Military Colours

It is nearly the official birthday of the monarch, a day when the Guardsmen of the army perform one of the oldest military ceremonies in the world. One of the five regiments of Foot Guards troop their colour, in what is a fantastic display of colour, music and military drill.
What are colours?
The modern flag of today has its origins on the battlefield. The earliest forerunners of flags came from men (and women in some cases) wishing to display a symbol in a battle that represented either themselves, clan or tribe. In the middle ages knights, lords, barons and kings displayed their arms on a flag by way of a banner or heraldic standard or both. The closest  link we have today of the earliest origins of Vexillology or flags to the layperson is probably the military colour, although often now only used for ceremonial parades rather than in battle.

Ceremony at Windsor Castle  in 2009 where 1st Battalion, Irish Guards received their current colours 

Brief History

Most historians would agree that the Romans were the first to have an organised standing army, rather than a feudal style army more common of the time. As such they are regarded as the first military ever where each unit had a permanent standard. From about 104BC to the collapse of the empire each legion carried an Aquila (or eagle) as its standard symbol. This wasn't exactly a flag or banner but a gold coloured eagle on a pole, rather than a unit symbol this was probably more of a national symbol like a national flag. Pikes with sculptures of the Emperor were also used alongside the eagle.

Perhaps the Roman equivalent of a regimental or company colour is the vexillum or signum. This had the legion number and symbol on it, and was unique to the individual legion.

Roman soldiers being led by the Eagle and Vexillum

The eagle was however the most precious, the loss of an eagle was a dishonour and disgrace which often led to the disbandment of the legion if it couldn't be recovered. The regard of the eagle is possibly best described in the story of the Roman invasion of Britain. Julius Caesar's Tenth Legion hesitated leaving their boat fearing the native Britons. So the officer in charge of the eagle called an auilifer carrying the eagle charged the Britons alone knowing that his men would follow to save their eagle and themselves from disgrace which according to the story they did.  The idea of the eagle became a legend in itself, the French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte (who fancied himself as Caesar) personally gave each regiment a flag with a bronze imperial eagle on top of the staff. The French eagle was treated the exact same way as a Roman one and as such to capture one was a source of immense individual and regimental pride, The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards even feature an eagle in their cap badge to commemorate one captured at Waterloo, and officers of the Royal Irish Regiment, wear an eagle on their crossbelt to commemorate one they captured in the Peninsular War.

 Sgt Masterson of 87th Regiment of Foot (Royal Irish Fusiliers) capturing a French Eagle Battle of Barossa 1811.

However with the collapse of the Roman Empire, Europe basically had to start over again from scratch. medieval heraldry picked up where the Romans left off.  However the big difference between the medieval Kingdoms and the Roman Empire, was that unlike Rome there was no standing army or organised military.  

However with the emergence of heraldry in medieval Europe heraldic flags such as banners and standards were carried into battle. As nobles normally raised and led companies in times of war, the heraldic banner or standard, could be seen as a way of identifying units on a battlefield, (by identify their leader).  Likewise as unlike the modern military these flags were the flags of the commander rather than the unit, the standard bearer would often be close to the individual to whom it belonged. This is possibly the start of military colours not only marking where the unit was but also the exact position of the commanding officer and his staff on the battle field and parade ground, this helped the commander to easily rally his troops if necessary.

  Robert I (the Bruce) King of Scots, Battle of Bannockburn 1314, this painting depicts excellently the use of heraldic banners 

This was the case until the late 16th and 17th Centuries when armies started adopting the structure of regiments, and companies, and along with it Battle flags, 

It was probably the Spanish army who first divided their soldiers into companies, each with its own flag. These flags were still used to mark out the commanding officer, to allow him to rally his troops more easily.

When companies were organised into regiments the design on the flags became more uniformed to represent the regiment but with subtle differences for each company. Although the flags themselves still denoted the presence of certain officers rather than their units. For example the colours of the Coldstream Guards in 1685 were as follows:

Hopefully this was before the white flag was associated with surrender! At this stage regiments were still raised and disbanded as and when needed by the nobility, so regimental colours (like the uniform) often differed from regiment to regiment, however they often followed a similar pattern. English regiments had a variety of colours, patterns and symbols but often had the cross of St George in the canton, during the English Civil War this pattern seems to have been used by both sides:

Later on the colours of  English and Irish Regiments of this period come in all shapes and sizes but seem to generally feature a St George's Cross on a coloured field, with each regiment having a different colour. This could be the origin of the name colour. The practice of each company in a regiment carrying a flag was also dropped, with only the companies commanded by the four most senior officers carrying that officer's respective colour. 

