The honorary distinctions, arranged upon the limbs of the St. George’s Cross, are: Guadaloupe, 1759; Martinique, 1794; India, 1796–1819; Nive; Peninsula; Arabia; Lucknow; New Zealand; Egypt, 1882, 1884; Tel-el-Kebir; South Africa, 1899–1902; Relief of Ladysmith.
The Durham Light Infantry.—Facings, dark green for all battalions, except the 6th, which are scarlet.
R.C.—The united Red and White Rose, in the central circle.
The honorary distinctions are: Salamanca; Vittoria; Pyrenees; Nivelle; Orthes; Peninsula; Alma; Inkerman; Sevastopol; Persia; Reshire; Bushire; Koosh-ab; New Zealand; South Africa, 1899–1902; Relief of Ladysmith. This roll is particularly strong in Indian honours, due to the fact that the 2nd battalion was raised by the East India Company under the name of the 2nd Bombay European Light Infantry.
The Highland Light Infantry.—Facings, buff for all battalions, except the 9th, which are blue.
R.C.—The Elephant, superscribed “Assaye,” placed below the union wreath. The Castle and Key, superscribed “Gibraltar, 1780–83,” with the motto, “Montis Insignia Calpe,” underneath.
The numerous battle honours are: Carnatic; Sholinghur; Mysore; Hindoostan; Seringapatam; Cape of Good Hope, 1806; Roliça; Vimiera; Corunna; Busaco; Fuentes d’Onor; Ciudad Rodrigo; Badajoz; Almaraz; Salamanca; Vittoria; Pyrenees; Nivelle; Nive; Orthes; Toulouse; Peninsula; Waterloo; South Africa, 1851–2–3; Sevastopol; Central India; Egypt, 1882; Tel-el-Kebir; South Africa, 1899–1902; Modder River.
“When the 71st (now the 1st Battalion Highland Light Infantry) left England for the Peninsula War, Brigadier-General Pack ordered their Colours to be left behind in the Tower of London, and the regiment accordingly fought without any throughout the arduous Spanish campaigns. Pack’s reason for leaving the Colours behind is not quite clear, but if he thought they would be safer at home than on the field of battle he was woefully mistaken. In 1814, soon after the close of the war in question, the Prince Regent entertained the Allied Sovereigns to a grand dinner in Carlton House, and among the table decorations on that occasion were the Colours of the 71st, which were brought from the Tower for the purpose. To debase such sacred emblems as Colours to such a use was bad enough, but worse was to follow, for after the banquet, the Colours disappeared, and were never seen again. They may turn up yet; stranger things have happened.
“This was the stand which had been presented to the regiment by General Floyd to replace that which had been lost during the unfortunate expedition to Buenos Ayres, when the 71st, after being reduced to a mere handful by the bullets of the Spaniards, were compelled to surrender as prisoners of war. A piper’s banner, which was lost on the same occasion, has since been restored to the regiment.
“The 71st took part in the ill-starred Walcheren expedition, but they do not seem to have had their Colours with them on this occasion, for when they landed and took possession of a flagstaff, a soldier’s red jacket was hoisted in lieu of a proper flag.