LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGESAlphabetical List of Battle HonoursviiChronological List of Battle HonoursxiList of IllustrationsxxiIntroductionxxiii

CHAPTER IBATTLE HONOURS FOR SERVICES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN, 1662-1900Tangier, 1662-1680—Gibraltar, 1704—Gibraltar, 1779-1783—Maida, 1806—Mediterranean—Mediterranean, 1901-021-11CHAPTER IIBATTLE HONOURS FOR SERVICES IN NORTHERN EUROPE, 1695-1709Namur, 1695—Blenheim, 1704—Ramillies, 1706—Oudenarde, 1708—Malplaquet, 170912-23CHAPTER IIIBATTLE HONOURS FOR SERVICES IN NORTHERN EUROPE, 1743-1762Dettingen—Minden—Emsdorff—Warburg—Wilhelmstahl24-35CHAPTER IVBATTLE HONOURS FOR SERVICES IN NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICALouisburg, 1758—Quebec, 1759—Monte Video, 1807—Detroit, August 12, 1812—Miami, April 23, 1813—Niagara, July 25, 1814—Bladensburg, October 24, 181436-48CHAPTER VBATTLE HONOURS FOR SERVICES IN INDIA, 1751-1764Arcot—Plassey—Condore—Masulipatam—Badara—Wandewash—Pondicherry—Buxar49-65CHAPTER VIBATTLE HONOURS FOR SERVICES IN INDIA, 1774-1799Rohilcund, 1774—Carnatic—Guzerat, 1778-1782—Sholinghur, 1781—Mangalore, 1783—Mysore—Nundy Droog, 1791—Rohilcund, 1794—Seedaseer, 1799—Seringapatam, 179966-87CHAPTER VIIBATTLE HONOURS FOR SERVICES IN FLANDERS, 1793-1799Lincelles—Nieuport—Villers-en-Couche—Beaumont—Willems—Tournay—Egmont-op-Zee88-96CHAPTER VIIIBATTLE HONOURS FOR SERVICES IN THE WEST INDIES, 1759-1810West Indies, 1759-1810—Guadeloupe, 1759—Martinique, 1762—Havana—St. Lucia, 1778—Martinique, 1794—St. Lucia, 1796—St. Lucia, 1803—Surinam—Dominica—Martinique, 1809—Guadeloupe, 181097-121CHAPTER IXBATTLE HONOURS FOR SERVICES IN EGYPT AND THE SOUDANEgypt (with the Sphinx)—Mandora, 1802—Marabout, 1802—Egypt, 1882—Tel-el-Kebir, 1882—The Nile, 1884-85—Abu Klea, 1885—Kirbekan, 1885—Suakin, 1885—Tofrek, 1885—Hafir, 1896—Atbara, 1898—Khartoum, 1898122-143CHAPTER XBATTLE HONOURS FOR SERVICES IN INDIA, 1803-1809Ally Ghur, 1803—Delhi, 1803-04—Assaye, 1803—Laswarree, 1803—Deig, 1803-04—Cochin, 1809144-155CHAPTER XIBATTLE HONOURS FOR SERVICES IN THE PENINSULAR WAR, 1808-1814Roleia—Vimiera—Sahagun—Corunna—The Douro—Talavera—Busaco—Barrosa—Fuentes d'Onor—Albuera—Almaraz—Arroyos dos Molinos—Tarifa—Ciudad Rodrigo—Badajos—Salamanca—Vittoria—Pyrenees—SanSebastian—Nivelle—Nive—Orthes—Toulouse156-191CHAPTER XIIWATERLOO AND THE ORDER OF THE BATH FOR THE NAPOLEONIC WARSWaterloo, June 18, 1815192-199CHAPTER XIIIBATTLE HONOURS FOR SERVICES IN INDIA, 1818-1826Kirkee—Seetabuldee—Nagpore—Maheidpore—Corygaum—Nowah—Bhurtpore—Hindoostan—India200-220CHAPTER