The Act of Union, which linked together the parliaments of England and Ireland in 1801, had a considerable but obvious influence on the objects of this study. Hardly was there a flag in the whole of the Army which did not become obsolete by this union. Many of them were retired, and fresh ones provided, but the general plan was to modify the existing specimens. This was done by sewing red strips along the white limbs of the St. Andrew’s Cross to provide for the St. Patrick’s Cross, and by adding shamrocks to the wreath of leaves and flowers which encircled the regimental badge. Milne says that the intrusion of the shamrock was in all cases manifest, so that examples of this date may be recognised with ease. It is worth mentioning that colours are often modified or altered to keep abreast with changing circumstances; new ones are not always provided the moment they become obsolete in one or more small particulars. The same writer from whom we just quoted describes the changes which the standard of the =Coldstream Guards= underwent during a period of some sixteen years. “When originally made, ... the central garter star (i.e., the regimental badge) and the wreath richly embroidered in gold bullion, but without the shamrock, and possibly the crown, were all that appeared on the plain crimson silk ground. The union with Ireland, 1801, necessitated the introduction of the shamrocks ... they have been squeezed into places when scarcely room could be found for them. ‘Egypt’ and the ‘Sphinx’ having been authorised, they would probably be added at the same time, ‘Egypt’ on a blue silk label, immediately under the wreath, the ‘Sphinx’ within a laurel wreath of gold embroidery, in all the four corners. The standard continued in this state until 1814, when the honours, ‘Lincelles, Talavera, Barrosa,’ were authorised to be used by the regiment. Consequently, they were added in gold twist letters, on the crimson ground. Two more honours, ‘Peninsula and Waterloo,’ were further authorised in 1815-16, and added soon after on crimson silk (some trouble must have been occasioned in fitting the two last into their places, so little room being left).”[7]