The Regiment has two Colours, the 'Queen’s' and the 'Regimental'.

The Queen’s Colour is the Great Union or Union Flag. On it are inscribed twenty of the battle honours gained in the Great Wars.

The Regimental Colour is of buff silk. In the centre is a circle, within which is the Regimental Badge, 'An acorn, leaved and slipped.' Around the circle is the title 'The Cheshire Regiment.' Surrounding the circle is a wreath of roses, thistles and shamrock on one stalk representing the union of England Scotland and Ireland. Above the circle is the Royal Crown. On this Colour are inscribed the battle honours won prior to the two Great Wars.

The present Colours were graciously presented to the lst Battalion by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester on the Roodee in 1989.

Many old Colours hang in the Regimental Chapel in Chester Cathedral and other churches of old Cheshire.

The Colours Presented by The Colonel in Chief

His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester

13th October 1973
 
 

THE MINIATURE COLOUR

In 1911 a miniature Colour, an exact replica of the Regimental Colour, but one-fourth the size of the original, was made by the wives of the officers of the lst Battalion, as an annual trophy to be held by the best shooting company.

In 1914, it was taken to France. During the Battle of Mons, it was carried by a drummer, who, seeing capture inevitable, hid it in a barn under some straw. Another man, also in the secret was captured, and managed to explain to a Nun its whereabouts. She brought it to the parish priest who, knowing the Germans had knowledge of it, bricked it up in a loft in the village school. After the Armistice a party from the lst Battalion went to Audregnies and recovered it from its faithful custodians. The Colour is now kept in the Cheshire Military Museum at the Castle, Chester.

At Dettingen in 1743, King George II was saved from capture by a detachment of The 22nd Regiment.  To commemorate the event he plucked a twig of oak, which he desired might become The Regiment’s badge, from which derives the tradition of wearing an oak leaf in the head dress in the presence of Royalty.

The Acorn and Oakleaf badge, which we had long worn, was authorised to be borne on the Regimental Colour in 1921. In 1933 our tradition of wearing Oakleaves in the presence of Royalty was once more confirmed by the Sovereign.

In 1785 a Regimental Order of Merit was instituted. A bronze medal was awarded for seven years' good service, a silver medal for fourteen years, and a silver gilt medal for twenty-one years. This order ceased when the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal for the whole Army was instituted.

Pocket History 1, Pocket History 2,  Pocket History 3 ,  Regimental Information 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, Links

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This page was created by Eardley Bryan.  My e-mail address is: ewh.bryan@ukonline.co.uk