Replica of regimental flag of Dillon's (Irish) Regiment, Royal Army of France, War of the Grand Alliance 1688-97

Scottish colours at this time appear to follow a Variety of different patterns, some appear to follow the English pattern, while others uses Saltires (a different colour scheme for each regiment), while most still appear to be based on heraldry of their commander. The saltire does not strictly speaking follow the modern pattern of St Andrew's Cross of white cross on a blue field, but a variety of colours and patterns, however a blue field seems to have been favoured by the lowlanders. There are also examples of the Scottish red ensign being used by Scottish regiments in European armies particulary Nordic ones:

 French regiments appear to follow a similar pattern to English except with a white cross rather than a red one, the flur de lee was also common on French colours:

Spanish regiments carried a Cross of Burgundy and a unique regimental flag, later this changed to a Cross of Burgundy with the regiment's coat of arms in the coroners and a flag with the royal coat of arms in the centre. 

Regimental colour of  Regiment Galicia 1734 (Spain)

King's Colour Barcelona Light Infantry 1810

However there are numerous examples of regiments not following these patterns in colours, so while these practises were common place they were by no means the standard official practice. 

After the Union of England and Scotland in 1707 and the adoption of the Union Flag and the new national flag of the new Kingdom of Great Britain, very little changed in the use of colours. Initially four company colours were used. This was quickly replaced with each battalion carrying colours.

Regimental colour British Army 18th Century, note Union flag canton
and regimental number and national flowers wreath,
the colour is the same as the regiment's uniform facings

Like the UK Army today these consisted of two flags for each battalion, A King's Colour (or Queen's Colour if the monarch was of the fairer sex) and a Battalion or Regimental Colour. Since 1743 these followed a strict uniformed pattern, the regulations stated that colonels could not display their coat of arms or any personal heraldic device on their regiments colours. The King's Colour was established as a Union Flag, normally with the St George Cross defaced with a royal cypher and crown. The regimental colour was the same colour as the facings of the units uniform. It had a (representation) of the Union Flag in the canton, The Regiment's number (often in roman numerals) appeared in the center of this flag inside a wreath of roses, thistles and shamrocks. Although there were certain exceptions where a regimental insignia or badge was used instead.

 Following the Napoleonic Wars, the colours started to become more elaborate, with more and more regiments displaying their battle honours on their regimental colours. Initially these were special badges with scrolls, however this system was soon replaced with scrolls only.

The first regiment in the British Army to be awarded a battle honour was the 18th (Royal Irish) Regiment, which displayed the motto "Virtutis Namurcensis Praemium" (The reward of virtue at Namur), which was awarded after the regiment distinguished itself at the siege of Namur in 1695. It also bore the Lion of Nassau in the corners, from the arms of King William III (Prince of Orange), in recognition of their loyalty during the williamite campaign in Ireland.  

However they remained a practical piece of equipment for identifying regiments and as rallying points. After the 1860s regiments were known by name only, and so the practice of displaying the regimental number on the colour was phased out, and replaced with a regimental badge, during the 20th Century the Union flag canton was also dropped leaving the modern design, which is common throughout the Commonwealth. 

Modern British Army Queen's Colour. A Union Flag with regiment's full name in the centre
Note battalion number in canton and battle honours on St George's Cross

Modern Regimental colour British Army, with regimental badge in centre, note battalion number in canton and battle honours, the oldest are badges the rest are in a wreath of scrolls

Cavalry flags

2nd Guidon 5th (Royal Irish) Dragoons 1751

Regulations on the flags of mounted units were introduced in 1743 (and amended in 1751) stated that calvary standards should be of damask, embroidered and fringed with gold or silver, those of dragoon regiments were made of silk. A Cavalry regiment had square standards where dragoons had swallow tailed guidons. Each regiment bore three standards the 1st the King's (or Colonels) standard was carried by the right flank squadron. This was crimson with a floral representation of the Union of Great Britain an entwined thistle and rose (a shamrock was also on some and on all after 1800) in the centre; beneath which was the royal motto "Dieu et mon Droit" (God and my right). on the first and fourth corners was the white horse of the Hanoverians, the arms of the royal dynasty ruling Great Britain & Ireland at the time. The number of the regiment in gold or silver numerals on the colour of the regiment's uniform facings were on the second and third.
the second or Lieut-Colonels guidon and third or majors guidons were the colour of the regiments facings. The second flag was carried by the left flank squadron and the third by the centre squadron. In the centre often (but not always) on a crimson disc surrounded by thistles, roses and shamrocks was either the regiment badge or its number. the white horse emblem was on the first and fourth corners and the entwined flowers on the second and third. The third guidon was distinguished from the second by a number "3" below the central emblem.
While most modern regiments who follow the cavalry tradition now only have one standard or guidon, the Household Cavalry still continue this practice.
Both of the historic branches the Life Guards and Blues & Royals carry a Sovereign's standards and three squadron standards, with the Blues & Royals carrying an additional Guidon due to being part dragoons.  
The Sovereign's Standard is a red (gules) flag with a variant of the Royal coat of arms flanked by the letters "EII R." Below this are battle honours and citations. The Sovereign's Standard is normally only seen on State occasions like Trooping the Colour and the State Opening of Parliament as its only used when escorting the monarch or other member of the Royal Family. 
The squadron Standards feature an entwined Tudor rose, thistle and shamrock (as such they are called Union Standards) flanked by a Crowned E and R, again below which are the battle honours interestingly there is no distinguishing markings for squadrons. The Blues & Royals Guidon features the Royal Cypher inside a garter belt topped with crown, within a wreath of roses, thistles and shamrocks, and is flanked by battle honours on scrolls. In the first and fourth corners is the hanoverian horse, the royal crest inside a garter belt in the second and an interpretation of a Napoleonic eagle in the third. 

