Posted by Grunt Captain from Canada on January 27, 2021 at 23:28:23:
In Reply to: Infantry unit Colour Parties, their weapons, and their little dogs too! posted by Michael A. Dorosh on January 23, 2021 at 23:35:42:
A couple of more tidbits after reading all the posts.
I suppose it was my oversight not to mention that rifle regiments don't carry colours, but their battle honours are displayed on their drums.
About battle honours. As far as I know, there is no limit to the number of battle honours that a regiment can be awarded in any conflict. However, there is a limit to the number that can be emblazoned on the colours, and that is 10 per campaign. That is why it is quite typical of Canadian Reserve infantry Regiments to have 21 battle honours on their colours. One for South Africa, 10 for the Great War, and 10 for World War II. Most units were awarded more than 10 honours in both World War I and II, but can display only 10 for each. There are some interesting variations in the number of battle honours on colours of different regiments actually.
The Princess Of Wales' Own Regiment (of whom I spoke in a previous post) have 11 battle honours on their Regimental Colour- one for South Africa and 10 for the Great War. The Regiment was not sent overseas in World War II due to the exceptionally great loss of life of young men from the Kingston area in the previous war. However, the Regiment did supply a complete company to the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders for the duration of the war. For this, instead of a battle honour, the cap badge of the SD&G; Highlanders is emblazoned on the PWOR Regimental colour as the "Badge of Distinction" in recognition of their contribution.
The Regular Army battalions have more battle honours than the reserves, reflecting their experience in the Korean War. I unfortionately I'm not sure of their totals. I suppose I should research it.
The most battle honours on the colours of a reserve infantry battalion are those of the Governor General's Foot Guards, with a total of 22. This is due to their participation in the Riel Rebellion. Their colours therefore have the battle honour for North West Canada, 1885 in addition to those from South Africa and 10 from each of the World Wars.
In Infantry battalions, the colours are entrusted to the Officers' Mess for safekeeping. As far as I know (it would be nice to hear from an armoured soldier to get the details) guidons are entrusted to the Senior NCO's Mess for safekeeping.
The meaning and tradition of colours is best brought out in the ceremony of Trooping the Colour. A good source of info on this is the video program of the Queen's Birthday Parade of 1979. I believe it is entitled "Trooping the Colour" and was done by the BBC. The program gives a very good account of the details of the ceremony, the meaning and traditions of colours, why certain marches are played at certain points in a trooping, etc. If you can obtain or view a copy, I highly reccomend it. Aside from the ceremony itself, you will be blown away by the sheer mass of the Household Division on parade and their execution of the drill. Our own Guards regiments in Canada perform the identical Trooping ceremony (on a smaller scale) at the end of each summer in Ottawa, and carry it off quite well.
Incidentally, the BBC video describes the "spinwheel" as a unique manoevre performed by the massed bands of the Household Division to change the direction of the band by 90 degrees when marching on a large frontage in a confined space. The video is incorrect, as there is one other band in the world that performs this movement, and that is our own Canadian band of the Ceremonial Guard which performs it during the Trooping in Ottawa each summer. Worth a good laugh in the video is the description of the movement though - each musician makes a unique movement in that musicians step long on the outside, shorter towards the centre, some moving backwards, and those nearest the centre of the band can be said to be "loitering with extreme intent".
What I find the most moving point of a Trooping the Colour is when the Regimental Sergeant Major draws his sword to salute the colour (the only time a Regimental Sergeant Major does this) before receiving it from the escort. He then passes it to the colour officer, who is a young subaltern. This symbolizes the age and wisdom of the battalion entrusting the young. I'm always moved when I see it.
Of other corps, arms and services, I'm not so familiar with their traditions, however I do know that sailors (or anyone else in the service for that matter) salute the bridge when stepping onto the deck of a ship. I'm not sure if this has any relelation to colours traditions or not.
Well, that was quite a ramble! I'll be interested to read your follow ups!
Grunt Captain