The Flags of Our Fighting Army Including standards, guidons, colours and drum banners — Context and Discussion

rms of each particular military unit. A typical example of this period is shown in Fig. 5. Here we have the colonel’s colour of General Grove’s Regiment, afterwards the 10th Foot (now the =Lincolnshire Regiment=). The talbot, the motto, and the ermine representations were all features in the crest borne by General Grove. The date of this flag is 1726. Fig. 6, which shows the colours of the 27th or =Inniskilling Regiment=, is also typical. Its date may be put down at about 1747.

The union did not appear on the infantry colours alone, during this period; it also figured, but to a lesser extent, in the cavalry standards, as may be noted from the following interesting quotation from Milne.[2]

“Very little is known about cavalry standards from the time of James II. until the middle of the next century; no drawings or evidence of any kind seem forthcoming. One solitary specimen has been preserved, however, and that of great interest, namely, the Dettingen standard of the old 8th, subsequently 4th Horse (afterwards =7th Dragoon Guards=).

“A record of this regiment gives a very full and detailed account of its bravery at Dettingen, under the command of its well-known colonel, Major-General John Ligonier, who was created a knight-banneret on the field of battle by the King (George II.) in person, and further proceeds to relate that Cornet Richardson, carrying a standard, was surrounded by the enemy and, refusing to surrender, received upwards of thirty sabre cuts in his body and through his clothes. His standard and standard lance were also damaged but he brought his precious charge out of action.

“During the winter the standards, so much damaged in the battle as to be unfit for use, were replaced by new ones from England, and each cornet was presented with the one he had carried, as a testimony to his good conduct. That presented to Cornet Richardson is still carefully preserved by his descendant and representative.

“It is made of crimson silk brocade, about twenty-four inches square, edged with gold and silver fringe, with a small union, three inches square, in the upper corner; one side, the obverse, presents the crest and motto of the colonel, General Ligonier (a demi lion issuing out of a ducal coronet) with his motto, “Quo fata vocant,” on a scroll above; the reverse gives his full coat of arms, crest, shield and motto, surrounded with a handsome trophy of standards, trumpets, and implements of war, all finely worked in gold embroidery.”

The feature of providing each side of the standard with a different pattern, mentioned above, was unusual.

So far we have seen that with but one or two exceptions, no restrictions were put upon the regimental authorities in designing their own colours. Each unit was free to select its devices at will, and choose whatever colouring seemed to fit its banners most. In 1743, however, a Royal Warrant was issued which checked this freedom of design. It ran:—

“The Union colour is the first stand of colours in all regiments, royal or not, except the Foot Guards. With them the King’s Standard is the first as a particular distinction.

“No colonel to put his arms, crest, device, or livery in any part of the appointments of his regiment.

“The first colour of every marching regiment of foot is to be the great Union; the second colour is to be the colour of the facing of the regiment, with the Union in the upper canton; except those regiments faced with white or red, whose second colour is to be the Red Cross of St. George, in a white field and a Union in the upper canton. In the centre of each colour is to be painted, in gold Roman figures, the number of the rank of the regiments, within a wreath of roses and thistles on one stalk, except those regiments which are allowed to wear royal devices or antient badges; the number of their rank is to be painted towards the upper corner. The length of the pike and colours to be the same size as those of the Foot Guards; the cord and tassels of all colours to be crimson and gold.

“All the Royal Regiments, the Fusilier and the Marine Regiments, the Old Buffs, the 5th and 6th Regiments, the 8th or King’s Regiment, and the 27th or Inniskilling Regiment are distinguished by particular devices, and therefore, not subject to the preceding articles for colours.