The Queen’s Colour of the 2nd Battalion KOB is devoid of battle honours following an order of 1844. It has the Union flag throughout, with XXV in gold, beneath the Victorian crown and having a small scroll inscribed II BATTn.
The Regimental Colour of the 2nd Battalion is blue with the Regimental title on a red circle and the Arms of Edinburgh in the centre over a small XXV. The circle is surrounded by a Union wreath of roses, thistles and shamrocks. Victoria’s crown is above and there are scrolls below; the first having II BATTn, the second, NISI DOMINUS FRUSTRA, the motto of the City of Edinburgh, and the lower scroll is for EGYPT which accompanies the Sphinx. Below the Sphinx is a laurel spray with the battle honour MARTINIQUE.
Flanking the central device are the battle honours MINDEN and EGMONT OP ZEE. The latest addition to the battle honours is on a scroll at the top; AFGHANISTAN 1878-80. This was authorised in 1881, the year that the army was re-organised. Regimental numbers were discarded because of amalgamations, but although the 25th Regiment was designated ‘The King’s Own Borderers’ they still clung on to their old number.
The corners of the Regimental Colour have two Royal Crests with the Regimental Motto IN VERITATE RELIGIONIS CONFIDO. In the lower corner is the White Horse of Hanover with the motto NEC ASPERA TERRENT. A small Union occupies the upper canton. The Colours are fringed; gold and red for the Queen’s Colour, and gold and blue for the Regimental Colour. The dimensions stipulated in 1868 were 3ft 9in flying by 3ft on the staff. The Royal Crest had topped the staffs of the Colours since the 2nd Battalion received their Colours in 1863, replacing the spear-head tops. Gold and crimson cords and tassels hung from the top.
