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the colours???

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zenawarrior

zenawarrior Report 31 Jul 2014 09:42

hi all
have found my great uncle in the roll of honour in the birmingham daily mail feb 1917
it mentions his brother who had been killed a few months before but also mentions a third brother serving with the colours
who or what were these please????
thanks
zena :-)

Researching:
lewis smith mowbray townsend crowther holmes bourne hands

PollyPoppet

PollyPoppet Report 31 Jul 2014 12:58

Hi found this hope it helps PP :-D



With the colours means that he was serving in the army...

When one took (takes even!) the shilling, one serves with a regiment, or corps.

The army has within each battalion regimental flags called "colours". In the cavalry they are known as Guidons.

These were the be all and end all of the regiment, and if they were lost in action the colonel would end up being given a revolver and told that he knew what to do. Just as the ignominy that followed the lost Eagle of the Ninth Legion during the Roman period, the loss of the colours was (is!) the final death of a unit...

They are blessed by the sovereigns own hand and were (are) the embodiment of the loyal oath.

These standards were shown regularly to the soldiers by "trooping the colour" between the massed ranks. The rank and file then were aware to which flag they rallied when required.

The last regiment to take the Regimental Colours into action was the 2nd bn The Northamptonshires.

Even today for pension purposes, it is calculated as "reckonable service with the colours"!

zenawarrior

zenawarrior Report 31 Jul 2014 13:43

thank you polly
i will now look for his records
zena :-D

Researching:
lewis smith mowbray townsend crowther holmes bourne hands