XIVBATTLE HONOURS FOR MINOR CAMPAIGNS IN THE EAST, 1796-1857Amboyna—Ternate—Banda—Arabia—Bourbon—Java, 1811—Persian Gulf—Beni Boo Alli—Aden—Persia—Bushire—Reshire—Koosh-ab221-239CHAPTER XVBATTLE HONOURS FOR SERVICES IN BURMAH, 1885-1887Ava—Kemmendine—Arracan—Pegu—Burmah, 1885-1887240-251CHAPTER XVIBATTLE HONOURS FOR THE FIRST AFGHAN WAR, 1839-1842Afghanistan, 1839-1842—Ghuznee, 1839—Khelat—Kahun, 1840—Jelalabad—Khelat-i-Ghilzai—Candahar, 1842—Ghuznee, 1842—Cabool, 1842—Cutchee252-265CHAPTER XVIIBATTLE HONOURS FOR SERVICES IN INDIA, 1843Scinde—Meeanee—Hyderabad—Maharajpore—Punniar266-272CHAPTER XVIIIBATTLE HONOURS FOR THE CONQUEST OF THE PUNJABMoodkee—Ferozeshah—Aliwal—Sobraon—Chillianwallah—Mooltan—Goojerat—Punjab273-294CHAPTER XIXBATTLE HONOURS FOR THE CRIMEAN WAR, 1854-55Alma—Balaclava—Inkerman—Sevastopol295-310CHAPTER XXBATTLE HONOURS FOR THE INDIAN MUTINY, 1857-1859India—Delhi—Lucknow—Central India—Defence of Arrah—Behar311-335CHAPTER XXIBATTLE HONOURS FOR SERVICES IN CHINA, 1842-1900Chinese War of 1840-1842—Canton—China, 1858-1860—Taku Forts, Pekin—China, 1900—Pekin, 1900336-347CHAPTER XXIIBATTLE HONOURS FOR SERVICES IN SOUTH AFRICA, 1806-1879Cape of Good Hope, 1806—South Africa, 1835—South Africa, 1846-47—South Africa, 1851-1853—South Africa, 1877-1880348-359CHAPTER XXIIIBATTLE HONOURS FOR MISCELLANEOUS ACTIONSJersey, 1781—Rodney's Victory of April 12, 1782—The Glorious First of June, 1794—St. Vincent—Fishguard—Copenhagen—New Zealand—Abyssinia—Ashantee360-377CHAPTER XXIVBATTLE HONOURS FOR THE SECOND AFGHAN WARAfghanistan, 1878-1880—Ali Masjid—Peiwar Kotal—Charasiah—Kabul, 1879—Ahmad Khel—Kandahar, 1880378-392CHAPTER XXVBATTLE HONOURS FOR OPERATIONS ON THE NORTH-WEST INDIAN FRONTIER, 1895-1897Defence of Chitral—Chitral—Malakand—Samana—Punjab Frontier—Tirah393-407CHAPTER XXVIBATTLE HONOURS FOR SOUTH AFRICA, 1899-1902Modder River—Defence of Ladysmith—Defence of Kimberley—Relief of Kimberley—Paardeburg—Relief of Ladysmith—Medals granted for the campaign—Decorations won regimentally—Casualties by regiments408-432CHAPTER XXVIIMISSING BATTLE HONOURSSir A. Alison's Committee—General Ewart's Committee—Marlborough's forgotten victories—Wellington's minor successes—Losses at Douai—Peninsula, 1705—Gibraltar, 1727—Peninsula, 1762—Belleisle—Dominica—Manilla—Cape of Good Hope, 1795—Indian Honours—Pondicherry—Tanjore—Madras troops—An unrewarded Bombay column—The Indian Mutiny—Punjab Frontier Force—Umbeyla—Naval honours433-453Appendices:I.Egypt, 1884454-455II.Defence of Kimberley456-457III.Amboor458IV.War Medals459-462Index463-500

