British Army reference collection

Regimental Standards and Cap Badges

Explore the colours, standards and insignia carried by British Army regiments.

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A Typical Pair of Colours

In the British Army, all battallions of the Guards and of Line Regiments carry two colours. With the former the King's Colour is crimson, the Regimental Colour being the Union Jack, and all the Battle honours are placed on each colour. In the Line the Jack is the King's colour, and bears the Honours for the Great War alone. The Regimental colour beats all the pre and post Great War Honours. Heavy cavalry carry either a Standard or a Guidon: Hussar, Lancer and Rifle regiments have no colours.

The Royal Horse Guards

The King's Standards borne by the three regiments of Household Cavalry (1st and Life Guards and Royal Horse Guards) are almost all identical in appearance, for each bears the Royal Arms and has all the Battle Honours of the Regiments embroidered underneath. The Royal Horse Guards ("The Blues") wear, in full dress, blue tunics with red facings and silver helmets with scarlet plumes. Like the rest of the Household Cavalry they wear the steel cuirass (or back and breast plates). The Blues carry also a Regimental and a Squadron Standard.

1st The Royal Dragoons

"The Royals" carry a Guidon which bears 22 battle Honours, the 12 pre-1914 distinctions on one side, and the 10 for the Great War, as illustrated, on the other. The Badge of the regiment, seen in the centre of the Guidon and on the Cap Badge, is the Royal Crest of the lion and crown. The golden eagle in the base of the Guidon is borne in the memory of the capture by the Royals of a French eagle and Waterloo. The motto of the Regiment is "Spectemuragendo" ("Judge us by our deeds").

The Honourable Artillery Company

To the H.A.C., now a Territorial unit, must be given pride of place as the oldest regiment in the British Army for its Charter dates from August 25th 1537. The Colour illustrated, which, with the blue Regimental Colour, was presented on June 25th 1928, is the only King's Colour in the Army (outside the Brigade of Guards) to bear more than ten Battle Honours for the Great War it carries "South Africa 1900-02". The Cap Badge illustrated is that worn by the Infantry Battalion.

1st Battalion Grenadier Guards

Officer's Cap Badge — Officers' Cap Badge

In the old days the Regiment of Foot Guards carried Royal Standards, which, before the Act of Unison were of crimson silk. Hence the King's Colours of the Guards are crimson nowadays, and the Regimental Colours of the Brigade of Guards should not be confused with the State Colours which are carried by them on State occasions. No. 1 Company of the 1st Battalion is known as the King's Company, and carries a colour of its own on occasion. Only picked men of over six feet are found in its ranks.

2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards

The King's Colours of the 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the Grenadiers are similar, with the exception that the latter battalion shows a "pile wavy" for difference (see 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards). As may be noticed, all the Battle Honours appear on both King's and Regimental Colours in the Guards. There are four types of Cap Badge, the Officers' (see 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards), the Men's, the Warrant Officers' (see 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards), and the Serjeants', the latter having the interlaced cypher on the grenade in gold instead of silver.

3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards

The Badge in the center of the Regimental Colour of the 3rd Battalion of the Grenadier Guards is that of number XXX Company. When the colours are renewes these badges change, each of the 30 Company Badges being borne in rotation, three at a time, one on the Regimental Colour of each battalion. On the tunics of the Grenadiers, formerly the 1st Foot Guards, the buttons are placed singly. The bearskin plumes are white, but the cap bands in the undress uniform for the ranks are red. The march past is the well-known "British Grenadiers".

1st Battalion Coldstream Guards

The Colours of the Coldstream Guards conform to the usual custom in the Brigade of Guards, all the Battle Honours being emblazoned on each colour, while a Regimental Colour bears the Company Badge in the centre. The Badge shown is that of No 21 COmpant. The regiment was formed in 1650 from Fenwick's and Hesilrige's Regiments of Foot, and Monck was its first Colonel. When the Restoration was accomplished, the regiment was at Coldstream, and marched to London, hence the name "Coldstreamers" (never "Coldstreams").

