The Regiment's Colours
History
In battlefields of old Regiments would forms lines and advance against the enemy, literally shoulder to shoulder. Perhaps the greatest motivation driving scared men into a bloody battle was the companionship of their comrades about them. It was this bond that made the Regiment, as it still does today.
Regiments needed a powerful visual symbol which illiterate and panicking soldiers could readily identify on the battlefield. It was to this that the troops would rally and it was behind this symbol that the lines would advance. Standards and banners had been used for centuries, even the ancient Romans marched behind the symbol of an eagle, but Tudor regiments did not serve the emperor or Queen, but their Colonel. The Colonel of the Regiment was the founder and financial backer of his private Regiment and was seen as a figurehead, so it was his heraldic symbolism that was chosen to lead the Regiment into battle – the Colours were born.
A Regiment’s Colours came to epitomise its ethos and, although they are nothing but sheets of embroidered silk, they have come to be treated with reverence. On parade the Colours will always be carried by a junior officer (an ensign) escorted by armed Senior NCOs. Even when cased in their protective leather covers they are marched under armed escort.
Before the Gibraltar Regiment’s presentation of its first Colours in 1971 it followed a curious tradition. Being primarily an artillery Regiment we followed the Royal Artillery’s custom of treating the guns as the Regiment’s Colours. This was never a recognised practise, but unofficially the guns were accorded the same respect as is now paid to the Colours themselves. Woe betide the Gunner who was caught by his Battery Sergeant Major sitting idly on one of the guns!
Presentation of Colours - 25th September 1971
On the 11th June it was officially announced that Her Majesty the Queen had graciously approved the presentation of colours to the Regiment. At a parade held at Grand Parade on Saturday 25th September 1971, His Excellency the Governor, Admiral of the Fleet Sir Varyl Begg, presented the Regiment, on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen, with its own set of colours. The parade was commanded by the commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel J J Porral and consisted of three guards of three officers, four SNCOs and 48 men each.
Description
The Colours consists of two banners or flags, one known as The Queen's Colours and the other as The Regimental Colour. They measure three feet six inches long by three feet wide.
The Queen’s Colour is the senior of the two. It is carried on the parade only when a guard is mounted over a member of the Royal family, His Excellency the Governor and Commander in Chief or a visiting foreign Head of state. It is only trooped for members of the Royal family, HE the Governor and C-in-C and on the occasion of Presentation of Colours. The Regiment can carry the Regimental Colour on all ceremonial parades if the Commanding Officer so desires.
On parade the Colours are always carried by Subaltern Officers escorted by Warrant Officers and SNCO’s. The officer senior in rank is called the ‘Senior Ensign’ and carries the Queen’s Colour. The junior officer carries the Regimental Colour. The SNCO Escort Commander is always to be of Warrant Officer or C/Sgt rank.
Normal compliments are paid to the Colours when marching on and off parade by all troops. The Colours are always to be played on and off parade to the tune of ‘British Grenadiers’.
The Queens Colour
The Queens Colour is the Union Flag and bears in the centre, within a gold circle the inscription The Gibraltar Regiment in gold and the Imperial Crown superimposed. It has two tassels and a suitable staff with a Crown on top.
The Regimental Colour
The Regimental Colour bears the Red Cross of St. George on a field of limestone
grey (Gibraltar being a large limestone rock formation). In the centre, round a gold circle within has a wreath of Candytuft (Iberis Gibraltarica — a native flower of Gibraltar which is found in great profusion in the Upper Rock in late winter and spring) the inscription The Gibraltar Regiment within a circle. The Castle and Key in red and white (Gibraltar Colours), the Imperial Crown superimposed, underneath a scroll with the Regimental motto Nulli Expugnabilis Hosti (We shall never be expelled by the enemy) and on the upper canton next to the staff a Grenade in gold to denote the link with The Royal Artillery. It has two tassels and a suitable staff with a crown on top.
New Colours – 1st July 1998
HRH The Duke of Kent KG presented the new colours, on behalf of The Queen to The Gibraltar Regiment. The Presentation of new Colours took place during a parade at Devil's Tower Camp on 1st July 1998. The old colours where laid up in the Kings Chapel
Colours are not normally replaced until 25 years from presentation, but the Regiment’s the next set may be granted for presentation in 2009, the Regiment’s 70th Anniversary. The new Colours will have the Royal title included.