CHAPTER I

BATTLE HONOURS FOR SERVICES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN, 1662-1900

Tangier, 1662-1680—Gibraltar, 1704—Gibraltar, 1779-1783—Maida, 1806—Mediterranean—Mediterranean, 1901-021-11

Tangier, 1662-1680—Gibraltar, 1704—Gibraltar, 1779-1783—Maida, 1806—Mediterranean—Mediterranean, 1901-02

1-11

CHAPTER II

BATTLE HONOURS FOR SERVICES IN NORTHERN EUROPE, 1695-1709

Namur, 1695—Blenheim, 1704—Ramillies, 1706—Oudenarde, 1708—Malplaquet, 170912-23

Namur, 1695—Blenheim, 1704—Ramillies, 1706—Oudenarde, 1708—Malplaquet, 1709

12-23

CHAPTER III

BATTLE HONOURS FOR SERVICES IN NORTHERN EUROPE, 1743-1762

Dettingen—Minden—Emsdorff—Warburg—Wilhelmstahl24-35

Dettingen—Minden—Emsdorff—Warburg—Wilhelmstahl

24-35

CHAPTER IV

BATTLE HONOURS FOR SERVICES IN NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA

Louisburg, 1758—Quebec, 1759—Monte Video, 1807—Detroit, August 12, 1812—Miami, April 23, 1813—Niagara, July 25, 1814—Bladensburg, October 24, 181436-48

Louisburg, 1758—Quebec, 1759—Monte Video, 1807—Detroit, August 12, 1812—Miami, April 23, 1813—Niagara, July 25, 1814—Bladensburg, October 24, 1814

36-48

CHAPTER V

BATTLE HONOURS FOR SERVICES IN INDIA, 1751-1764

Arcot—Plassey—Condore—Masulipatam—Badara—Wandewash—Pondicherry—Buxar49-65

Arcot—Plassey—Condore—Masulipatam—Badara—Wandewash—Pondicherry—Buxar

49-65

CHAPTER VI

BATTLE HONOURS FOR SERVICES IN INDIA, 1774-1799

Rohilcund, 1774—Carnatic—Guzerat, 1778-1782—Sholinghur, 1781—Mangalore, 1783—Mysore—Nundy Droog, 1791—Rohilcund, 1794—Seedaseer, 1799—Seringapatam, 179966-87

Rohilcund, 1774—Carnatic—Guzerat, 1778-1782—Sholinghur, 1781—Mangalore, 1783—Mysore—Nundy Droog, 1791—Rohilcund, 1794—Seedaseer, 1799—Seringapatam, 1799

66-87

CHAPTER VII

BATTLE HONOURS FOR SERVICES IN FLANDERS, 1793-1799

Lincelles—Nieuport—Villers-en-Couche—Beaumont—Willems—Tournay—Egmont-op-Zee88-96

Lincelles—Nieuport—Villers-en-Couche—Beaumont—Willems—Tournay—Egmont-op-Zee

88-96

CHAPTER VIII

BATTLE HONOURS FOR SERVICES IN THE WEST INDIES, 1759-1810

West Indies, 1759-1810—Guadeloupe, 1759—Martinique, 1762—Havana—St. Lucia, 1778—Martinique, 1794—St. Lucia, 1796—St. Lucia, 1803—Surinam—Dominica—Martinique, 1809—Guadeloupe, 181097-121

97-121

CHAPTER IX

BATTLE HONOURS FOR SERVICES IN EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN

Egypt (with the Sphinx)—Mandora, 1802—Marabout, 1802—Egypt, 1882—Tel-el-Kebir, 1882—The Nile, 1884-85—Abu Klea, 1885—Kirbekan, 1885—Suakin, 1885—Tofrek, 1885—Hafir, 1896—Atbara, 1898—Khartoum, 1898122-143

122-143

CHAPTER X

BATTLE HONOURS FOR SERVICES IN INDIA, 1803-1809

Ally Ghur, 1803—Delhi, 1803-04—Assaye, 1803—Laswarree, 1803—Deig, 1803-04—Cochin, 1809144-155

Ally Ghur, 1803—Delhi, 1803-04—Assaye, 1803—Laswarree, 1803—Deig, 1803-04—Cochin, 1809

