Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio
Command Sergeant Major
- Joined
- Jun 22, 2005
- Messages
- 2,113
There was a question on another area of the site about the colors of the Coldstream (2nd Foot guards) at Waterloo. This is a complex system, and confusing compared to the line regiments...but here goes!
Most British line regiments used to carry company colors, many with devices on them that represented the Colonel that raised them. For the most part this practice was abolished in the 1768 Regulations for all but about 7 regiments. The Foot Guards however, were permitted to continue this tradition.
An example would be the 1st Foot Guards issue of 1814 when the regiment received one standard with the Kings cypher, two Colonel's colors, two Lieutenant-Colonel's, six Major's and twenty-one Captain's or company colors.
In the Royal line regiments at Waterloo, like the 1st Royal Scots, the King's 4th, the 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers and the 42nd Black Watch the King's color would have been the National flag. This was known as the Great Union after the addition of the cross of St. Patrick in 1802. The Regimental color would have been blue, as were the facings of the regiment, with the old devices in the center as permitted for these regiments.
For the Foot Guards the King's color was crimson and the Regimental color was the National flag. Each of these Regimental colors had an old traditional badge in the center and the company number in gold Roman numerals in the upper canton next to the pike staff. This staff measured 9 feet 10 inches (God save the King!) from finial to ferrule. Both the King's color and the Regimental colors measured 6 foot on the pike staff by 6 foot 6 inches on the fly.
The 1st Battalion usually carried the crimson color of the Colonel, the 2nd Battalion the Lieutenant-Colonel's and the 3rd battalion the Major's color.
The Coldstream King's colors are described as follows:
The Colonel's Color: Crimson, with the Royal crown in full color in the center.
The Lieutenant-Colonel's Color: Crimson with an interlaced and reversed GR cypher in gold in the center with a full color crown above. A small Union flag was in the upper canton next to the pike staff.
The Major's Color: This was the same as the Lieutenant-Colonel's Color with the addition of a wavy tapered line ('pile wavy') in the lower corner of the union.
Although each of the Battalions also carried a Regimental Color at Waterloo, only the 2nd battalion's Color has been varified from primary sources.
This is described as: The Grand Union with a "conjoined Rose and Pomagranate badge" in the center surmounted by a full color crown. In the upper canton next to the pike staff was XIII in gold Roman numerals.
In addition Battle Honors were permitted on the Regimental colors and by 1815 the practice had become firmly established. For the Coldstream the honors 'Lincelles', 'Talavera' and 'Barrosa' would have appeared in gold. The honor 'Peninsula' was awarded in April of 1815, so it is doubtful if it appeared on any of the colors at Waterloo.There may have been an additional honor placed under the central device, a white or silver Sphinx with two sprays of laurel with red berries and a yellow label with 'Egypt' lettered in black. A plate published by Hamilton Smith in March of 1815 shows a Guards officer in full dress with a Regimental color. The honor 'Lincelles' which was awarded to all three guard regiments on June 20 of 1811 is visible. This is centered on the central cross of St. George, in this case near the staff on the reverse side.
It is also worth noting that most British colors of the period included cords and tassels of gold or gold and crimson twist. These were fastened to the top of the pike below the finial.
These Colors were carried by Ensigns ( one epaulette with bullion fringe on the right shoulder for center companys), and protected by Color Sergeants. Even with the pipeclayed buff leather baldric with the boot to support the ferrel end of the pike, the colors were often carried partially fulrled to make them a bit easier to handle.
I hope this helps! Ken Osen/Hudson & Allen Studio/W. Britain
Most British line regiments used to carry company colors, many with devices on them that represented the Colonel that raised them. For the most part this practice was abolished in the 1768 Regulations for all but about 7 regiments. The Foot Guards however, were permitted to continue this tradition.
An example would be the 1st Foot Guards issue of 1814 when the regiment received one standard with the Kings cypher, two Colonel's colors, two Lieutenant-Colonel's, six Major's and twenty-one Captain's or company colors.
In the Royal line regiments at Waterloo, like the 1st Royal Scots, the King's 4th, the 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers and the 42nd Black Watch the King's color would have been the National flag. This was known as the Great Union after the addition of the cross of St. Patrick in 1802. The Regimental color would have been blue, as were the facings of the regiment, with the old devices in the center as permitted for these regiments.
For the Foot Guards the King's color was crimson and the Regimental color was the National flag. Each of these Regimental colors had an old traditional badge in the center and the company number in gold Roman numerals in the upper canton next to the pike staff. This staff measured 9 feet 10 inches (God save the King!) from finial to ferrule. Both the King's color and the Regimental colors measured 6 foot on the pike staff by 6 foot 6 inches on the fly.
The 1st Battalion usually carried the crimson color of the Colonel, the 2nd Battalion the Lieutenant-Colonel's and the 3rd battalion the Major's color.
The Coldstream King's colors are described as follows:
The Colonel's Color: Crimson, with the Royal crown in full color in the center.
The Lieutenant-Colonel's Color: Crimson with an interlaced and reversed GR cypher in gold in the center with a full color crown above. A small Union flag was in the upper canton next to the pike staff.
The Major's Color: This was the same as the Lieutenant-Colonel's Color with the addition of a wavy tapered line ('pile wavy') in the lower corner of the union.
Although each of the Battalions also carried a Regimental Color at Waterloo, only the 2nd battalion's Color has been varified from primary sources.
This is described as: The Grand Union with a "conjoined Rose and Pomagranate badge" in the center surmounted by a full color crown. In the upper canton next to the pike staff was XIII in gold Roman numerals.
In addition Battle Honors were permitted on the Regimental colors and by 1815 the practice had become firmly established. For the Coldstream the honors 'Lincelles', 'Talavera' and 'Barrosa' would have appeared in gold. The honor 'Peninsula' was awarded in April of 1815, so it is doubtful if it appeared on any of the colors at Waterloo.There may have been an additional honor placed under the central device, a white or silver Sphinx with two sprays of laurel with red berries and a yellow label with 'Egypt' lettered in black. A plate published by Hamilton Smith in March of 1815 shows a Guards officer in full dress with a Regimental color. The honor 'Lincelles' which was awarded to all three guard regiments on June 20 of 1811 is visible. This is centered on the central cross of St. George, in this case near the staff on the reverse side.
It is also worth noting that most British colors of the period included cords and tassels of gold or gold and crimson twist. These were fastened to the top of the pike below the finial.
These Colors were carried by Ensigns ( one epaulette with bullion fringe on the right shoulder for center companys), and protected by Color Sergeants. Even with the pipeclayed buff leather baldric with the boot to support the ferrel end of the pike, the colors were often carried partially fulrled to make them a bit easier to handle.
I hope this helps! Ken Osen/Hudson & Allen Studio/W. Britain