2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards

The Badge of the COldstream Guards is the Star of the Order of the Garter, the premier British Order of Knighthood. The King's Colour of the 2nd Battalion is different from those borne by the other two battalion (see 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards). While the Grenadiers were known as the 1st Regiment of Foot Guards, the scornful motto of the Coldstreamers, "Nulli Secundus" (Second to None) was the result of the implication that they were the 2nd Regiment of Guards. The regiment marches past to "Milanello", and air it shares with no other regiment of the British Army.

3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards

The King's Colour of the 3rd Battalion is similar to that borne of the 1st Battalion, except that the Union Flag appears in the corner, and with the "pile wavy" differences it, for the 1st Battalion has no Jack or pile, while the 2nd Battalion has the Jack and also has a different central device (see 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards). The buttons on the Coldstreamers coats are placed in pairs, the plume of the bearskin is red, and the band of the forage cap is white. As shown on this page, the Cap Badges of the Officers, W.O.s and other ranks are different.

1st Battalion Scots Guards

The Badge of the Scots Guards is the Star of the Order of the Thistle, and this is used as a Cap Badge by all ranks. The motto of the regiment if "Nemo me impune lacessit" (No-one touches me with impunity). The King's Colours of the two Battalions are quite different (see 2nd Battalion Scots Guards), although the same Honours are borne on all the colours of the regiment. Known formerly as the "Third Regiment of Foot Guards", the buttons on the Scots Guards coats are placed in sets of three.

2nd Battalion Scots Guards

As can be seen by comparison with 1st Battalion Scots Guards, the device in the centre of the King's Colour of the two battalions of the Scots Guards differs, while following the rule of all the second battalions in the Brigade of Guards, the Union Jack is placed in the corner. The Regimental March of the Scots Guards is "Highland Laddie", while their bearskins are easily distinguished as have no plumes in the sides. Officers and men alike wear the chequered band on the forage cap.

1st Battalion Irish Guards

At present the Irish Guards have one battalion only. The Badge of the regiment, worn as a Cap Badge by all ranks, is the Star of the Order of Saint Patrick. The plume in the bearskin is Irish blue in colour; the cap band of the men's forage cap is green. The fourth of the Regiments of Foot Guards, the buttons on the tunics are placed in sets of four. The regiment was raised after the last South African War, and the 10 Honours of the Great War appear on the Colours, which were presented in 1927.

1st Battalion Welsh Guards

The warrant for the formation of the Welsh Guards was dated Feb 26th 1915, and on March 1st (St David's Day) they mounted the King's Guard for the first time. The 1st Battalion went out to France on August 17th 1915. The 5th Regiment of Guards, the buttons are worn in groups of five, while the plume of the bearskin is white with a green bar. The cap band of the forage cap is black and the Badge is a leek: the regimental motto is "Cymru am Byth" (Wales for ever). No. 1 Company is known as the "Prince of Wales's Company."

1st Battalion The Queens Royal Regiment (West Surrey)

The 1st Battalion of the Queen's Royal Regiment are another of the few remainins battalions who still carry the full-sized old colour with the spear-head top to the pike. The Colour is very old, and the white silk has faded to a deep yellow. This Battalion also posesses a third colour, which is green with the cypher of Catherine of Braganza in the centre. The Cap Badge is the Paschal Lams, and until recently it bore the name "The Queen's" on a scroll beneath the wreath. This Badge is the crest of the Braganza family.

1st Battalion The King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster)

The King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) has bike facings in full dress, and like other "Royal" regiments has a blue Regimental Colour. In each corner of the colour is the lion of England, crowned. The lion is also the Cap Badge, but here he is not crowned. In the Great War the King's Own Royal Regiment expanded to 16 Battalions. The pre 1914 Honours, carried by the two Regular and two Territorial battalions of the regiment number 20, while in the recent war 59 were gained.

