The Minute Book
Monday, 1 July 2013

The Queen's Colour
Topic: Militaria

The Queen's Colour of the 4th Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment.

The Queen's Colour

The Colours of an infantry regiment consist of Stands (pairs) of Colours with each stand having a Queen's Colour and a Regimental Colour. Traditionally, the Regimental Colour of a unit is the colour of the unit's historic full dress (e.g., scarlet dress) tunic facings (i.e., the lapels). The Queen's Colour, before 1965, was based on the Union Jack and since then has been based on the national flag of Canada.

The Canadian Armed Forces reference A-AD-200-000/AG-000, The Honours, Flags and Heritage Structure of the Canadian Forces, provides the following details regarding the design of Colours, referenced figures may be seen in the linked pdf copy of the publication:

Royal Military College and Infantry/Airborne Queen's and Regimental Colours

17.     The Queen's and regimental Colours of the Royal Military College of Canada and infantry/airborne units are of silk, with cords and tassels of mixed gold and crimson silk. On the Queen's Colour, the fringe is of gold and crimson silk, and on the regimental Colour, the fringe is of silk in gold and the facing colour of the regiment.

18.     The dimensions of Colours are 114 cm flying and 91 cm deep on the pike, exclusive of the fringe which is about 5 cm in length.

19.     The Queen's Colour for regiments of foot guards is crimson. This Colour bears the badges and distinctions, including battle honours, conferred on the respective regiments. The badge is borne on the centre of the Queen's Colour, ensigned by the Crown (see Figure 5A-8). In multi-battalion regiments of foot guards, the Colour of the additional units will be differentiated as described in paragraphs 27 to 29.

20.     The Queen's Colour for other infantry/airborne units and the Royal Military College of Canada is based on the National Flag. This Colour bears in the centre the authorized designation on a red circle, with the battalion numeral within, if required, the whole is ensigned by the Crown (see Figure 5A-8).

21.     The regimental Colour for regiments of foot guards is the National Flag. This Colour bears the approved badges and distinctions including battle honours. In those regiments where badges have been conferred on each of the companies comprising the respective battalions, the company badges are borne in the centre of the regimental Colours in rotation as the Colours are renewed. In each case, the company number is displayed on a scroll below the badge. In multi-battalion foot guard regiments, the battalion numeral is borne in the dexter canton of each regimental Colour, next to the pike (see Figure 5A-9).

22.     The regimental Colour of a line infantry unit is the colour of the authorized facings. Although when the facings are scarlet, white or black, the regimental Colour is the Red Cross of St. George. This is charged on a white ground if the facings are scarlet or white, or on a black ground if the facings are black.

23.     A college or regimental Colour usually employs the complete or main device from the college or regimental badge as the central badge. The regimental Colour may also bear approved badges, devices and distinctions, including battle honours and mottoes. The battalion numeral, if required, is placed in the dexter canton, but below any honorary distinction which the unit is entitled to bear in that canton. The title of the regiment is inscribed on a crimson circle placed within a wreath of autumnal tinted maple leaves, with a badge, selected by the regiment and approved by NDHQ/DHH (Inspector of CF Colours and Badges), on a crimson ground in the centre, the whole ensigned with the Crown (see Figure 5A-10). For military college Colours, the wreath is of gold tinted maple leaves. In those units with more than nine battle honours approved to be borne on the regimental Colour, laurel branches encircling the wreath of maple leaves are introduced, and the scrolls bearing the battle honours are placed on the branches (see Figure 5A-11). The motto of the regiment, if one is approved, is inscribed on a scroll placed upon the tie of the wreath of maple leaves.

24.     Regiments with scarlet, white or black facings will carry a regimental Colour of the design in Figure 5A-12.

25.     For highland regiments, the wreath within which the crimson circle is placed will alternate autumnal tinted maple leaves and thistles. See Figure 5A-13.

Canadian Army Battle Honours


Posted by regimentalrogue at 12:01 AM EDT
Updated: Monday, 1 July 2013 12:03 AM EDT

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