All the standards and guidon of the Blues & Royals on parade

Rifle Regiments

Rifle regiments take their name from the weapons they used when the rest of the army used smooth bore muskets, they were skirmishers and sharpshooters, and wore green rather than red or blue as an early form of camouflage. As such it was impractical to carry colours so Rifle regiments don't carry colours to this day. They were known however to carry small flags and pennants for signaling and recognition, but these flags had no special meaning or value and were mostly unofficial.

2nd Battalion of the Royal Gurkha Rifles are no exception to this, however they do carry a special ceremonial staff called the "Queen's Truncheon" which is treated as the battalion colour. Originally awarded to Sirmoor Gorhka Battalion for loyalty in the Indian Mutiny, it is still used by the battalions successor 2 Gurkhas, made of Bronze and silver it has an artistic top representing Dehli Palace and Gurkha soldiers supporting the crown. A rare example perhaps of a modern vexilloid. 

Truncheon Party of 2nd Gurkha Rifles. As Rifle Regiments don't carry colours this staff is treated as the colour, and is unique to 2 Gurkhas 

Brigade of Foot Guards

The five regiments of foot Guards famous for their drill, discipline and scarlet tunics and bearskin caps, have a variety of colours. These can be split into four categories:

Personal Colours

Due to the many ceremonial roles that these regiments perform, and royal personalities in the regiments (The Queen is Colonel in Chief of all Guard Regiments and many also have Royal colonels in addition). These flags are small pennants mesuring 1ft 8in x 1ft borne by a Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) like a sergeant and are only used if the personality is present. When they are used they flank a saluting dias.

TRH the Baron and Baroness of Carrickfergus on a saluting dias
and personal colours of the Irish Guards who's colonel is Prince William.

Company Colours

Most regiments dropped company colours in favour of battalion colours, this is also true of the Guards, however the company colours have survived to a lesser extent, as Guard Companies are uniquely granted an individual badge by the sovereign. These badges are displayed on the colours and signs within barracks. The terminology for these flags differ depending on regiment, in the Irish Guards and Welsh Guards they are known as company colours, The Scots Guards simply call them flags, The Grenadier Guards call them Camp Colours, where the Coldstream Guards call them Silks. These flags are similar to the personal colours, although the Welsh Guards have a unique design based on the heraldic standard of Henry Tudor. An elongated flag, with a swallow tail, bearing dragons on a green and white field. In the hoist is a heraldic design associated with the Royal Family or Wales. The Company number in roman numerals is also depicted. On Parade the colours are used as marker points for the respective company, only the flags of companies on parade are used and are born by an NCO. While these flags do command respect, they are not treated with the same importance as the regimental colours. 

Company Colour of No1 Coy Welsh Guards. The Welsh Guards Company colours are
probably my favourite flags in the British Army. 

Regimental Colours

Like all other infantry battalion (except rifles as already mentioned) a Guards battalion caries two colours, a Queen's Colour and Regimental Colour. Like the line infantry this consists of a Union Flag and a flag the colour of old uniform facings. Unlike the line infantry the Queen's Colour is Crimson with a Royal insignia and the Regimental colour is a Union Jack, usually with a badge of one of the companies in the battalion in the centre (the company badges are born in rotation, so when new colours are presented a new badge takes its turn). 

Coldstream Guards Colour Party. The Union Flag is on the party's left (right of picture)
Because the Queen's Colour is actually the crimson flag

The same battle honours are born on both colours, where as normally all the honours from the World Wars and conflicts since are born on one flag and older battle honours on the other. A reminder that while these soldiers often take part in ceremonies and state occasions they are professional soldiers who have and do serve all over the world. 

