“In 1829 a new set of Colours was presented to the regiment by Lady Augusta Fitzclarence, while stationed at Malta, after which the princesses’ Colours were given to Lord Frederick Fitzclarence, not reverting to the regiment until 50 or 60 years later, when one of the Fitzclarence family kindly presented them.
“The 1829 set saw no active service, and were retired in 1851, shortly before the Crimean War broke out, and their remains placed in the garrison chapel at Portsmouth. The King’s Colour has now practically disappeared, and the other has more than half gone, the three white horses and other decorations having dropped off.
“The next set was also presented by Lady Augusta Fitzclarence, and saw some stirring adventures in the battle of the Alma, soon after the regiment landed to begin its march into the interior. Both officers who carried the colours fell on this occasion, as did also relief after relief in their turn. At length one of the Colours—the regimental—was dropped in the rear of a Russian battery, and lay there while the Coldstream Guards marched over it, without being aware of the fact—for all eyes were fixed upon the enemy in front. It was finally picked up by General Sir Percy Fielding, who sent it back to the 7th.
“In 1897 the second battalion of the regiment, the 1st Yorkshire Light Infantry, and the 2nd East Yorkshire Regiment, participated in what was probably a unique ceremony, all three battalions receiving their new Colours at one and the same time from the hands of the Duchess of York, now Queen Mary. The Duchess was assisted by Lord Roberts, and the ceremony took place at Phœnix Park, Dublin, in the presence of a vast crowd.”[13]
=The King’s (Liverpool Regiment).=—Facings: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 7th, 7th (Isle of Man) Volunteers, and 9th batts., blue; 5th and 8th batts., black; 6th and 10th (Scottish) batts., scarlet.
R.C.—The White Horse within the Garter. The motto, “Nec aspera terrent” (Nor do difficulties terrify us). In each of the four corners, the Royal Cypher, ensigned with the imperial crown. The Sphinx, superscribed “Egypt.”
The battle honours of the “Leather Hats” are: Blenheim; Ramillies; Oudenarde; Malplaquet; Dettingen; Martinique, 1809; Niagara; Delhi, 1857; Lucknow; Peiwar Kotal; Afghanistan, 1878-80; Burma, 1885-87; South Africa, 1899-1902; Defence of Ladysmith.