"Sir,
"I have the honour to acquaint you, by direction of the General Commanding-in-Chief, that his Majesty has been graciously pleased to permit the Fifth Regiment of Foot, or Northumberland Fusiliers, to bear on its colours and appointments, in addition to any other badges or devices which may have heretofore been authorized, the word 'Wilhelmsthal,' in commemoration of the gallantry displayed by the regiment while serving with the allied army, under Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, at the battle of Groebenstein, on the 24th of June, 1762, particularly in the capture of a great number of prisoners belonging to the grenadiers of France, and the regiment d'Aquitaine, in the woods of 'Wilhelmsthal.'
"I have, &c.
(Signed) "John Macdonald,
"Adjutant-General.
"Officer commanding Fifth Foot,
"or Northumberland Fusiliers,
"Malta."
On the 14th of December, 1836, the Governor of Malta, Major-General Sir Henry Bouverie, presented the new colours to the regiment, drawn up for the purpose in review order on the Florian Parade.
His Excellency, on arriving in front of the line, was received with a general salute, the band playing and drums beating, after which the company on the right flank closed ranks, and was marched by its Captain in quick time (the band playing the grenadier's march) to the point in the front of the line, where the new colours were stationed, under a guard, and an escort of colour-serjeants; on arriving at which the company was halted, its ranks opened, and the colours, which appeared for the first time displayed, were saluted with presented arms, the music playing "God save the King."
The march was then resumed in open order, and the colours escorted in slow time towards the left flank of the line, and thence to their appointed station in front of the centre, whilst the band and escort filed through the ranks to their posts on the right; the colours were received by a general salute from the regiment; arms were then shouldered, three sides of a square, open to the front, formed, and the service of consecration read in a most appropriate and impressive manner by the Rev. J. T. H. Le Mesurier, Chaplain to the Forces; the children of both sexes of the soldiers of the regiment, attired in uniform suits of new clothes that had lately been presented to them, repeating the responses.
Prayers being ended, His Excellency Sir Henry Bouverie handed the colours to the Lieutenants, under a general salute from the square, and then addressed the regiment in nearly the following terms:—
"Officers and Soldiers of the Fifth Fusiliers,
"I am happy that it has fallen to my lot to present to you these colours. I do it in the full confidence that they will never be disgraced by insubordination, by loss of discipline, or misconduct in garrison, or in the field.