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                     THE FLAGS OF OUR FIGHTING ARMY


[Illustration:

  =1.= Second Troop of Horse Guards, 1687.
]

[Illustration:

  =2.= 5th Dragoon Guards, 1687.
]

[Illustration]

[Illustration:

  =3.= and =4.= 2nd Dragoon Guards, 1742.
]

[Illustration:

  =5.= General Grove’s Regiment (10th Foot), 1726.
]

[Illustration:

  =6.= 27th Inniskilling Regiment, 1747.
]

[Illustration:

  =7.= 103rd Regiment, 1780.
]

[Illustration:

  =8.= 14th Regiment (Second Battalion), 1812.
]

            PLATE 1. EARLY REGIMENTAL COLOURS AND STANDARDS




                               THE FLAGS
                          OF OUR FIGHTING ARMY
         INCLUDING STANDARDS, GUIDONS, COLOURS AND DRUM BANNERS


                         BY STANLEY C. JOHNSON,
                         M.A., D.Sc., F.R.E.S.
 Author of “The Medals of Our Fighting Men,” “Peeps at Postage Stamps,”
                                  etc.

                          WITH EIGHT FULL-PAGE
                          PLATES   IN   COLOUR


                          A. & C. BLACK, LTD.
                   4, 5 & 6 SOHO SQUARE, LONDON, W. 1




                             TO MY BROTHER
                                 IN THE
                       ROYAL GARRISON ARTILLERY.
                       A UNIT  OF  THE  ARMY  IN
                       WHICH THE  GUNS SERVE THE
                       PURPOSE   OF   REGIMENTAL
                               STANDARDS.


                            Published, 1918.

------------------------------------------------------------------------




                                PREFACE


Very little has been written in the past dealing with the subject of the
standards, guidons, colours, etc., of the British Army. Scattered
amongst Regimental histories, biographies of illustrious soldiers, and
military periodicals, a fair amount of information may be discovered,
but it is, of necessity, disjointed and difficult of viewing in proper
perspective. Many years ago, a capital book was written by the late Mr.
S. M. Milne, entitled “Standards and Colours of the British Army.”
Unfortunately, this work was published privately and, accordingly, did
not receive the full measure of appreciation which it merited.

Students of Army Flags should consult this book whenever possible; also
“Ranks and Badges of the Army and Navy,” by Mr. O. L. Perry; and the
articles which appeared in _The Regiment_ during the latter weeks of
1916. Messrs. Gale & Polden’s folders dealing with Army Flags are also
instructive.

The author wishes to acknowledge his indebtedness to Mr. Milne, Mr. O.
L. Perry, and the Editor of _The Regiment_. He is also very grateful for
the assistance extended to him by Lieutenant J. Harold Watkins and
Lieutenant C. H. Hastings, Officers in charge of the Canadian War
Records.




                                CONTENTS


  CHAPTER                                                           PAGE

        I.— INTRODUCTION                                               1

       II.— A HISTORY OF MILITARY COLOURS                              6

      III.— STANDARDS, GUIDONS AND DRUM BANNERS OF THE HOUSEHOLD      36
              CAVALRY, DRAGOON GUARDS AND CAVALRY OF THE LINE

       IV.— YEOMANRY GUIDONS AND DRUM BANNERS                         47

        V.— THE COLOURS OF THE FOOT GUARDS                            54

       VI.— THE COLOURS OF THE INFANTRY                               64

      VII.— COLOURS OF OUR OVERSEAS DOMINIONS                        115

     VIII.— MISCELLANEOUS COLOURS                                    121

       IX.— BATTLE HONOURS                                           124

 Appendix.— REGIMENTAL COLOURS OF CANADIAN INFANTRY BATTALIONS       139

      INDEX                                                          147




                         LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
                               IN COLOUR


 1.—EARLY REGIMENTAL COLOURS AND STANDARDS               _Frontispiece._

                                                             FACING PAGE

 2.—CAVALRY STANDARDS, GUIDONS AND DRUM BANNERS                       36

 3.—COLOURS OF THE FOOT GUARDS                                        54

 4.—SAVING THE COLOURS OF THE BUFFS AT ALBUHERA                       68

 5.—COLOURS OF THE INFANTRY OF THE LINE (REGULAR                      80
   BATTALIONS)

 6.—REGIMENTAL COLOURS OF THE TERRITORIAL FORCE                       98

 7.—