Rallying To The Colours - Understanding The Concept |
Peter Ewart
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Coll
As you say, the purpose may be obvious but your point is well made. In fact, a downed colour might well be seen as an ill-omen, but a lost or captured colour was considered a disaster, bringing with it shame - and a great triumph for a European foe. On 16 May 1811, the Regimental Colour of The Buffs was lost to the French & Polish cavalry but the King's Colour was saved by the efforts - one after the other - of Ensigns Thomas & Walsh, and then of Lt Latham. The various accounts of this episode differ a little but the gist remains the same - one defended it with his life, another picked it up and defied attempts at its capture, also fatally, until the latter lost his arm and half his face in its defence. Demands from the enemy cavalry for its release were met with the rejoinder: "I will surrender it only with my life." A good enough reason for the commemoration annually of Albuhera Day. One is left to marvel at the training - if that's the right word - which, when the chips were down, impelled men willingly to put the honour of the regiment well above the mere matter of saving life and limb. Peter |
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Coll
Guest
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Peter
Thanks for your reply. I was hoping that there was some kind of publication that dealt solely with this subject, being the importance of a flag to the infantry, but much like the concept of saluting who and when, I don't think it has been covered in a stand-alone book. Thanks again Coll |
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Rallying To The Colours - Understanding The Concept |
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