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.
[Illustration:
=41.= Guidon of the Essex Yeomanry.
]
[Illustration:
=42.= Guidon of the 2nd County of London Yeomanry (Westminster
Dragoons).
]
[Illustration:
=43.= Special Regimental Colour of the 12th Pioneers (The
Kelat-i-Ghilzie Regiment), Indian Army.
]
[Illustration:
=44.= Regimental Colour of the 62nd Punjabis, Indian Army.
]
[Illustration:
=45.= Colour of the Royal Marine Light Infantry.
]
[Illustration:
=46.= King’s Colour of the Royal Guernsey Militia (2nd Battalion).
]
[Illustration:
=47.= Regimental Colour of the West India Regiment (2nd Battalion).
]
[Illustration:
=48.= Colour of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.
]
PLATE 6. MISCELLANEOUS GUIDONS AND COLOURS
The colour of the second battalion varies but slightly from the others.
The badge is a shield and not circular, a horn with the figure “2” is
placed above the badge, and the union wreath is not of the standard
pattern. The King’s colours in each case follow the usual type.
=The Royal Militia of Guernsey= possesses an artillery unit and two
battalions of light infantry. Each of these latter has a blue regimental
colour, bearing the three lions of England, with a sprig above, for the
central badge and a laurel instead of the union wreath. There is no
union flag on the regimental colour but the King’s colour reveals it
according to rule. (Fig. 46).
=Royal Military College, Sandhurst.=—This school possesses a King’s
colour of the usual infantry type and a blue colour of the regimental
type. The central badge of both is the Royal Cypher. The latter reveals
it surrounded by the union wreath and surmounted by the imperial crown.
The Motto “Vires acquirit eundo,” appear on a gilt scroll. (Fig. 48).
In all the above cases, the lion and crown surmount the pole, and
fringe, tassels, and cords follow the type used for the regular
infantry.
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Footnote 22:
Ralph Nevill. British Military Prints.