Butler's Rangers. A
Re-enactment group in Canada.
Shown are their "Colours"
which are faithful reproductions of the originals.
Note the Union Flag is the original
square type, without a representation for Ireland.
The term "Regimental Colours" is
descriptive of the infantry flags which evolved in the British Army,
and refers to the two flags of a battalion, the senior of which is
called the Queen's (or King's) Colour, and the junior, the Regimental
Colour. Together they are referred to as a "stand" of
colours.
The design and form of colours of the Canadian
Forces today traces its history to a document entitled
"Regulations for the uniform Clothing of the Marching Regiments
of Foot, their Colours, Drums, Bells of Arms, and Camp Colours,
1747." In general, the regulations put a stop to a former
practice wherein Colonels of regiments had placed a device or coat of
arms on colours and appointments of regiments under their command. The
new instructions gave the design of colours as:
-
The King's, or First Colour, of every Regiment or
Battalion to be the Great Union.
The Second Colour to be the colour of the Facings of the Regiment
with the Union in the upper canton...
-
In the centre of each Colour is to be painted or embroidered in gold
Roman characters the number of the Rank of the Regiment within a
wreath of Roses and Thistles on the same stalk...
This regulation of design, with modifications, is
still the basis of the design of Regimental Colours in the British
Army today. The design of colours of the Canadian Army, although
basically following the same rules as the British, now use the
National Flag of Canada as the Queen's Colour (with the exception of
Regiments of Guards).
The use of the term "King's Colour" in the
1747 regulations is the first recorded instance where it is used to
describe the "First Colour" of a regiment.
Today, it is the custom to place on colours the
names of distinctive battles in which the regiment took a prominent
part. That custom did not originate until 1784 with the granting of
the Battle Honour "Gibraltar." No Battle Honours were
awarded for the American Revolution, as that war was basically a civil
war, and a defeat for British arms. |