History
In battlefields of old Regiments would forms lines and advance against the enemy, literally shoulder to shoulder. Perhaps the greatest motivation driving scared men into a bloody battle was the companionship of their comrades about them. It was this bond that made the Regiment, as it still does today.
Regiments needed a powerful visual symbol which illiterate and panicking soldiers could readily identify on the battlefield. It was to this that the troops would rally and it was behind this symbol that the lines would advance. Standards and banners had been used for centuries, even the ancient Romans marched behind the symbol of an eagle, but Tudor regiments did not serve the emperor or Queen, but their Colonel. The Colonel of the Regiment was the founder and financial backer of his private Regiment and was seen as a figurehead, so it was his heraldic symbolism that was chosen to lead the Regiment into battle – the Colours were born.
A Regiment’s Colours came to epitomise its ethos and, although they are nothing but sheets of embroidered silk, they have come to be treated with reverence. On parade the Colours will always be carried by a junior officer (an ensign) escorted by armed Senior NCOs. Even when cased in their protective leather covers they are marched under armed escort.
Before the Gibraltar Regiment’s presentation of its first Colours in 1971 it followed a curious tradition. Being primarily an artillery Regiment we followed the Royal Artillery’s custom of treating the guns as the Regiment’s Colours. This was never a recognised practise, but unofficially the guns were accorded the same respect as is now paid to the Colours themselves. Woe betide the Gunner who was caught by his Battery Sergeant Major sitting idly on one of the guns!
Presentation of Colours - 25th September 1971
On the 11th June it was officially announced that Her Majesty the Queen had graciously approved the presentation of colours to the Regiment. At a parade held at Grand Parade on Saturday 25th September 1971, His Excellency the Governor, Admiral of the Fleet Sir Varyl Begg, presented the Regiment, on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen, with its own set of colours. The parade was commanded by the commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel J J Porral and consisted of three guards of three officers, four SNCOs and 48 men each.Description
The Colours consists of two banners or flags, one known as The Queen's Colours and the other as The Regimental Colour. They measure three feet six inches long by three feet wide.
The Queen’s Colour is the senior of the two. It is carried on the parade only when a guard is mounted over a member of the Royal family, His Excellency the Governor and Commander in Chief or a visiting foreign Head of state. It is only trooped for members of the Royal family, HE the Governor and C-in-C and on the occasion of Presentation of Colours. The Regiment can carry the Regimental Colour on all ceremonial parades if the Commanding Officer so desires.
On parade the Colours are always carried by Subaltern Officers escorted by Warrant Officers and SNCO’s. The officer senior in rank is called the ‘Senior Ensign’ and carries the Queen’s Colour. The junior officer carries the Regimental Colour. The SNCO Escort Commander is always to be of Warrant Officer or C/Sgt rank.
Normal compliments are paid to the Colours when marching on and off parade by all troops. The Colours are always to be played on and off parade to the tune of ‘British Grenadiers’.
The Queens ColourThe Queens Colour is the Union Flag and bears in the centre, within a gold circle the inscription The Gibraltar Regiment in gold and the Imperial Crown superimposed. It has two tassels and a suitable staff with a Crown on top.
The Regimental Colour
The Regimental Colour bears the Red Cross of St. George on a field of limestone
grey (Gibraltar being a large limestone rock formation). In the centre, round a gold circle within has a wreath of Candytuft (Iberis Gibraltarica — a native flower of Gibraltar which is found in great profusion in the Upper Rock in late winter and spring) the inscription The Gibraltar Regiment within a circle. The Castle and Key in red and white (Gibraltar Colours), the Imperial Crown superimposed, underneath a scroll with the Regimental motto Nulli Expugnabilis Hosti (We shall never be expelled by the enemy) and on the upper canton next to the staff a Grenade in gold to denote the link with The Royal Artillery. It has two tassels and a suitable staff with a crown on top.New Colours – 1st July 1998HRH The Duke of Kent KG presented the new colours, on behalf of The Queen to The Gibraltar Regiment. The Presentation of new Colours took place during a parade at Devil's Tower Camp on 1st July 1998. The old colours where laid up in the Kings Chapel
Colours are not normally replaced until 25 years from presentation, but the Regiment’s the next set may be granted for presentation in 2009, the Regiment’s 70th Anniversary. The new Colours will have the Royal title included.
