A new flag for those who protect ours: The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada to receive new Regimental Colours

Try to imagine what infantry combat was like before the age of telephones and radios. Think of any of the large, set-piece encounters of the Napoleonic Wars: Austerlitz, Borodino or Waterloo. These were generally sharp, short-range affairs. Add to the mix cavalry and cannonades and you have a perfect recipe for battlefield chaos.

Wellington at Waterloo by Robert Alexander Hillingford. Regimental Colours may be seen in the right background.

But if you were to look closer you would invariably spot an ensign, bearing forward with a large distinctive standard, rallying his comrades. These military flags - or Regimental “Colours” in Canada - helped to identify and situate units on a battlefield, and were especially important as rallying points for soldiers during the inevitable din and confusion of combat. Capturing a set of Colours from the enemy (or the equivalent, such as Napoleon’s famous eagles' or the legionary standards of the Roman Empire) was a signal victory, while losing them brought tremendous dishonour.

Today Regimental Colours are no longer carried into battle (the practice stopped during the First World War). Rather, Regimental Colours now symbolize a regiment's esprit de corps, its shared traditions and act as a focus for its identity. Such Colours are held in very high esteem, and are unique to regiments across the country. Each regiment has two different Regimental Colours (hence the plural), which is a tradition Canada has adopted from British practice.

The Queen's Colour represents a regiment's loyalty to Canada and to Queen Elizabeth II as our Head of State. It is the more senior of the two Colours, and will usually have Canada's National Flag (or Maple Leaf) emblazoned on it, as well as the Royal Cypher (or monarch’s initials).

The Regimental Colour tells the story of its regiment. It is usually decorated with a laurel wreath - since ancient times the laurel has symbolized victory - and lists each regiment's official battle honours. In Canada the laurel wreath has been replaced with a wreath of autumnal maple leaves in recognition of our country’s heritage.

The battle honours of The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada span both World Wars and include some of the most pivotal military engagements in our nation's history. Battles like Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele, during the First World War. In the Second World War the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada fought fiercely in Sicily and Italy from 1943-45, including the town of Ortona, and The Netherlands in early 1945, which they helped to liberate from German occupation. All of these battle honours are represented on The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada Regimental Colours (they also decorate the south interior wall of the Seaforth's Burrard Street Armoury).

Given their symbolism and significance, Regimental Colours are the special responsibility of the Regiment's Commanding Officer (CO). When the Colours are on parade, they are always given an armed guard and Colours are always saluted by any member of the military as a measure of respect for what they represent. They are only 'dipped' in the presence of the Sovereign, Queen Elizabeth II

The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada saw their last presentation of Regimental Colours in 1962. Three years later, in 1965, the Maple Leaf replaced the Canadian Red Ensign (with its British 'Union Jack' design) as the official flag of Canada. Now 45 years later, on Saturday, November 27, 2010, The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada are to receive new Regimental Colours on their 100 year milestone at UBC Thunderbird Arena at 2:00 pm at a free, family friendly event. For more information, please visit the website at www.seaforth100.com.

Regimental Colours, The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada. The Queen's Colour is to the left, and the Regimental Colour is on the right.