The Royal Irish Regiment


Colours c1845


Cannon's Military Record of the 18th Royal Irish Regiment was published in 1848 with this illustration of the Colours in use at the time. There was only one battalion at that time so only one set of Colours. The battle honours are emblazoned on the Regimental Colour, the most recent being CHINA with the Dragon. This was awarded to the regiment on 12th Jan 1843 while they were still in China. In 1839 there was a regulation which ordered that Roman Numerals were to be reintroduced in place of Arabic in the centre of each Colour but the 18th had the number placed centrally only on the Queen's Colour. The Regimental Colour has the badge within a wreath of roses thistles and shamrocks. The motto is placed below the wreath with EGYPT, Sphinx and laurels on one side, and the Dragon on the other. The arms of Nassau appear in three corners as before. The dimensions were the same as 1751. These Colours replaced the tattered ones seen in the print of the 18th fighting at Amoy, sometime between 1843 and 1848.


Regimental Details | Colours


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by Stephen Luscombe