144-155

CHAPTER XI

BATTLE HONOURS FOR SERVICES IN THE PENINSULAR WAR, 1808-1814

Roleia—Vimiera—Sahagun—Corunna—The Douro—Talavera—Busaco—Barrosa—Fuentes d'Onor—Albuera—Almaraz—Arroyos dos Molinos—Tarifa—Ciudad Rodrigo—Badajos—Salamanca—Vittoria—Pyrenees—SanSebastian—Nivelle—Nive—Orthes—Toulouse156-191

156-191

CHAPTER XII

WATERLOO AND THE ORDER OF THE BATH FOR THE NAPOLEONIC WARS

Waterloo, June 18, 1815192-199

Waterloo, June 18, 1815

192-199

CHAPTER XIII

BATTLE HONOURS FOR SERVICES IN INDIA, 1818-1826

Kirkee—Seetabuldee—Nagpore—Maheidpore—Corygaum—Nowah—Bhurtpore—Hindoostan—India200-220

Kirkee—Seetabuldee—Nagpore—Maheidpore—Corygaum—Nowah—Bhurtpore—Hindoostan—India

200-220

CHAPTER XIV

BATTLE HONOURS FOR MINOR CAMPAIGNS IN THE EAST, 1796-1857

Amboyna—Ternate—Banda—Arabia—Bourbon—Java, 1811—Persian Gulf—Beni Boo Alli—Aden—Persia—Bushire—Reshire—Koosh-ab221-239

Amboyna—Ternate—Banda—Arabia—Bourbon—Java, 1811—Persian Gulf—Beni Boo Alli—Aden—Persia—Bushire—Reshire—Koosh-ab

221-239

CHAPTER XV

BATTLE HONOURS FOR SERVICES IN BURMAH, 1885-1887

Ava—Kemmendine—Arracan—Pegu—Burmah, 1885-1887240-251

Ava—Kemmendine—Arracan—Pegu—Burmah, 1885-1887

240-251

CHAPTER XVI

BATTLE HONOURS FOR THE FIRST AFGHAN WAR, 1839-1842

Afghanistan, 1839-1842—Ghuznee, 1839—Khelat—Kahun, 1840—Jelalabad—Khelat-i-Ghilzai—Candahar, 1842—Ghuznee, 1842—Cabool, 1842—Cutchee252-265

Afghanistan, 1839-1842—Ghuznee, 1839—Khelat—Kahun, 1840—Jelalabad—Khelat-i-Ghilzai—Candahar, 1842—Ghuznee, 1842—Cabool, 1842—Cutchee

252-265

CHAPTER XVII

BATTLE HONOURS FOR SERVICES IN INDIA, 1843

Scinde—Meeanee—Hyderabad—Maharajpore—Punniar266-272

Scinde—Meeanee—Hyderabad—Maharajpore—Punniar

266-272

CHAPTER XVIII

BATTLE HONOURS FOR THE CONQUEST OF THE PUNJAB

Moodkee—Ferozeshah—Aliwal—Sobraon—Chillianwallah—Mooltan—Goojerat—Punjab273-294

Moodkee—Ferozeshah—Aliwal—Sobraon—Chillianwallah—Mooltan—Goojerat—Punjab

273-294

CHAPTER XIX

BATTLE HONOURS FOR THE CRIMEAN WAR, 1854-55

Alma—Balaclava—Inkerman—Sevastopol295-310

Alma—Balaclava—Inkerman—Sevastopol

295-310

CHAPTER XX

BATTLE HONOURS FOR THE INDIAN MUTINY, 1857-1859

India—Delhi—Lucknow—Central India—Defence of Arrah—Behar311-335

India—Delhi—Lucknow—Central India—Defence of Arrah—Behar

311-335

CHAPTER XXI

BATTLE HONOURS FOR SERVICES IN CHINA, 1842-1900

Chinese War of 1840-1842—Canton—China, 1858-1860—Taku Forts, Pekin—China, 1900—Pekin, 1900336-347

Chinese War of 1840-1842—Canton—China, 1858-1860—Taku Forts, Pekin—China, 1900—Pekin, 1900

336-347

CHAPTER XXII

BATTLE HONOURS FOR SERVICES IN SOUTH AFRICA, 1806-1879

Cape of Good Hope, 1806—South Africa, 1835—South Africa, 1846-47—South Africa, 1851-1853—South Africa, 1877-1880348-359

