The honorary distinctions are: Namur, 1695; Martinique, 1794; Roliça; Vimiera; Corunna; Vittoria; Pyrenees; Nivelle; Orthes; Peninsula; Niagara; South Africa, 1846-7, 1851-2-3; Atbara; Khartoum; South Africa, 1899-1902.
The “Niagara” honour is shared with but few other regiments.
The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment).—[See also the London Regiment, p. [111]]. Facings, blue.
R.C.—The united Red and White Rose within the Garter and the crown over it. In each of the four corners the White Horse.
The honorary distinctions are: Namur, 1695; Martinique, 1809; Talavera; Busaco; Albuhera; Badajoz; Salamanca; Vittoria; Pyrenees; Orthes; Toulouse; Peninsula; Alma; Inkerman; Sevastopol; Kandahar, 1880; Afghanistan, 1879-80; South Africa, 1899-1902; Relief of Ladysmith.
“The old eighteenth century colour, which now hangs in the depot at Hounslow, was probably acquired by the regiment about 1790.
“It was superseded by a set worked by the white fingers of the English princesses themselves—a probably unique honour. The Royal ladies were the sisters of the Duke of Kent, then Colonel of the Royal Fusiliers. Although exceedingly heavy and unwieldy, from being overloaded with rich gold embroidery, these Colours appear to have been carried for some time, and may have been in the turmoil at Albuhera. But history is silent on the subject of the colours of the 7th in the Peninsula War, although the Fusiliers saw a lot of fighting, and bear no fewer than nine honours on their Colours in memory of the fact.
“In 1829 a new set of Colours was presented to the regiment by Lady Augusta Fitzclarence, while stationed at Malta, after which the princesses’ Colours were given to Lord Frederick Fitzclarence, not reverting to the regiment until 50 or 60 years later, when one of the Fitzclarence family kindly presented them.
“The 1829 set saw no active service, and were retired in 1851, shortly before the Crimean War broke out, and their remains placed in the garrison chapel at Portsmouth. The King’s Colour has now practically disappeared, and the other has more than half gone, the three white horses and other decorations having dropped off.
“The next set was also presented by Lady Augusta Fitzclarence, and saw some stirring adventures in the battle of the Alma, soon after the regiment landed to begin its march into the interior. Both officers who carried the colours fell on this occasion, as did also relief after relief in their turn. At length one of the Colours—the regimental—was dropped in the rear of a Russian battery, and lay there while the Coldstream Guards marched over it, without being aware of the fact—for all eyes were fixed upon the enemy in front. It was finally picked up by General Sir Percy Fielding, who sent it back to the 7th.