“In 1841 the Duke of Wellington did this regiment the honour of presenting it with new Colours at Windsor, the ceremony taking place in the presence of the Queen, Prince Consort, and the King of Prussia. In 1857 Colours were received from the hands of the Duke of Cambridge.
“The former 74th, now the 2nd Battalion Highland Light Infantry, was one of the corps which was granted a third Colour for bravery at Assaye. This banner—which was white, bearing the elephant and ‘LXXIV.’ within a wreath, and inscribed with the victories of Assaye and Seringapatam—was referred to by an inspecting officer in 1830 as ‘a very honourable, but useless, appendage, and takes one officer to carry it, who would be much better with his company,’ and the same year it was ordered to be abandoned by the regiment, except on gala days, reviews, etc.”[[19]]
Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs, the Duke of Albany’s).—Facings, buff, except for the 5th (Sutherland and Caithness Highland Battalion), which are yellow.
R.C.—In each of the four corners the late Duke of York’s cypher and coronet (i.e., Frederick, at one time Duke of Albany). The motto, “Cuidich’n Righ” (Help the King), was given to the Mackenzie as a reward for protecting Alexander II. when attacked by a wounded stag. Also the Elephant, superscribed “Assaye.”
The battle honours are: Carnatic; Mysore; Hindoostan; Cape of Good Hope, 1806; Maida; Java; South Africa, 1835; Sevastopol; Persia; Koosh-ab; Lucknow; Central India; Peiwar Kotal; Charasiah; Kabul, 1879; Kandahar, 1880; Afghanistan, 1878–80; Egypt, 1882; Tel-el-Kebir; Chitral; Atbara; Khartoum; South Africa, 1899–1902; Paardeberg.
This regiment was awarded a third colour by the East India Company for services at Assaye (see Highland Light Infantry). It was made of white silk and bore the word “Assaye” above a representation of an elephant, the whole surrounded by a laurel wreath. The regimental number figured prominently on this banner, which is often called the “Elephant colour.” The colour was lost, and its history after about the year 1810 is unknown.
The Gordon Highlanders.—Facings, yellow.
R.C.—The Sphinx, superscribed “Egypt”; also the Royal Tiger, superscribed “India.” (One in each of the lower corners.)
The many battle honours are: Mysore; Seringapatam; Egmont-op-Zee; Mandora; Corunna; Fuentes d’Onor; Almaraz; Vittoria; Pyrenees; Nive; Orthes; Peninsula; Waterloo; South Africa, 1835; Delhi, 1857; Lucknow; Charasiah; Kabul, 1879; Kandahar, 1880; Afghanistan, 1878–80; Egypt, 1882, 1884; Tel-el-Kebir; Nile, 1884–85; Chitral; Tirah; South Africa, 1899–1902; Defence of Ladysmith; Paardeberg.
“The Regiment,” in its issue of October 28th, 1916, gives the following interesting account of the Gordons’ colours:—