R.C.—The Rose and Thistle on the same stalk, within the Garter. In the first and fourth corners, the Royal Cypher ensigned with the imperial crown: in the second and third corners, the Plume of the Prince of Wales. The motto, “Gwell angau na chywilydd” (Death rather than shame). A naval crown, superscribed “12th April, 1782.” (This device serves to recall the defeat of De Grasse by Rodney at Martinique.)
The battle honours are: Martinique, 1762; St. Vincent; Bourbon; Java; Detroit; Queenstown; Miami; Niagara; Waterloo; India; Ava; Candahar, 1842; Ghuznee, 1842; Cabool, 1842; Alma; Inkerman; Sevastopol; South Africa, 1899-1902; Relief of Kimberley; Paardeberg.
“The second battalion has been rather unfortunate with its colours, losing one at Bergen-op-Zoom—it was afterwards taken to Paris—and the other at Quatre Bras. This was taken by the (French) 8th Hussars, who charged the regiment through the long corn just as the Prince of Orange was interfering with its formation. It was not lost without a splendid fight, however, Clarke, who carried it, receiving no fewer than twenty-three wounds and losing the use of an arm in its defence.”[[17]] A fragment of an old colour of the 41st is exhibited in the Royal United Service Museum.
The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders).—Facings, blue.
R.C.—The Royal Cypher within the Garter. The badge and motto of the Order of the Thistle. In each of the four corners the Royal Cypher ensigned with the imperial crown. The Sphinx, superscribed “Egypt.”
The honorary distinctions are: Guadaloupe, 1759; Martinique, 1762; Havannah; North America, 1763-64; Mysore; Mangalore; Seringapatam; Corunna; Busaco; Fuentes d’Onor; Pyrenees; Nivelle; Nive; Orthes; Toulouse; Peninsula; Waterloo; South Africa, 1846-7, 1851-2-3; Alma; Sevastopol; Lucknow; Ashantee, 1873-4; Egypt, 1882, 1884; Tel-el-Kebir; Nile, 1884-85; Kirbekan; South Africa, 1899-1902; Paardeberg.
The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.—Facings, white for all battalions but the Buckinghamshire battalion, which are scarlet.
R.C.—The united Red and White Rose.
The battalion honours are: Quebec, 1759; Martinique, 1762, 1794; Havannah; Mysore; Hindoostan; Vimiera; Corunna; Busaco; Fuentes d’Onor; Ciudad Rodrigo; Badajoz; Salamanca; Vittoria; Pyrenees; Nivelle; Nive; Orthes; Toulouse; Peninsula; Waterloo; South Africa, 1851-2-3; Delhi, 1857; New Zealand; South Africa, 1900-02; Relief of Kimberley; Paardeberg.
The “Light Bobs,” as this regiment is nicknamed, are a combination of the old 43rd (Monmouthshire Light Infantry) and the 52nd (Oxfordshire Light Infantry). A retired stand of flags of the former may be seen in the Royal United Service Museum, bearing this inscription: