The Queen’s Colour shows the central circle inscribed with parts of the Regimental title THE KING’S OWN BORDERERS, the gold Roman numeral XXV in the centre, and a small scroll inscribed II BATTn. All that is left of the Regimental Colour is the small Union in the top canton, and the circular device in the centre inscribed THE KING’S OWN BORDERERS with the Arms of Edinburgh in the centre and the battle honour MINDEN above. Both Colours are on staffs topped with a gilt Royal Crest.
This illustration is inscribed ‘Colours of the 2nd Battalion The King’s Own Borderers. Presented to the Regiment, April 25, 1863 by Lady Juliana Walker. Now deposited in St Giles Church, Edinburgh’.
The date of the illustration is not known, but the condition of the Colours suggests a date of 1876. The 2nd Battalion KOB sailed to Ceylon in 1863 and by 1870 were in Bareilly, Bengal, and Jubbulpore in 1873. After returning to Britain via Aden in 1876 they were stationed at Shorncliffe and then Aldershot.
‘Lady Juliana Walker’ who presented the Colours to the 2nd Battalion on 25 April 1863 was the second wife of General Sir Edward Walter Forestier-Walker. Lady Juliana Caroline Frances Knox was the daughter of Thomas Knox, 2nd Earl of Ranfurly. She married General Forestier-Walker on 15 Oct 1862. He was Commander-in-Chief, Scotland in 1862, the father of General Sir Frederick William Edward Forestier-Walker, Colonel of the KOSB from 1905 to 1910.
