Note.—For reasons which every reader will appreciate the Army Authorities have ceased to make public the changes which the war has entailed in the numbering of battalions. On this account we have deemed it advisable to follow the regimental records as published in the Spring of 1914.
CHAPTER VII
COLOURS OF OUR OVERSEAS DOMINIONS.
It is unnecessary here to speak of the splendid work performed by the overseas regiments in combating the war lust of the Central European Powers, for the fame of these gallant bodies of men is now world-wide. Many of the units of our far-flung Empire which in 1914 were unborn or unknown in the Mother Country are as household words to us now, and we reckon them as much a part of the British Army as we do the Buffs or the Black Watch. Thus it is imperative in a work of this nature to write of the colours of our overseas as well as our home regiments.
The Army of the Indian Empire, many units of which came into such prominence in the early part of the War, possesses a very fine array of regimental flags. In the main these emblems follow the rules as we have given them when dealing with the home forces. Each regimental colour, for instance, bears a central crimson badge bearing an appropriate device, number or title, and the whole is surmounted by the usual imperial crown. Surrounding this is the regulation union wreath composed of roses, thistles and shamrocks, whilst honorary distinctions are arranged upon a circular laurel wreath, or, when few in number, on either side of the union sprays. The ground colour of these flags is controlled by the regimental facings in exactly the same way as they are at home. Also, it may be said that the King’s colours are Union flags, each with a central crimson badge.
Most of the regimental flags bear no distinctive device but a few display a motto. The following possess one or other of these features:
2nd Queen Victoria’s Own Rajput Light Infantry.—Facings, blue. The Royal and Imperial Cypher of Queen Victoria within the Garter as central badge. Fourteen battle honours are given upon an outer laurel wreath.
7th Duke of Connaught’s Own Rajputs.—Facings, yellow. The Duke of Connaught’s Crest and Cypher. Eight battle honours.
12th Pioneers (the Kelat-i-Ghilzie Regiment).—This unit carries a special regimental colour, the groundwork of which is red, yellow and blue in three horizontal bars. A mural crown superscribed “Invicta,” and the names of eight battle honours appear on this flag. (Fig. 43).
14th King George’s Own Ferozepore Sikhs.—Facings, yellow. The Plume of the Prince of Wales appears in the central badge and the Royal and Imperial Cypher is given in each of the four comers. There are five battle honours.
16th Rajputs (the Lucknow Regiment).—Facings, white. There are three battle honours, of which one, “Lucknow,” is placed above a turreted gateway.