The Foot Guards, which do not come under the heading of Infantry, follow another set of regulations (see Chapter V.). Here it is of interest to mention that, at one time, the authorities did everything in their power to make them subject to the same regulations, but the Foot Guards determined otherwise. Let us quote from Sir Frederick Hamilton’s “History of the Grenadier Guards.” In September, 1859, when new colours were about to be supplied to the Second Battalion Grenadier Guards, they were given out from the Clothing Department, thus for the first time treating the issue of Royal colours with about the same respect as is accorded to the issue of a pair of regulation boots. Previous, however, to delivery, Colonel F. W. Hamilton was requested to inspect them, when he at once observed the substitution of the regimental for the Queen’s colour and vice versâ. He also heard for the first time of the proposal that the battalions should each select, ad libitum, one only of the twenty-four Royal badges then belonging to them, and retain it as their battalion badge, leaving the rest to fall into desuetude.”

As a result of this action, the Guards protested, as only Guards can, against this attempt to rob them of their traditional customs. The matter was laid before Queen Victoria, and in the month of October, 1859, she decided that “the crimson colour, as before, should be ‘the Queen’s’ colour, and that the distinguished company badges, as hitherto borne, should be retained, and emblazoned in rotation in the centre of the Union or regimental colour. Excepting only the reduction in size, and the addition of the proposed gold fringe, Her Majesty would wish no further change to be made in the colours as hitherto borne by Her Regiments of Guards. The service badges or names of actions in which the regiments have distinguished themselves should be borne as hitherto-fore on both colours.” This latter decree settled probably for all time the designs of the colours of the Foot Guards.

We have now followed the growth of the military colours of the British Army during the last two hundred and fifty years. In so long a period and where so many different units are concerned, each having peculiarities of its own, it is quite impossible to note every little change and variation which has occurred, but the reader may be assured that all the more important and interesting steps in the progress of these emblems of British pluck and patriotism have received due notice.

CHAPTER III
STANDARDS, GUIDONS AND DRUM BANNERS OF THE HOUSEHOLD CAVALRY, DRAGOON GUARDS, AND CAVALRY OF THE LINE

Among the grandest and most attractive flags which are flown in any part of the world, those of the British Cavalry must be assigned a high position, for, without being gaudy, they are beautiful, elaborate, gaily coloured and full of historic detail. The reader is invited to turn to the second plate, and examine the five examples given thereon. He will see that the badges—the relics of the old baronial days—are steeped in historical fact and military tradition, that the battle honours are reminiscent of the glorious fights of other days; and that the reds and blues and greens are judiciously blended without offending the eye.

Cavalry flags are known as standards when they are square and guidons when swallow-tailed. The Household Cavalry and the Dragoon Guards possess standards and the Dragoons fly guidons. To the student of military emblems, it is somewhat disappointing to find that Hussars and Lancers have no flags with which to display their splendid traditions. In their case, we must be content to examine the cloths or banners hung around their drums. Before taking each regiment separately, it may be useful to state that a standard, without the red and gold fringe, measures 2 ft. 6 ins. by 2 ft. 3 ins.; a guidon, 3 ft. 5 ins. by 2 ft. 3 ins.; and the lance of either is 8 ft. 6 ins. long.


9. Regimental Standard of the 2nd Life Guards.


10. Standard of the 1st (King’s) Dragoon Guards.


11. Standard of the 3rd (Prince of Wales’s) Dragoon Guards.


12. Drum banner of the 17th (Duke of Cambridge’s Own) Lancers.


13. Drum banner of the 5th (Royal Irish) Lancers.


14. Drum banner of the 13th Hussars.


15. Guidon of the 2nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys).


16. Guidon of the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons.
Plate 2. Cavalry Standards, Guidons and Drum Banners

1st Life Guards.—The King’s Standard is crimson and bears a fairly large representation of the Royal Arms. The King’s Cypher figures in the two upper corners. Below the Arms are placed the battle honours: Dettingen; Peninsula; Waterloo; Egypt, 1882; Tel-el-Kebir; South Africa, 1899-1900; Relief of Kimberley; Paardeberg.

Three other standards are carried, each very similar to the above, the central device being the chief point of difference. (See Fig. 9.)