The Welsh Guards, which were formed in the summer of 1915, possess a King’s colour of crimson silk, bearing the imperial crown and a dragon. The motto, “Cymru am byth” (Wales for ever), appears on a gilt scroll. (Fig. 24).
The regimental colour is the Union flag, upon the central red limbs of which are placed an imperial crown, and a shield filled by three silver lions.
CHAPTER VI
THE COLOURS OF THE INFANTRY
Each regiment of the Infantry possesses two colours, the King’s colour—which is known as the Queen’s, when the reigning sovereign is a woman—and the regimental colour. There are two exceptions to this rule: (a) rifle regiments do not carry these emblems, and (b) a few units possess a third colour, usually awarded for some service of exceptional merit.
The King’s colour in every Infantry regiment consists of the Union flag with the regimental badge or number placed in the centre of the St. George’s Cross, the imperial crown figuring above whichever device is used. When the regimental number appears on the King’s colour, Roman figures are employed[[10]] (see Fig. 25); when a badge, it is placed within a circle around which is printed the regimental title.[[11]] (See Fig. 46).
The regimental colour is more involved in character. First, there is a central device bearing one of the following: a badge (as Fig. 26), the regimental number (as Fig. 29), the battalion number (as Fig. 30), or the name of the battalion (as Fig. 40). Around this is placed a crimson ring, upon which is printed the name of the regiment. Above the badge, or ensigning it, is the imperial crown. Encircling all this is the union wreath, consisting of roses, thistles, shamrocks, and appropriate leaves, all growing from the same stalk—a very pleasing allusion to the fusion of England, Ireland and Scotland. Then comes the array of battle honours; when these are numerous they are placed upon a wreath which in turn encircles the union wreath. This wreath is usually composed of green foliage, but when the groundwork of the flag is of this hue, the wreath is golden. When the battle honours are not numerous, a few are placed on either side, also above and below the union wreath. Territorial force battalions have but one honour, that for South Africa. This is placed below the union wreath.
The four corners of the colour may contain devices, or they may be left blank. In some flags a small union still figures in the dexter canton, but the tendency to-day is to omit this. In the case of Fig. 39, which is the colour of the Honourable Artillery Company, the small union is given to show the manner of its display. It should be mentioned that the number of the battalion is often printed in the dexter canton.
The colour of the flag depends upon the facings of the regiment; if these are blue, that is to say, if the regiment is a royal one, the groundwork of the flag is blue; if these are yellow, buff, or green, the groundwork of the flag is yellow, buff or green; but if the facings are white or scarlet, the flag is white, and bears the red cross of St. George. Lastly, if the facings are black, the flag is black, with the red cross superimposed. As the facings for all battalions of a regiment are not necessarily the same, it is more convenient in the following descriptions to give the colour of the facings, and leave the reader to bear in mind the facts set out above.
Battle honours are, as a rule, shown on the regimental colours only.
The Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment).—Facings, blue.