mike snook 2
Joined: 04 Jan 2006 |
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Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 5:54 pm |
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Careful of false trails here chaps - obviously a headquarters flag and a set of colours are not the same thing. We would have a regimental flag of a particular design today, which typically flies over the main guard, or at Battalion HQ, which of course is just a flag and is not venerated in the same way as the colours. But I am not aware that they had such things as a regimental flag in the 24th in 1879 and certainly have never seen anything which might suggest a design. I'm open to perusasion on this, but certainly nothing occurs straightaway to me personally.
In the field in pre-1881 times (colours no longer being carried on active service thereafter) you might have the colours on display, in front of the OC's or Officers Mess Tent, in the manner shown in that Osprey book (if I am thinking of the right image), if the weather was good and no movements were anticipated that day- i.e.. an idle day in camp.
If the camp in question is Isandlwana, and in this query that is a given, then the colours were not on display and certainly not marking any HQ locations. At the time of the battle the Queen's Colour was cased and in the guard tent - which is not at all the same thing as a 'headquarters' tent. The Regimental Colour 1/24 was back at Helpmekaar with Major Upcher's and Captain Rainforth's companies. Both colours of 2/24 were in the camp at Isandlwana, but with the OC and bulk of the battalion being away from the site, it can be safely assumed that the 2nd Bn Colours were also cased, inside a tent, and under guard.
It is known that an ordinary union flag flew over Lord Chelmsford's headquarters tent - or might it actually have been the No 3 Column Headquarters tent?
Finally, I think it necessary to tread carefully around the idea of a headquarters tent for battalions. After all they had no headquarters staff as a modern battalion does. I think the OC's own tent would be about as close as you would get - I imagine the battalion's business being conducted by the OC and the Adjt under an awning in front of the OC's tent. The front of the Officers Mess Tent might double up for briefings and so forth. Whether it might fly any sort of flag is debatable. I fancy a union flag in some cases and nothing in others. But there is no data available that I know of which will answer what was flying outside a. Colonel Pulleine's tent b. Outside the 24th Mess Tent. c. Outside the Guard Tent. ....the inference being therefore that there was probably nothing flying in these locations.
As ever
Mike
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