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Guidons 1804
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The first guidons carried by the Cheshire Yeomanry were presented to them by HRH Prince William Frederick in 1804. There were three guidons, one King’s Guidon which was red with a gold fringe, and two Regimental Guidons, blue with a silver fringe. The designs were painted on. As well as the guidons three silver laced belts, to enable the cornets to carry the guidons. All this was made by G & W D Almaine of Bow Street at a cost of 55 pounds and 10 shillings.
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Earl of Chester’s Legion
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The Earl of Chester’s Legion was formed in 1806 and there is no record of guidons being presented to the cavalry. But on 1 Jan 1820 the infantry of the Legion received their Colours. The two Colours can just be seen in the background of James Ward’s painting of Sir John Leicester Colonel and Lancer 1824.
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The King’s Guidon 1830 -1837
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The title of King’s Cheshire Yeomanry Cavalry was adopted when The Prince Regent became King in 1820, and the next known guidons were carried by the regiment during the reign of King William IV, from 1830 to 1837. They have survived and can be seen in the Cheshire Regimental Museum. The King’s Guidon (or Royal Standard) is crimson with a Hanoverian crown above conjoined rose, thistle and shamrock and the motto DIEU ET MON DROIT. In the top corner nearest the pole, and in the opposite corner, the Hanoverian white horse on a red ground within a gold frame. In the other corners K.C.Y.C. on a blue ground.
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Regimental Guidon 1830 - 1837
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This degraded image is taken from the Association Newsletter of the Cheshire Yeomanry published in Feb 2009. But it shows the blue regimental guidon that has the Hanoverian crown over the Garter inscribed HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE and King William’s WR cypher in the middle. The motto DIEU ET MON DROIT is on a scroll beneath. The corners show the Hanoverian white horse and K.C.Y.C. on red grounds in the corners. There are four of these blue regimental guidons for each of the squadrons, identical apart from the squadron number at the base of the central device. The designs are painted on silk.
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Victorian Guidons 1842
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According to P W Reynolds’ notes, the next time the regiment was presented with guidons was around 1842. The King’s Guidon was of crimson silk having the royal arms in the middle and K.C.Y. in the corners surrounded by a Union wreath. There were 4 squadron standards of scarlet silk edged with gold fringe, each with their number at bottom centre. There was a VR cypher in the centre with crown above. Below this was a ‘label’ reading KING’S CHESHIRE YEOMANRY and the Union wreath. In the different corners either K.C.Y. as on the King’s Guidon, or the arms of the Earl of Chester. This mention of the arms of the Earl of Chester can only mean the Prince of Wales plume.
Captain Naylor, in his article on the guidons in the 2009 Newsletter, says that they were presented to the regiment on 5 June 1843, at a parade on Bootle Sands. The mayor of Macclesfield made the presentation supported by deputations from Macclesfield, Stockport, Congleton and Sandbach. This was a mark of appreciation from the local authorities for the aid given to the civil power during times of unrest. As well as the guidons, the regiment was also given a silver trumpet. The five old guidons from the 1830s were laid up at Tatton Hall and secured by Colonel Geoffrey Churton in 1959 so that they are now in the possession of the regiment. The Victorian guidons, however, along with the silver trumpet have not been seen for many years.
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Guidon 1961
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The 1830 guidons had spent the previous 45 years on the walls of the HQ at Gilwern in Abbots Park, and later at Fox Barracks in The Dale. But guidons had probably ceased to be carried since c1850. They had fallen out of favour in cavalry regiments so that battle honours were displayed on the banners carried by the drum horse. In 1941 the Cheshire Yeomanry had been transformed into a Signals regiment and in 1947 they were an armoured unit so that in 1958 they were equipped with Daimler Armoured Cars. As from 1942 the regiment no longer rode horses so the drum horse became obsolete. Between the Boer War and the end of World War Two the Cheshire Yeomanry had accumulated 13 Battle honours. This honouring of service abroad applied to the other Yeomanry regiments so in 1957 the Queen granted permission for them to carry guidons once more.
An article by Captain R C Naylor in the Yeomanry Newsletter describes the presentation of a new guidon to the Cheshire Yeomanry on 8 July 1961 at Chester Castle. The regiment was at that time commanded by Lt-Col Geoffrey Sparrow MC. Rehearsals for the special parade were carried out at their annual camp at Saighton, and on Saturday the 8th July they were drawn up at 11am on the parade ground at the castle to be inspected by the Lord Lieutenant, Viscount Leverhulme. Also present was the Hon Colonel, G H Grosvenor DSO and Lt-Gen Sir Edward Howard-Vyse MC. The band was under bandmaster H Abraham. The guidon was consecrated by the Chaplain-General and then presented by Viscount Leverhulme to the Guidon Party, SSM F Lorimer and Sgts McCormick and Robinson.
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Guidon Photo 1961
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The guidon that was presented to the Cheshire Yeomanry in 1961 was photographed at the 200th Anniversary of the Yeomanry in 1994, held at Windsor Great Park in front of HM the Queen. It shows the flag flying left so that the other side from the illustration is shown to be identical. It is described as crimson damask silk with gold bullion fringe. The battle honours are in black lettering on gold scrolls. Queen Elizabeth’s crown tops a circle with the regimental title and the Earl of Chester’s/Prince of Wales’s plume in the middle. A Union wreath surrounds the circle and at the base of the guidon is the regiment’s Signal’s badge with a wreath and 1945 N.W.Europe on scrolls.
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Guidon Parade 1961
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HQ Squadron is here drawn up at Chester Castle in July 1961 ready for inspection. Out in front is their commander Captain S Oppenheimer. The yeomen are in blue no.1 dress uniform with red forage caps. They do not carry rifles but are armed with pistols in white holsters on their waist-belts. Some have medals and are probably veterans of WW2.
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Presentation of the Guidon 1961
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The Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire, 3rd Viscount Leverhulme hands the new guidon over to Squadron Sergeant Major F Lorimer. He and two sergeants, all from A Squadron, formed the Guidon Party. An officer of the Cheshire Yeomanry stands on the left.
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Painting of the Guidon Ceremony 1961
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Artist Lionel Edwards was commissioned to record the Guidon Presentation ceremony in a painting. He has chosen the moment when the Cheshire Yeomanry march past Viscount Leverhulme who takes the salute on a dais flanked by Sgt Weedall and Cpl Williams who wear the old dress uniform. The Chaplain-General to the Forces stands on the right of the picture with other clerics including Rev T M Rylands, the regimental chaplain. The march past drill had not gone well in rehearsals but on the day they came through well. Captain Naylor wrote: ‘The Regiment marched past the Lord Lieutenant in line abreast, executing tight turns round the parade ground with dressing maintained at every manoeuvre. This was followed by the Regiment advancing in review order, and another General Salute. Then the Guidon was marched off parade followed by the Regiment to the Regimental march played by the band.’
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Guidon Laid Up 2008
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The 1961 guidon was laid up on Sunday 13 July 2008 in a simple ceremony at Fox Barracks. The Cheshire Yeomanry Association chaplain, Canon Perris Williams took a short service on the parade ground in front of a small gathering of past and present Yeomen and their families. A bugle was played by Captain Philip Morris. This photo shows that swords have replaced pistols as the preferred side arm. Unfortunately there are no names to accompany the photo apart from Captain Morris who is 5th from the right in the front row. The Cheshire Yeomanry was, from 1999 to 2014, represented as C Squadron Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry.
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