Escort to the Colours

1768 Musket Drill

The 42nd Royal Highlanders Band is led onto the field by the King's Colours and an escort to the colours, to complement the pipes, fifes, and drums with an impression of the Highland soldier of 1777. The men in the escort to the colours are outfitted as the battalion soldiers of the regiment, as described in the uniform section of this site. The sergeant of the guard leads the troops, carrying a halberd, one ensign carries the King's Colours (see below). All private soldiers carry the Brown Bess musket.

The Colours

In the center of each colour is to be painted, or embroidered, in gold Roman characters, the number of the rank of the regiment, within the wreath of roses and thistles on the same stalk; except those regiments which are allowed to wear any royal devices, or ancient badges; on whose colours the rank of the regi ment is to be painted, or embroidered, towards the upper corner.

The King's, or first colour of every regiment, is to be the Great Union thoughout.

Near the end of the 1768 Royal Warrant is a section titled, Devices and Badges of the Royal Regiments and of the Six Old Corps. In this section is found:

XLIId or Royal Highlanders.

In the center of their colours, the King's cypher within the garter, and crown over it. Under it, St. Andrew, with the motto, Nemo me impune lacessit. In the three corners of the second colour, the King's cypher and crown.
On the grenadier's caps, the King's crest; also, St. Andrew, as in the colours.
On the drums, and bells of arms, the same device, with the rank of the regiment underneath.

The second Colour to be the colour of the facing of the regiment, with the Union in the upper canton...

Elements of the regimental device

The Crown

The Image of the crown above the cypher and garter is known as "St Edward's Crown", and its image is used in coats of arms, badges, and various other insignia even to this day.

St. Edward's Crown

Dating back to St Edward the Confessor's coronation in 1065, the Crown was destroyed along with the rest of the Crown Jewels during the English Civil War, and recreated in 1661 for the cornonation of Charles II.

The Garter

The garter referred to in the description of the badge for the 42nd is the garter of "The Most Noble Order of the Garter", an English order of chivalry.

The origins of the order have roots in this anectdote: at a court ball, the Countess of Salisbury lost one of her garters. It is said that when bending down and picking it up - the lady blushing and those present laughing, King Edward tied the garter around his own leg and said, "Honi soit qui mal y pense, I shall turn it into the most honoured garter ever worn". 'Honi soit qui mal y pense' translates as 'Shame on whomever thinks this shameful.'

This Order was founded in 1348 by King Edward III as a noble fraternity (or Chapter) consisting of the King, the Prince of Wales and 24 Knights Companion.

Order of the Garter

The conferment of the Order entails adoption into knighthood and, for the Knights Companion, the right to use the title "Sir" before their Christian names. Further, the holders of the Order are entitled to add the letters "K.G." or "L.G." after their surnames or title.

The Garter itself is a dark blue velvet ribbon buckled and edged with gold, with the motto of the Order in gold letters and with gold embroidered roses edged with gold chains. It is worn by ladies around the left upper arm and by the Knights below the knee of the left leg.

For further information on the Order of the Garter, visit Wikipedia - Order of the Garter.

St. Andrew

The description for the device of the regiment mentions "St. Andrew, with the motto 'Nemo me impune lacesset'". St. Andrew is significant due to his being the patron Saint of Scotland, the national flag of Scotland bearing his name, and a representation of his cross.

St Andrew and the Cross
St Andrew

The oval-shaped seal that contains St. Andrew and his cross appears to be from the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, a Scottish order of chivalry; probably the Investment Badge of the Order, described as follows:

The Investment Badge is of plain gold, oval in shape with, in the centre, the figure of St Andrew holding the Cross of St Andrew before him, and bearing the motto [Nemo me impune lacesset] on the surrounding band.

St Andrew is used today in badges of the Black Watch, affectionately dubbed "Wee Jimmy".

psmith@42ndRHR.org