – Dignitaries at the Laying up of 1st Bn’s old Colours

The difference was that the King’s Colour consisted of the Union flag throughout, while the Second Colour was to be in the colour of the regimental facings, with a small union flag in top (hoist) left corner. Displayed in the centre of this colour was the regimental number. If a regiment had been granted a special badge, as had the 27th Inniskillings, this was also to be displayed.

Over the years, modifications were made, for example, the Union flag was no longer displayed on the Regimental Colour.

1962 New Colours of 1st Bn with Second World War Honours

1962 New Colours of 1st Bn with Second World War Honours

Colours in battle. Colours were carried by a junior officer, Ensign or Lieutenant, who was protected by a Colour Sergeant. Being conspicuous points on a battlefield these officers often suffered high casualties. As the range and accuracy of small arms increased so did the casualties. The last time Colours were carried into battle was at the British defeat at the hands of the Boers in South Africa in 1881.

1985 New Standard  of the Dragoons is paraded

1985 New Standard of the Dragoons is paraded

Battle Honours. These were restricted to regiments that had seen hard service and were sometimes not granted if sufficient evidence could not be presented – which dented regimental self esteem. In one instance it took 200 years for a particular regiment to be awarded certain battle honours. Generally quite a number of years elapsed before a particular honour was granted.  Of course defeats were not honoured.

Consecration and Laying up. It was not till 1843 that instructions were issued that no colours were to be taken into use without a formal presentation and religious service. A detailed form of service was first issued in 1899 for the infantry and 1928 for the cavalry.

In the last third of the nineteenth century the custom of depositing old colours in a garrison or parish church became common. This was largely due to the development of county names for regiments.

Before that, the old colours were the property of the colonel. Some kept them in the possession of the family, others disposed of them immediately. Some were cut up and distributed as souvenirs among officers; others burnt and the ashes preserved; others buried with full military honours. One colonel’s dying wish, carried out, was to be buried in the colours.

A moth-eaten rag on a worm-eaten pole,

It does not look likely to stir a man’s Soul,

‘Tis the deeds that were done ‘neath the moth-eaten rag,

When the pole was a staff, and the rag was a flag.

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