[Further details of the Canadian military colours are given in an appendix at the end of this book.]

Unfortunately, there are no colours to record of the Australian Imperial Force, as none of the units are in possession of these emblems.

The West India Regiment is placed in the Army List almost following on the London Regiment (Territorial Force). The facings are white and, consequently, the regimental colours are white with the red cross of St. George. The design follows the standard pattern of the home infantry, and the battle honours, which testify to splendid services in various parts of the world, are: Dominica; Martinique, 1809; Guadaloupe, 1810; Ashantee; West Africa, 1887, 1892–3–4; Sierra Leone, 1898. The Dominica and Sierra Leone honours refer to the French attack between 1778 and 1805. (Fig. 47).

The King’s Own Malta Regiment of Militia.—This regiment possesses a King’s colour of usual type, and a regimental colour of blue material, with a central badge bearing the Royal Cypher, surrounded by the standard union wreath and surmounted by the imperial crown. A Maltese Cross is placed in each of the four corners. A battle honour, “MDCCC,” refers to the French surrender of the island to the British on September 5th, 1800.

CHAPTER VIII
MISCELLANEOUS COLOURS

Many interesting colours do not permit of classification in any of the foregoing groups and must be described in the present chapter. The order of Army sequence cannot, of course, be preserved in their case.

The Honourable Artillery Company, which figures in the Army List directly after the Royal Garrison Artillery and immediately before the Royal Artillery (Territorial Force), is probably one of the most interesting units of the Army. It was first formed “about the year 1807, in the reign of William II., as a society of armed citizens for the protection of the goods of merchants, which were frequently commandeered by persons who had no respect for the property of others. The date of the incorporation of the Company is, however, 1537, when a Royal Charter was granted by Henry VIII., under the title of the Guild of Fraternity of St. George. This Charter gave power to the members to elect others to serve in the ranks, and to appoint masters or officers; to use a common seal; to make laws for the rule of the Fraternity; granted license to use and shoot with longbows, cross-bows, and hand-guns throughout the realm, including Calais; gave power to license all guilds of a like nature throughout the Kingdom; and ordained that the masters or rulers should be exempt from being empanelled on any quest or jury throughout the realm.”[[22]] The regimental colour of the H.A.C. is shown in Fig. 39, and, it is interesting to add, two retired flags may be seen in St. Botolph Church, Bishopsgate.

The Royal Marine Light Infantry has a very fine blue regimental colour. The Globe forms the central badge, and this is surrounded by a green laurel wreath with the imperial crown above. Placed between the crown and the Globe is an anchor ornamented with the Royal Cypher. In the dexter canton is a small Union flag, whilst the Royal Cypher figures in the remaining three. The motto, “Per Mare, Per Terram,” which testifies to the world-wide influence of this fighting force, and the battle honour, “Gibraltar,” figure on two golden scrolls. The honour is also inscribed on the King’s colour. (Fig. 45).

The Royal Militia of the Island of Jersey has an artillery section and three battalions of light infantry. The latter have colours, the 1st and 3rd battalions of which are identical except for the necessary difference of wording. In both cases the material is blue and the central badge consists of the three lions of England. The union wreath and the imperial crown appear as on the home infantry colours. The battle honour, “Jersey, 1781,” refers to the French attack organised by Baron de Rullecour, and successfully met by this regiment under the command of Major Pierson. A small Union flag is shown in the dexter canton.


41. Guidon of the Essex Yeomanry.


42. Guidon of the 2nd County of London Yeomanry (Westminster Dragoons).


43. Special Regimental Colour of the 12th Pioneers (The Kelat-i-Ghilzie Regiment), Indian Army.


44. Regimental Colour of the 62nd Punjabis, Indian Army.


45. Colour of the Royal Marine Light Infantry.


46. King’s Colour of the Royal Guernsey Militia (2nd Battalion).


47. Regimental Colour of the West India Regiment (2nd Battalion).


48. Colour of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.
Plate 6. Miscellaneous Guidons and Colours