23rd Company.—Silver ostrich feathers, crossed. The Lancastrians took this device.
24th Company.—A white hart with golden antlers springing from the gate of a golden triple towered castle. This badge appears to be of Irish origin.
25th Company.—A red cross of St. George, on a silver shield.
26th Company.—The arms of Nassau. A golden lion rampant, crowned, standing near to eight billets on a blue shield. The Counts of Nassau, it will be remembered, were connected by marriage with the English Royal family.
27th Company.—The badge of the Order of the Bath, a device comprising the rose, thistle, shamrock, etc.
28th Company.—Three crests of German origin, emanating from Saxony, Brunswick and Hanover.
29th Company.—A shamrock.
30th Company.—The crest of the Prince Consort, i.e., from out of a ducal Coronet appears a pillar crowned with a coronet from which issues a plume of three peacocks’ feathers. The arms of Saxony are shown on the pillar.
The Coldstream Guards also have three flags, known as the Colonel’s, the Lieutenant-Colonel’s, and the Major’s colours, which are used as the King’s colour in the first, second, and third battalions respectively.
The Colonel’s or King’s first battalion colour consists of a crimson silk banner bearing the Star of the Order of the Garter, i.e., the cross of St. George in the garter, on an eight-rayed star. A Sphinx superscribed “Egypt” is placed below, and at the foot of the Sphinx is a scroll, bearing the inscription, “South Africa’, 1899-1902.” (Fig. 19.) On either side of these devices is a column of ten tablets in gold, each inscribed with the name of one of the following battle distinctions:—