Cape of Good Hope, 1806—South Africa, 1835—South Africa, 1846-47—South Africa, 1851-1853—South Africa, 1877-1880

348-359

CHAPTER XXIII

BATTLE HONOURS FOR MISCELLANEOUS ACTIONS

Jersey, 1781—Rodney's Victory of April 12, 1782—The Glorious First of June, 1794—St. Vincent—Fishguard—Copenhagen—New Zealand—Abyssinia—Ashantee360-377

Jersey, 1781—Rodney's Victory of April 12, 1782—The Glorious First of June, 1794—St. Vincent—Fishguard—Copenhagen—New Zealand—Abyssinia—Ashantee

360-377

CHAPTER XXIV

BATTLE HONOURS FOR THE SECOND AFGHAN WAR

Afghanistan, 1878-1880—Ali Masjid—Peiwar Kotal—Charasiah—Kabul, 1879—Ahmad Khel—Kandahar, 1880378-392

Afghanistan, 1878-1880—Ali Masjid—Peiwar Kotal—Charasiah—Kabul, 1879—Ahmad Khel—Kandahar, 1880

378-392

CHAPTER XXV

BATTLE HONOURS FOR OPERATIONS ON THE NORTH-WEST INDIAN FRONTIER, 1895-1897

Defence of Chitral—Chitral—Malakand—Samana—Punjab Frontier—Tirah393-407

Defence of Chitral—Chitral—Malakand—Samana—Punjab Frontier—Tirah

393-407

CHAPTER XXVI

BATTLE HONOURS FOR SOUTH AFRICA, 1899-1902

Modder River—Defence of Ladysmith—Defence of Kimberley—Relief of Kimberley—Paardeburg—Relief of Ladysmith—Medals granted for the campaign—Decorations won regimentally—Casualties by regiments408-432

408-432

CHAPTER XXVII

MISSING BATTLE HONOURS

Sir A. Alison's Committee—General Ewart's Committee—Marlborough's forgotten victories—Wellington's minor successes—Losses at Douai—Peninsula, 1705—Gibraltar, 1727—Peninsula, 1762—Belleisle—Dominica—Manilla—Cape of Good Hope, 1795—Indian Honours—Pondicherry—Tanjore—Madras troops—An unrewarded Bombay column—The Indian Mutiny—Punjab Frontier Force—Umbeyla—Naval honours433-453

433-453

Appendices:I.Egypt, 1884454-455II.Defence of Kimberley456-457III.Amboor458IV.War Medals459-462Index463-500

The Duke of MarlboroughFrontispieceThe Colours of the Tangier Regiment, 1684 (now the Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment)To face page2Robert, Lord Clive"50General Sir Ralph Abercromby"124The Duke of Wellington"192The Colours of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers (formerly the Bombay Europeans)"292Field-Marshal Colin Campbell: Lord Clyde"324The Colours of the Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment, 1902 (formerly the Tangier Regiment)"424MAPSBattlefields in Northern Europe"13Battlefields in Southern India"49Battlefields in Spain and Portugal"182Battlefields in Northern India"406

In the following pages I have endeavoured to give a brief description of the various actions the names of which are emblazoned on the colours and appointments of the regiments in the British army. So far as I have been able, I have shown the part that each individual corps has played in every engagement, by appending to the account a return of the losses suffered. Unfortunately, in some cases casualty rolls are not obtainable; in others, owing to the returns having been hurriedly prepared, and later corrections neglected, the true losses of regiments do not appear.

The whole question of the award of battle honours abounds in anomalies. Paltry skirmishes have been immortalized, and many gallant fights have been left unrecorded. In some cases certain corps have been singled out for honour; others which bore an equal share in the same day's doings have been denied the privilege of assuming the battle honour. In some campaigns every skirmish has been handed down to posterity; in others one word has covered long years of fighting. Mysore, with its one honour, and Persia, with four, are cases in point. In some instances honours have been refused on the plea that the headquarters of the regiment was not present in the action; in others the honour has been granted when but a single troop or company has shared in the fight. There are regiments whose colours bear the names of battles in which they did not lose a single man; others have suffered heavy losses in historic battleswhich are as yet unrecorded. At Schellenberg, for example, Marlborough's earliest victory, and one unaccountably absent from our colours, the losses of the fifteen regiments engaged exceeded the total casualties of the whole army in the campaign in Afghanistan from 1879 to 1881, for which no less than seven battle honours were granted.