1st Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment

The Royal Warwickshire Regiment, formerly the 6th Foot, is one of the oldest regiments in the British Army. Its Badge is the antelope, worn on the headdress and also borne in the center of the Regimental Colour, which also bears the 16 Honours gained prior to 1914. In the Great War the regiment numbered thirty battalions, and gained 70 more Honours, serving in France and Flauders, in Italy, at Gallipoli, in Mesopotamia, and in Persia.

2nd Battalion The Royal Fusiliers

Formerly the 7th Foot, the Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) has the privilege, shared with the Buffs, Honourable Artillery Company, Grenadier Guards and Royal Marines, of marching through the City of London with bayonets fixed. The plume in the busby is white; as a Royal Regiment the Royal Fusiliers have blue facings, and this is the field of the Regimental Colour which has in each corner the White Horse of Hanover. The first four Battalions of the London Regiment (Territorial Army) are affiliated to this regiment. (See 1st Battalion City of London Regiment).

1st Battalion The King's Regiment (Liverpool)

Formerly the 8th Foot, King George I gave it the title of the "King's Regiment" and his interlaced cypher can be seen in each of the corners of the Regimental COlour. The motto of the regiment is that of the old Hanoverian Guelphic Order, "Nec Aspera Terrent" (Nor do difficulties frighten us), and the Badge is the White Horse of Hanover. While the Battle Honours of the Great War are borne on the King's Colour, all the others, including "Afghanistan 1919", are on the Regimental Colour. In the Great War the Regiment was represented by 45 Battalions.

2nd Battalion Norfolk Regiment

The facings of the Regiment are yellow, and the Regimental Colour is of this shade. The Regimental Badge is the figure of Britannia, and this is responsible for a nickname the regiment bears of the "Holy Boys". During the Peninsular War the Spaniards imagined that the badge was the figure of the Virgin Mary, and venerated the wearers. "Rule Britannia" is the regimental march. Formerly the 9th Foot, the regiment has a most distinguished record; it found the funeral party which buried Sir John Moore at Corunna.

1st Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment

The Regimental Colour is of an old pattern, and has recently been repaired. In the centre is the pre-Territorial number "X" (for Tenth Foot) with the surrounding inscription "North Lincolnshire". It may be noticed that the tail of the Sphinx in the Cap Badge and in the base of the colour is turned up by its side instead of over its back as is the more usual custom. The Regimental March is one of the best-known in the British Army, being the well-known air of "The Lincolnshire Poacher".

1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment

The Regimental Colour of the Battalion is Lincoln green, as their full dress facings are of that shade. The castle seen on the colour and in the Badge is the Castle of Exeter. The motto is "Semper Fidelis" (Ever Faithful). The Regimental March, "We've lived and we've loved together", and nickname "The bloody Eleventh", date from Salamanca. There are 21 Great War Honours borne on the King's Colour.

1st Battalion Suffolk Regiment

This Regimental Colour is one of the few of the old type still carried in the Army. With the accompanying Queen's Colour, it was presented at Weedon in 1849, and though repaired, is in a marvellous state of preservation. The colour-pike still has the old spear-head top. The battalion wears the red flash behind the Cap Badge and, as one of the regiments with "Minden" as a Battle Honour, on August 1st red and yellow roses are worn in the headress. In the Great War the Regiment was represented by no less than 22 battalions.

2nd Battalion The Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment

During the Great War the Bedfordshire Regiment mustered 18 battalions, while the Hertfordshire Regiment, composed of Territorials, has four. After the Armistice, the title of the Bedfordshires was changed to "Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment", and the Cap Badge was altered in accordance. There are now two battalions of this Regular regiment, and it also has a Territorial battalion (the Fifth). The Hertfordshire Regiment still exists as a Territorial unit. The Regimental Colour illustrated was presented in 1926.

2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment

The facings of the Regiment are white, hence the white colour. It is interesting to note that the Battle Honour for Afghanistan appears twice, on the left hand side of the colour as "Afghanistan 1839" and on the right "Afghanistan 1878-79". The Badge of the regiment is known as the "Royal Tiger", superscribed "Hindoostan", which was granted to it for its great services in India. On the colour it appears as green in shade with yellow stripes. The colour illustrated was presented quite recently.

