YEOMANRY GUIDONS AND DRUM BANNERS
Following on the Cavalry, in the Army List, comes the Yeomanry, which
forms part of the Territorial Force. This unit of the Army is divided
into Dragoon, Hussar and Lancer divisions, an example of each being the
Westminster Dragoons, the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars, and the City of
London Rough Eiders. The Dragoons, as a rule, are the only section which
carry flags—in all cases they are guidons—but it must be mentioned that
some Dragoon regiments display no colours, whilst a certain few of the
other divisions possess these emblems, though they may not have received
official recognition. Most regiments own drum cloths, but some of those
raised since the Boer War carry no drums and, in consequence, wear no
drum cloths. In one or two instances, i.e., in the North Somerset
Yeomanry, ornamental drums are provided which need no cloth
embellishments.
Yeomanry guidons are made of crimson material, edged with gold and red
fringe; the pole is surmounted with the Royal lion and crown; and, in
most cases, the distinctive badge is ensigned with the Royal crown, and
encircled by the union wreath. The only battle honour inscribed on these
flags is “South Africa,” but all regiments do not possess it.
=The Berks Yeomanry=, which has its headquarters at Hungerford, flies
the standard pattern of guidon, with a White Horse as central badge.
This animal, as revealed on the banner, is a very poor specimen, but as
it is an imitation of the one cut in the turf on the downs, we can
appreciate the reason for its adoption.
=The Derbyshire Yeomanry= has the united red and white rose for its
badge. This flower is ensigned with the imperial crown and, therefore,
the ordinary crown is not placed above and outside the circular label,
as is usual.
=The Essex Yeomanry= boasts of a motto: “Decus et Tutamen” (Honour and
safety), which is inscribed on a scroll placed under the badge,
consisting of a red escutcheon charged with three seaxes. These weapons
are reminders of the county’s connections with bygone Saxon occupation.
(Fig. 41.)
=The Fife and Forfar Regiment=, which hails from Cupar, is proud of its
badge, a representation of the Thane of Fife. Readers of Macbeth will
remember that Macduff was a descendant of the original Thane of Fife, a
fine soldier who obtained a grant of the shire of Fife from Kenneth II.
in recognition of his assistance when fighting against the Picts.
=The Hampshire Carabiniers= have the appropriate device of two carbines
in saltire. They also have a rose at each corner of the guidon, white in
the first and fourth corners and red in the second and third.
=The Herts Yeomanry= have a stag for device, whilst =the Lanarkshire
Yeomanry=, a regiment possessing the alternative lengthy title of
“Queen’s Own Royal Glasgow and Lower Ward of Lanarkshire,” flies a flag
of the ordinary type revealing no particular badge.
=The Duke of Lancaster’s Own= bear the appropriate red rose of the House
of Lancaster, and here we may mention that =the Yorkshire Dragoons
Yeomanry= (Queen’s Own) display the white rose of York.
=Lothians and Border Horse Yeomanry= show a garb which, in non-heraldic
terms, is a shock of corn.
=The Montgomeryshire Yeomanry= use a red dragon with green wings as the
central badge, which is surrounded by a union wreath not of the
regulation design.
=The Norfolk Yeomanry= has broken away from the traditional pattern of
guidon. In each of the four comers is the Royal Cypher ensigned with the
imperial crown, and in the centre are the Royal Arms. The Royal
residence in Norfolk, and the King’s special interest in this county
probably account for the presence of these emblems.
=The Scottish Horse= display the cross of St. Andrew on a blue
groundwork, as the central badge, whilst in the four corners is the
thistle ensigned with the imperial crown. This is one of the most
pleasing guidons of the Yeomanry Force.
=The Shropshire Yeomanry= have as the central badge on their guidon a
rendering of the arms of the Shropshire County Council (i.e., three
tigers’ heads).
=The Sussex Yeomanry= display a badge comprising six martlets perched in
three rows, all on a Blue background, whilst =the Northamptonshire
Yeomanry= give another rendering of the well-known white horse.
=The Westminster Dragoons=, otherwise known as the 2nd County of London
Yeomanry, have the Royal Cypher and Crown as central badge, whilst in
the first and fourth corners are crossed axes, and in the second and
third, Beaufort’s portcullis. These four devices are encircled by a
union wreath of special design. (Fig. 42.)
If we leave the Yeomanry guidons, and turn to the drum banners, a more
interesting set of emblems will be brought to our notice. The guidons
may be accused of possessing a somewhat monotonous semblance one with
the other, but this is not a characteristic of the drum cloths. They are
gay-coloured, smart in appearance, and endowed with emblematic
ornamentation of an interesting nature.
