Ligonier's Standard

This very rare item is the earliest known cavalry standard in existence. They are the two sides of the same standard which is 24 inches square, made of crimson silk brocade. This is the actual regimental standard carried by Cornet Henry Richardson at the battle of Dettingen, which he defended so bravely. It is now exhibited at the Royal Dragoon Guards Museum in York but is owned by the Richardson family since it was presented to Cornet Henry soon after the battle.
The fringe that can be seen in the right hand picture is gold and silver. It bordered the three sides of the standard originally and would be seen on the left hand picture but for some reason it has been painted out. The predominent images on both sides are the armorial symbols of the Ligonier Family. On one side the demi-lion emerging from a coronet (now missing) with the motto QUO FATA VOCANT above. In the top corner nearest the staff is the union flag which at this time had only the red cross of St George and the blue and white saltire of Scotland. The blue has faded on this flag as it has on the shield device on the other side. The right hand picture shows the more complex side of the standard. The shield has a lion rampant with stars and crescent on a faded blue ground. The crest on the helmet is the demi-lion and coronet. Surrounding this is an explosion of trophies guns and drums, and the motto below.
Ligonier became Colonel of the regiment in 1720 but this standard is thought to date at least after 1736 in which year he was researching the family crest to make sure it was correct. It lasted until Dettingen when it was damaged and replaced. But it was the last time that the Colonel's personal coat of arms was allowed to be used on regimental Standards and appointments. A draft in 1743 and 1747 forbade the use of such devices, culminating in the Royal Warrant of 1751.
The whereabouts of the Standard was unknown in the 19th century as the Richardson family lost contact with the 7th Dragoon Guards. But when Major William Rough was second in command in 1893 he tracked it down and invited the owner, Colonel M A C Richardson to come to a regimental dinner and bring the standard for the officers to see. The Colonel offered to loan it to the regiment but retained ownership. When Major Rough became CO he petitioned the War Office to allow the regiment to use the Ligonier arms as the badge of the 7th DG and this finally happened in 1898.

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