1st Battalion The Lancashire Fusiliers

The Colour of this battalion are old. On the King's Colour, as can be seen, is the old number of the regiment, which was formerly the 20th Foot. The Regimental Colour of the 1st Battalion is yellow, with the Jack in the corner, and on this Jack is embroidered a rose. In the centre again is the numeral "XX" surrounded by the inscription "East Devonshire". The 20th Foot fought at Minden and are one of the regiments who wear the red and yellow roses on Minden Day.

1st Battalion South Wales Borders

Formerly the 24th Foot, both battalions served in the Zulu War of 1879. After the disaster at Isandhlwana on Jan 22nd, Lieuts. Melvill and Cogwhill died to save the Queen's Colour of the 1/24th, which is still carried by that battalion. Queen Victoria crowned this colour with a wreath or immortelles, later giving each battalion in memory of their great deeds, a silver wreath for its Queen's Colour. This is a unique honour: the wreaths also appear in the Cap Badge.

The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

When the Irish Free State came into existence, the five regiments which were recruited in that area were disbanded on July 31st 1922. The Royal Inniskilling and Royal Irish Fusiliers, which belong to the Northern Ireland district, continued to exist, but each regiment was reduced from two Regular battalions to one, the two battalions thus formed being linked to form one Corps. Although a "Royal" Regiment, the Regimental Colour carried by the Inniskillings - which is as old as the King's Colour - is buff in shade.

1st Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment

This battalion still carries one of the older types of Regimental Colour; the 2nd Battalion has the modern white colour with St George's Cross - the facings being white - and this latter bearing all the honours thereon, shows more scrolls than any other Line Regiment. The Badge on the back of the head-dress commemorates the exploit of the 28th at Alexandra in 1801, when, assailed in the rear, the rear-rank faced about and beat off the attack.This Badge was increased in size for another exploit in the Great War.

2nd Battalion East Lancashire Regiment

In the Great Wat, the East Lancashire Regiment numbered 17 battalions, winning 61 Honours which included 10 elected to be borne on the King's Colours. The 1st Battalion was the old XXX Foot, the second being the 59th. The regiment has served all over the world, some of the Honours on the Regimental Colour being as far apart as "Cape of Good Hope", "Java", and "Canton".

5th Battalion East Surrey Regiment T.A.

The 5th and 6th Battalions are Territorial, but the 6th is a Rifle Battalion and the thus carries no colours. The Colours of the 5th are exactly the same as those of the 1st, with the exception of the figure in the center. In pre-war days Territorials were allowed to embroider on their Regimental Colour only Honours they had won themselves, these being confined to "South Africa 1900-2". Now they are alowed to display all the Honours of their Regular Battalions; in this case the Honour "Mons", etc, appear on the King's Colour.

1st Battalion The Royal Sussex Regiment

This Colour is of an old pattern, though made shortly after the South African War, it was presented recently. As it belongs to a "Royal" Regiment, it is blue, and it bears the two pre-1914 Honours and the latest post War Honour of "Afghanistan 1919". The 10 Great War Honours are carried out on the King's Colour. The White Plume was granted in memory of the regiments's fight with the French Royal Roussillon Regiment at Quebec in 1759. The Regimental March is the "Royal Sussex".

2nd Battalion The South Staffordshire Regiment

An unusual feature of the Colours of this battalion is that, although both were presented at the same time, the Regimental bears Queen Victoria's crown, while the King's bears the Edwardian Crown. The former is white with St George's Cross, and bears the 28 Battle Honours together with the sphinx superscribed "Egypt" which were gained in pre Great War days, while the Honours for 1914-1918 follow the unusual rule and are borne on the King's Colour. The 2nd Battalion were formerly the 80th Foor, the 1st Battalion being the 18th.