=The Ayreshires= have a neat crimson cloth, showing a crown, a union
wreath, and scrolls bearing the inscription, “The Earl of Carrick’s Own
Ayreshire Yeomanry Cavalry.” =The Berks’= drum cloth is of the same
colour, while the ornamentation consists of the initials R.B.Y.C. in
writing, with the imperial crown above, and a crescent and star below.
Another crimson cloth is that of =the Cheshires=, which displays the
plume of the Prince of Wales as central badge. =The Derbyshire Yeomanry=
use the red and white rose as on the guidon, but it is worked in gold
threads on a crimson cloth. =The Royal 1st Devon= and the =Royal North
Devon= both bear the Royal Cypher, ensigned with the imperial crown on a
crimson groundwork. The former, however, has gold fringe, but the
latter, silver-white and blue. =The Dorsets= display the same royal
emblems within a silver laurel wreath, also on crimson. =The Hampshires=
have an elaborate blue cloth, with wide gold fringe, on which appears
carbines in saltire, the imperial crown, the red and white rose and a
union wreath. =The West Kent’s= is crimson, and bears the white county
horse within the garter, surmounted by an imperial crown. The motto,
“Invicta” (Unconquered), and the inscription “West Kent Yeomanry,” are
woven into a laurel wreath. A blue cloth is used by the =Lanarkshire
(Queen’s Own) Yeomanry=. The design is neat, fairly simple, and consists
of the Royal Cypher, within a garter, ensigned by the imperial crown,
and surrounded by a wreath of thistles. =The Lancashire Hussars= also
carry a crimson banner; it bears the Royal Cypher, interlaced,
surmounted by the imperial crown, and has below it the Lancastrian rose.
A wreath of red roses encircles these devices. =The Duke of Lancaster’s
Own= is a dark blue fabric having, as central badge, the three lions of
England on a shield surcharged with a white label or bar having three
points. The imperial crown also appears, and the whole is framed by a
laurel and oak wreath. The red rose ensigned by a crown figures in the
two lower corners. =The City of London Rough Riders= have an attractive
purple banner bearing the City arms within a circle and a wreath. =The
1st County of London=, better known as the Duke of Cambridge’s Hussars,
favours a green cloth, having, as central badge, a seven-pointed crowned
star, within a wreath. The Duke’s cypher appears in the four corners,
and the regimental motto, “Pro aris et focis,” is given on the star.
Another green banner is that of the =3rd County of London
Sharpshooters=. This appointment is ornamented with a pair of crossed
rifles and a crown within a circle, ensigned with the imperial crown and
framed by a wreath of laurel. =Lothians and Border Horse Yeomanry= have
a blue banner, revealing the garb, before mentioned, and a wreath of
thistles. =The Montgomeryshire Yeomanry= display a crimson cloth
embellished, in the centre, by a rose, thistle, and shamrock springing
from a single stalk. (Cf. the regimental standard of the 2nd Life
Guards, Fig. 9). In the first and fourth corners is the White Horse of
Hanover, and in the second and third corners, the Red Dragon of Wales.
=The Northumberland Hussars= display a blue cloth in the centre of which
figures the regimental cypher, with a crown above. On a scroll appears
the name of the regiment, and two sprays of golden laurel complete the
ornamentation. A banner of mantua-purple cloth belongs to =the
Oxfordshire Yeomanry=. It bears the regimental cypher and a laurel
wreath, both in silver, an imperial crown, in gold, and three red
scrolls, inscribed, “Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars.” =The Shropshire
Yeomanry= drum cloth carries the same device as the guidon, but it is
blue, and has the motto, “Floreat Salopia” (Flourish Shropshire). The
well-known Stafford knot, which has belonged to the heads of the
Stafford family from earliest times, appears as the central badge on the
blue drum cloth of =the Staffordshire Yeomanry=. The fringe of this
banner is unusual, being for the most part, triangles of gold and silver
embroidery. =The Suffolk Yeomanry= uses a green cloth, in the centre of
which figures the castle and key, and the date 1793, devices to remind
us of the siege of Gibraltar. A golden laurel wreath is also given, as
well as the motto, “Liberty, property, loyalty.” This is a very fine
appointment. =The Royal Wiltshires=, having the alternative title of
“Prince of Wales’s Own,” naturally reveals the plume of the Prince. This
is shown in a garter, which is surmounted by the Royal lion and crown;
all on a crimson cloth. =The Yorkshire Dragoons= and =the Yorkshire
Hussars= must not be confused. The first has a blue cloth bearing the
white rose and the title, “Queen’s Own,” whilst the second displays a
deep scarlet, almost black, drum banner, with the white rose, the plume
of the Prince of Wales, and the title “Princess of Wales’s Own.”
In our limited space it has only been possible to give the chief
features of these drum banners—sufficient, however, to assist the reader
in recognising the appointments. They are, we must add, of the utmost
beauty, and equal in point of interest to those of the regular Cavalry.