Esprit de corpsis the keystone of the discipline of the British army, and the regimental colours are the living symbol of thatesprit de corps. It is to their colours that men look as the emblems of their regimental history, and on those colours are—or should be—emblazoned the names of all historic battles in which the regiment has been engaged. A soldier knows—or ought to know—the history of his own regiment, but the moment arrives when his curiosity is piqued, and he wishes to learn something about a corps which has fought side by side with his own. Perchance curiosity may be excited as to the reason why Copenhagen appears on the appointments of the Rifle Brigade, and Arabia on the colours of the York and Lancaster; or how it comes about that Dominica is alone borne by the Cornwalls and Pondicherry by the Dublin Fusiliers. I have made no attempt to deal exhaustively with the subject; that would be beyond my powers and would open up too wide a field. I have therefore touched but lightly on those campaigns, such as the Peninsular and Waterloo, which are familiar to everyone in the least conversant with the history of his country, and have dwelt in more detail with those wars which are less well known. Memories are short. Already the South African War has been effaced by that titanic struggle between Russia and Japan. How, then, can the ordinary man be expected to carry in his mind even the rough outline of the Defence of Chitral, an episode which rivals Arcot in the heroism of its few defenders, or of Mangalore and Corygaum, which were in no way inferior in point of steadfast gallantry. When I read of the efforts made to insure the regular supply of jam during the South African War, my mind turns toChitral, where the daily ration for six long weeks was one pound of flour a day, rice and meat being issued only on the doctors' orders, the one antiseptic available being carbolic tooth-powder! Or I think of Mangalore, which capitulated after Campbell had cut up his last horse and served out his last ration of flour. Yet I know that the men who defended Mangalore were in no way the superior of those who "muddled through" in South Africa, and that these were in no way inferior to the men who drove the French out of Spain. There were complaints of the stamp of recruits two centuries ago, as there are to-day. "The men you send me," wrote Grey from Martinique, "are not fit to bear arms." "I know not which are worse, officers or men," wrote Moore. "Send me men, not boys," wrote Sir Colin Campbell from India. Yet the boys who were not fit to bear arms captured the West Indies from the French; the worthless officers and men traversed Spain and held Napoleon's veterans in check at Corunna while their leader lay dying; and the boys in Sir Colin's regiments helped to restore peace in India.

Does the nation realize the calls it has made upon the army, or what oceans of blood have been shed owing to the vacillation and parsimony of successive Ministries? Three times have we captured the West India Islands; twice have our troops taken the Cape of Good Hope; three times have our armies marched from sea to sea in Spain; and there are few towns of importance in the Low Countries which have not been captured more than once by British troops. Conquests have been restored at the conclusion of a war in the full knowledge that on the outbreak of fresh hostilities those same conquests would have to be freshly undertaken and more lives sacrificed. Armies hastily reduced on the conclusion of a spurious peace had to be as hastily improvised on the renewal of war. Officers have been censured, broke, and shot if they have not performed prodigies with raw, untrained recruits. Uncomplainingly, all ranks went forth to die,eager only to uphold the honour of their Sovereign, of their regiments, and of their country.