2nd Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment

The full dress facings of the Dorsetshire Regiment are grass-green, and the Regimental Colour of the battalion illustrated is of that shade. The Sphinx in the Cap Badge and the Battle Honour "Marabout" were gained by this battalion. The motto "Primus in Indis" (First in India) which is seen on the scroll under the wreath in the base of the colour and also on the Cap Badge, is an alluion to the old 39th Foot having been the first regiment of the Regular Army to land in India. In the Great War the Dorsetshire Regiment numbered 13 battalions.

1st Battalion The Wiltshire Regiment

The 1st Battalion of the Wiltshire Regiment (Duke of Edinburgh's) was formerly the 62nd Foot, the 2nd British Battalion being the old 99th Foot. The colours of the former are old but in splendid condition, the Regimental Colour, following the facings of the regiment numbered 12 battalions, and served in France and Flanders, Macedonia, Gallipoli, Palestine and Mesopotamia. The Honours on the King's Colour ranging from "Mons to "Macedonia", "Gallipoli", "Palestine" and "Baghdad".

1st Battalion The Essex Regiment

This battalion is one of the few in the Army which still carries the old pattern big Colour. That illustrated is in very good condition and has the spear-head top to the Colour-pike and no golden fringe to the Colour itself. In the Great War the Essex numbered 31 battalions, and gained 62 Battle Honours, with 10 borne on the King's Colour.

1st Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment

The Regimental Colour is white, with St George's Cross, as the full dress facings of the regiment are white. The colour of the 1st battalion which is illustrated is old, and has the Victorian Crown and Silver Lion on the Colour-pike. The "Castle and Key" of Gibraltar appear in the Cap Badge and on the Colour, the latter bearing an addition the Egyptian Honour of the Sphinx. The Regimental March is known as "the Northamptonshire".

2nd Battalion The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment

The Regimental Colour of the regiment is of royal blue, though in the days before the regiment became a "Royal" one and donned blue facings, the latter were black, and the colour was black with a red cross, similar to that now carried by the 20th Battalion of the London Regiment (see 20th Battalion London Regiment T.A.). The motto is the same as that of the Royal Artilllery, "Quo fas et gloria ducunt" (Where faith and glory lead). The latest Battle Honour "Afghanistan 1919" appears on the colour illustrated. The march past is "A Hundred Pipers".

4th Battalion The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment

The two territorial Battalions of this famous regiment (4th and 5th) carry similar colours to those borne by the Regular Battalions (see 2nd Battalion The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment). The "Afghanistan 1919" Honour on the Regimental Colour is particularly valued by the 4th Battalion. The 10 Honours for the Great War elected to be borne throughout the regiment are on the King's Colours.

1st Battalion The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry

The present Colours were presented by His Majesty the King at Buckingham Palace on July 5th 1926. The facings of the regiment are blue and the Regimental Colour is of Royal blue, and has the pre-war honours of the regiment thereon, the King's Colour bearing those for the Great War. In base of the Regimental Colour is the White Rose of York below the regimental motto, "Cede Nullis" (Give place to none). This rose also appears on the Cap Badge, and with the Light Infantry Bugle makes it easy to recognise.

1st Battalion Middlesex Regiment

The facings of the regiment are lemon yellow, and the Regimental Colour is of that shade. In each corner is the late Duke of Cambridge's cypher and coronet; the regiment is known as the "Duke of Cambridge's Own". Possibly the most famous Battle Honour won by the Middlesex is that of Albuhera, where they were almost wiped out. Conlonel Inglis, commanding, cheered them on with the words, "Die hard, my men, die hard", hence their nickname of the "Die-hards". The Regiment was originally four battalions strong.

1st Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment

The regiment has white facings, hence the white colour with its red cross. It bears the Royal Tiger, superscribed "India", and the Union rose. It is interesting to nore that the latter, seen in the bottom of the right hand corner of the colour is not, like the roses in the central wreath, of white petals upon red but is divided into halves of red and white. During the Great War the Regiment expanded to 22 battalions strong.

