VII.— COLOURS OF OUR OVERSEAS DOMINIONS 115
Appendix.— REGIMENTAL COLOURS OF CANADIAN INFANTRY BATTALIONS 139
1.—EARLY REGIMENTAL COLOURS AND STANDARDS _Frontispiece._
2.—CAVALRY STANDARDS, GUIDONS AND DRUM BANNERS 36
4.—SAVING THE COLOURS OF THE BUFFS AT ALBUHERA 68
5.—COLOURS OF THE INFANTRY OF THE LINE (REGULAR 80 BATTALIONS)
6.—REGIMENTAL COLOURS OF THE TERRITORIAL FORCE 98
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Ever since the time when the Romans went into battle, inspired by the vexillum or labarum, military flags or colours have commanded a respect bordering almost on the sacred. Our own history is crowded with incidents which go to prove this contention. Who is there, for instance, who has not heard of the gallant deeds of Melvill and Coghill, two heroes who lost their lives in an endeavour to preserve the Queen’s colour after the disastrous Zulu encounter at Isandlwana? Or let us take the case of Lieutenant Anstruther, a youngster of eighteen, in the Welsh Fusiliers. In defending the colour he carried up the treacherous heights of the Alma, a shot laid him low, and eager hands snatched up the emblem without a moment’s hesitation lest it should fall into the possession of the enemy. No one thought of the danger which might overtake them whilst guarding the cherished but conspicuous banner; all were resolved to perish rather than it should be wrested from their grasp. And, let it be said, five men won the Victoria Cross that day at the Alma for their gallant defence of the colours. At the battle of Albuhera, in 1811, a colour of the 3rd Buffs was carried by Ensign Thomas. The French attacked in great force, and, surrounding Thomas, called upon him to give up the silken banner. Thomas’s answer was discourteous, but to the point; a moment later he lay dead, and the French bore away the flag with triumph. To the credit of the Buffs, we must add that the emblem was back in their possession before nightfall. These are just a few cases in which men have been ready, and even eager, to make the great sacrifice rather than lose their colours. They could be readily multiplied a hundredfold.
Fortunately, we have now reached an age when valuable lives can be no longer spent in defending military flags against the onslaughts of enemy rivals, for, to-day, there is a rule in our army regulations which forbids the taking of colours into the field of action. Before setting out to meet the foe, they are placed in safe keeping, and the rites which attend this ceremony partake of the utmost solemnity.