I have not confined myself to the honours which appear only on the colours of British regiments, but have included all which have been granted to any corps which bears allegiance to our King. Some of the noblest feats of arms have been achieved by a few British officers at the head of a handful of Indian troops. At Mangalore and at Lucknow the sepoy regiments fought no less gallantly than the British corps which bear the same battle honour. The despatches of Colonel Campbell and of Sir John Inglis bear testimony to this fact; but at Seedaseer, Saugor, and Seetabuldee, at Corygaum, Arrah, and Kahun, and last, but by no means least, at Chitral, the sepoys had no British soldier to stiffen the defence. Yet there was no wavering. So long as the fighting races of India show the devotion to their officers and their loyalty to the Crown they have ever shown, we may smile at the frothy vapourings of the over-educated Bengalis, who have never furnished a single man for the defence of the country which they wish to emancipate from our rule. We read in the story of Chitral how the water-carrier, with his jaw smashed by a bullet, insisted as soon as his wound was dressed in taking more water to his Sikhs in the fighting-line. Is there not a story rife of a British regiment in the Mutiny which wished to recommend the regimental bheesti for a similar act of valour? There are few names amongst these battle honours around which stories of equal gallantry have not been woven. The memory of those deeds which men have dared, and in daring which they have gone forth to certain death, is the heritage not merely of those who serve under the colours, but of every man and woman of our race: Hardinge, rallying the men round the colours of the 57th at Albuera, with the now historic words, "Die hard, my men, die hard!"—a title that has clung to the regiment to this day. Luke O'Connor, then a colour-sergeant, holding high the colours of the Royal WelshFusiliers at the Alma, under which ten young subalterns had fallen, and he with bullet through the breast, refusing to leave his sacred charge. Souter, of the 44th, tearing the colours from their staff and wrapping them under his sheepskin coat, and so saving them, when 667 officers and men fell under the fierce onslaughts of the Afghans in the dim defiles of the Khurd Kabul Pass, one solitary survivor reaching the shelter of the mud walls, held by the 13th, at Jelalabad. Or those two boy heroes, Melville and Coghill, whose dead bodies were found in the bed of the Tugela River, hard by the colours they had died to save. Or Quentin Battye, the first of three brothers to fall in the "Guides," dying with the old tag on his lips:"Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori."

These are the stories our colours have to tell, these the lessons the names upon them teach. Not merely gallantry in action—that is a small thing, and one inherent in our race. They teach of privations uncomplainingly borne, of difficulties nobly surmounted, of steadfast loyalty to the Crown, and of cheerful obedience to orders even when that obedience meant certain death. Such are the honours which have found an abiding-place on the colours of the British army.

I am aware that I possess few qualifications for the task I have undertaken, and I am also painfully aware that I have entirely failed to do justice to my theme. That failure would have been immeasurably greater had I not received the most valuable assistance from those far better qualified than I am to bring into relief the history of our army.

To these I would now venture to offer my most cordial thanks—to the Army Council, for some invaluable casualty returns, which I believe are now published for the first time; to the ever-courteous officials at the Record Office and in the libraries of the British Museum, the India Office, and the Royal United Service Institution, for the patience with which they have suffered my many importunities; last, but by no means least, to the manyofficers of regiments, British and Indian, who have so kindly given me unrecorded details of their regimental histories.

For the reproduction of the colours of "The Queen's" and the Royal Dublin Fusiliers I am indebted to the courtesy of the commanding officers of those two distinguished regiments. A close relationship exists between them. When Tangier and Bombay passed into our possession as the dowry of Queen Catharine of Braganza two regiments were raised as garrisons for our new possessions. The one proceeded to Tangier, and after some years of hard fighting, returned to England, to be known as "The 2nd Queen's." The other went to Bombay, and for two long centuries nobly upheld the honour of our name under the title of "The Bombay Europeans." On the transfer of the East India Company to the Crown the regiment appeared in the Army List as the 103rd Royal Bombay Fusiliers. Twenty years later, when regimental numbers were thrown into the melting-pot and the nomenclature of historic regiments changed, the Bombay Regiment became the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, and as such worthily maintained its old reputation in South Africa. The Royal Scots and the Munster Fusiliers may claim seniority to the Queen's and the Dublins, but the battle honours on the colours I have selected cover the whole period with which I deal—from Tangier to Ladysmith, from Arcot to Lucknow.

I would, in conclusion, beg those—and they are many—whose knowledge of regimental history is far deeper than my own to deal gently with the many imperfections in this book—an unworthy tribute of homage to the incomparable heroism of the British soldier.

C. B. NORMAN.

January, 1911.

BATTLE HONOURS OFTHE BRITISH ARMY

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