1st Battalion Durham Light Infantry

The facings of the Durham Light Infantry are dark green and this is the ground of the Regimental Colour. The Battle Honours of the Great War - in accordance with the usual custom - are borne on the King's Colour, but on the scroll in the base of the Regimental Colour, just above the united red and white rose, appears the latest honour, "Afghanistan 1919". The Cap Badge is the well-known Light Infantry Bugle. Originally the 68th and 106th Foot, the Durhams had 37 battalions during the Great War.

1st Battalion Highland Light Infantry

The H.L.I. has 32 Honours on its Regimental Colour, Ranging from "Siege of Gibraltar" through almost everycampaign to "South Africa 1899-1902". The Great War Honours start with "Mons" and finish with "Archangel 1919". The two battalions of the H.L.I. were originally the 73rd and 74th Highlanders. In 1808 the 1st Battalion became the 71st Highland Light Infantry. The 74th were present at at Assaye where every officer was killed or wounded; in memory of this the 2nd Battalion carried a third ("Assaye") colour.

1st Battalion Seaforth Highlanders

The two battalions were originally numbered the 72nd and 78th Highlanders, the present title dating from 1881. Both were originally raised by Earls of Seaforth and wear the Mackenzie tartan, while the Cap Badge is the Crest of that Clan. The 2nd Battalion (like the 2nd Battalion of the H.L.I.) has a third or "Assaye" Colour in addition to the other two, in honour of the magnificent part played by the 78th at Assaye. The facings of the Regiment are buff, in accordance with the name of "Ross-shire Buffs".

2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders

In the Great War the "Gay Gordons" mustered 21 battalions, the Honours carried on the King's Colours. They won a total of 57. When the Gordons were raised, late in the 18th century, the Duchess of Gordon, a noted beauty of the day, promised every recruit a kiss. The Cap Badge is the Gordon Crest. The Regiment marches past to the air of "Highland Laddie".

1st Battalion City of London Regiment T.A.

The London Regiment, a Territorial Army Regiment, is over 20 battalions strong. These battalions are divided into two groups, the City of London Battalions and the Country of London Battalions. The City Battalions are numbered from 1-8, of which the first four are the CIty of London Regiments (Royal Fusiliers) and these battalions are affiliated to the Regular "Royal Fusiliers" (City of London Regiment, see 2nd Battalion The Royal Fusiliers). In the Great War the 1st Battalion of the City of London Regiment itself expanded to four battalions.

10th Battalion London Regiment T.A.

This Territorial Regiment - for every battalion of the London Regiment is a regiment in itself - dates from the disbandment of the old roth Battalion (Paddington Rifles), and the raising of a regiment in Hackney. The Badge is the Tower of Hackney with the motto of the borough, "Justitia Turris Nostra". There are 10 Honours borne on the King's Colours, and the regiment also gained 27 Battle Honours in the Great War.

The London Scottish T.A.

The "London Scottish Rifle Volunteers" were formed in 1859. On the establishment of the Territorial Force the Scottish were re-numbered as the 14th (County of London) Battalion, the London Regiment. The colours were presented by King Edward VII at Windsor in 1909, while a King's Colour was given to the 2nd Battalion in 1919. During the Great War the regiment expanded to three battalions. The 1st (pre-war) Battalion went out to France in September 1914, and came under fire on October 1st. The 2nd Battalion went to France in 1916 while the 3rd was a Home Service Battalion.

20th Battalion London Regiment T.A.

This battalion of the London Regiment wears the White Horse of Kent as its Cap Badge - at one time it was a Volunteer Battalion of the Royal West Kent Regiment. The Queen's Own wear black facings (which were originally those of the Royal West Kents) in their scarlet full dress, hence the unusual shade of the Regimental Colour. The H.Q. are at Blackheath; the regiment marches past to "A Hundred Pipers". In the Great War the 20th mustered three battalions, serving in France and Flanders, Macedonia and Palestine.