The Warwickshire Regiment


2nd Battalion Colours 1858-1935


These colours, presented to the regiment on 13th October 1858, lasted much longer than they should have done, because they did not conform to the 1868 or the 1881 regulations.

Since 1844 the Queen's Colour was to have no battle honours displayed. In 1858 the dimensions of Colours were reduced from 6 ft wide by 5'6" to 4'6" wide by 4ft deep. In 1868 the size was supposed to be reduced further to 3'9" wide by 3ft deep. In addition the edge of the Colours was ordered to be fringed in gold and silver for the Queen's Colour and gold and white for the Regimental Colour. The pikes were also required to have the Royal Crest on top to replace the spearhead.

The 1881 regulations stated that the small union flag in the corner of the regimental Colour was to be removed, and that the battle honours should be arranged in a circular manner around the union wreath.

The blue Regimental Colour seen here on the right, is 4'6" wide by 4ft and has the old spearhead top and no fringe. The small union flag is in the upper canton. The central device is the antelope and the numeral VI on red with the title around it. The union wreath of roses, thistles and shamrocks has II BATTn on a small scroll below, and the Queen's crown above. There are 15 battle honours (pre-Great War) on either side, although there should be 16. The remaining 3 corners of the flag show the badge of the old Holland regiments, the slipped rose. This is a red and white rose with stem and leaves. Only the Warwickshire Regiment and the Northumberland Fusiliers have this badge.

The Queen's Colour, which from 1858 had no battle honours as per regulations of 1844, was permitted in 1919 to display ten honours from World War 1. So these were sewn on to the old Colour. The centre of the Colour had the numeral VI, being the 6th Foot before 1881, with II BATTn in a scroll below and Queen Victoria's crown above. Again, the Colour was 4'6" by 4', without fringe, and had the spearhead top to the pike.


Regimental Colours | Regimental details


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by Stephen Luscombe