The Flags of Our Fighting Army: Including standards, guidons, colours and drum bannersJohnson, Stanley C. (Stanley Currie)
History
The Flags of Our Fighting Army: Including standards, guidons, colours and drum banners
Johnson, Stanley C. (Stanley Currie)
Flags -- Great Britain
=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:
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