The American War of Independence, as the reader may justly suppose, marks another period in the history of military flags. In those days it was customary, though not the immutable rule, to carry these emblems into the line of battle, and as this period of fighting brought us many reverses the effect on the colours was often disastrous. Many were taken by the enemy, many more were worn to shreds, and a few were hidden and lost. It is forgotten by some of us that American raiders infested our shores and sank numbers of British vessels. The toll of ships led, at times, to the loss of colours. Here is a case in point. Report of an Inspection of the 81st Aberdeenshire Highlanders, at Kinsale. “Colours wanting; were taken on passage from England to Ireland by an American privateer. A new stand making in Dublin.” As a result of all these happenings, many regiments will be found to have had new colours at some time during the period 1776-83. * * * * * Continuing our history, we find that the next step to note concerns the placing of battle honours on military flags. The first of these distinctions was “Emsdorf,” and was given to the 15th Light Dragoons in 1768. Ten years later, the second distinction, “Gibraltar,” was awarded to a quartette of regiments. It was the King’s appreciation of the forces which withstood the fierce siege with “red-hot potatoes” under the command of General Eliot, afterwards Lord Heathfield. The official intimation of this grant is worth quoting _in extenso_. “April 28th, 1784. I seize the opportunity to acquaint you further that His Majesty has been graciously pleased in commemoration of the glorious defence made by those regiments which comprised the garrison of Gibraltar during the late memorable siege of that important fortress to permit the 12th, 39th, 56th, 58th Regiments which made a part of it, to have the word ‘Gibraltar’ placed upon their grenadier and light infantry caps, their accoutrements and drums, as likewise upon the second colour of each of those regiments, just underneath their respective numbers. “William Fawcett, Adjt.-General.” It will be noticed that the distinction was to be fixed to the second or regimental colour, and not to that of the King’s—a rule which holds till this day, with but a few exceptions.