“This was the stand which had been presented to the regiment by General Floyd to replace that which had been lost during the unfortunate expedition to Buenos Ayres, when the 71st, after being reduced to a mere handful by the bullets of the Spaniards, were compelled to surrender as prisoners of war. A piper’s banner, which was lost on the same occasion, has since been restored to the regiment.
“The 71st took part in the ill-starred Walcheren expedition, but they do not seem to have had their Colours with them on this occasion, for when they landed and took possession of a flagstaff, a soldier’s red jacket was hoisted in lieu of a proper flag.
“In 1841 the Duke of Wellington did this regiment the honour of presenting it with new Colours at Windsor, the ceremony taking place in the presence of the Queen, Prince Consort, and the King of Prussia. In 1857 Colours were received from the hands of the Duke of Cambridge.
“The former 74th, now the 2nd Battalion Highland Light Infantry, was one of the corps which was granted a third Colour for bravery at Assaye. This banner—which was white, bearing the elephant and ‘LXXIV.’ within a wreath, and inscribed with the victories of Assaye and Seringapatam—was referred to by an inspecting officer in 1830 as ‘a very honourable, but useless, appendage, and takes one officer to carry it, who would be much better with his company,’ and the same year it was ordered to be abandoned by the regiment, except on gala days, reviews, etc.”[19]
=Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs, the Duke of Albany’s).=—Facings, buff, except for the 5th (Sutherland and Caithness Highland Battalion), which are yellow.
R.C.—In each of the four corners the late Duke of York’s cypher and coronet (i.e., Frederick, at one time Duke of Albany). The motto, “Cuidich’n Righ” (Help the King), was given to the Mackenzie as a reward for protecting Alexander II. when attacked by a wounded stag. Also the Elephant, superscribed “Assaye.”
The battle honours are: Carnatic; Mysore; Hindoostan; Cape of Good Hope, 1806; Maida; Java; South Africa, 1835; Sevastopol; Persia; Koosh-ab; Lucknow; Central India; Peiwar Kotal; Charasiah; Kabul, 1879; Kandahar, 1880; Afghanistan, 1878–80; Egypt, 1882; Tel-el-Kebir; Chitral; Atbara; Khartoum; South Africa, 1899–1902; Paardeberg.