State Colours

The last type of flag carried by the Foot Guards is the State Colour. Only the three most senior regiments (Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards and Scots Guards) have one. This is the largest type of colour in the army, and is only used on grand state occasions, such as the opening of parliament or when providing an honour guard for a visiting head of state. These flags are crimson with a regimental badge in the centre and royal insignia of the nations of Britain in the corners. This flag is used by itself and is only lowered for the monarch.

State Colour of the Grenadier Guards

Artillery Guns

Traditionally the Royal Artillery honor their guns, and as such do not carry colours, the lead gun in a procession is treated as the colour. This is noted in trooping the colour when officers salute the lead gun of the king's Troop when riding past it. The only artillery unit to carry colours is the Honourable Artillery Company which is not part of the Royal Artillery. 

Royal Navy 

Individual ship's companies of the Navy do not use colours for ceremonies, however the Royal Navy and Navy Reserve both have a Queen's Colour for such occasions. Both these are the variants of the Navy's white ensign, (the flag flown on RN ships) in the form of a ceremonial flag, defaced with a Royal Cypher in a garter belt.

Queen's Colour of the Royal Navy

Likewise the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) the branch of the Merchant Navy who operate the military's supply ships, have a Queen's Colour like their naval colleagues this is a variant of the ensign flown on their ships defaced with a royal cypher:

Queen's Colour of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary

The Commando Brigades carry colours in a similar way to army infantry battalions. A Queen's Colour in the form of a Union Jack, defaced with a variant of the Marine badge, but with the anchor between the globe and crown flanked with the letters "ER":

Typical Royal Marines Queen's Colour

The Regimental colour is a blue ensign with the same design of insignia in the centre, but with the brigade number below it, and the royal cypher in the remaining three corners.

Regimental colour of 40 Commando Royal Marines

Royal Air Force

Like the Naval Service the Air Force has its own Queen's Colour which is also a variant of its ensign in the form of a ceremonial flag defaced with a royal cypher.

Queen's Colour of the Royal Air Force

Unlike the Naval Service however; the RAF has individual colours for units, these are called squadron standards. The Squadron standard is a sky blue flag, with a beautiful border of roses, thistles, leeks and shamrocks, in the centre is the squadron badge, around which are its battle honours.

Typical RAF Squadron Standard, note the floral boarder, and squadron badge in the centre,
flanked by battle honours 

 Both types of flags are used individually on ceremonial occasions.

Other Nations

The colours of the United States Army is similar to those of commonwealth realm armies. There is a national colour and organisational colour. The national colour is as the name suggests an American flag, and the equivalent of the Queen's Colour, the organisational colour being the equivalent of the regimental colour. The organisation colour is a single colour which represents the branch the unit is from, each branch also has fringe colour, which is the colour of the decorative trimming on the flag.  The standard design of this flag features the eagle from the USA Great Seal, however the shield bears the unit coat of arms and the scroll in the eagles mouth the motto. A scroll underneath the eagle will have the unit name. Unlike British colours Americans don't display battle honours on the flag itself, instead honours and citations are displayed on streamers and flyers attached to the staff. 

US Army organisational colour

In modern France however, only one flag is used in the colours and standards. This is a French Tricolour, the flag is doubles sided. On one side is the text "RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE"(French Republic) with the unit name below it. On the reverse is the text "HONNEUR ET PATRIE" (honour and fatherland) below which is the battle honours. Like the USA various situations and hounors may be displayed on streamers. The design is the same for cavalry and infantry regiments although the standards of a cavalry regiment are smaller. 

French Army colour

France like United Kingdom had a large empire and influence and this can be seen in the military flags of a number of countries, including many of France's former colonies and protectorates, who switch the French flag with their own. 

The German Army on the other hand doesn't have regimental flags as such, Each unit would carry a ceremonial state flag, that is the German flag defaced with the national coat of arms of a black eagle on yellow shield. The boarder of which would have black red and yellow lacework and a gold fringe. Attached to the staff is a streamer with the unit badge and designation. 

One of the most well known and oldest military regiments is the Swiss Guard responsible for the security of the Vatican. The colour of the Swiss Guard consists of four quarters divided by a white cross. In the first quarter are the arms of the current Pope. In the fourth quarter are the arms of Pope Julius II (The Warrior pope) The other quarters consist of horizontal stripes of blue, yellow and red reflecting the uniform. The arms of the regiment's commander is placed within a wreath on the colours of his canton (Swiss State).

Swiss Guard flag with the arms of Commandant Anrig, Popes Francis and Julius II 

In the modern Spanish armed forces each unit has a standard colour, this is a variant of the national flag but with the units name in black lettering around the national coat of arms. tassels and streamers may be attached which might have decorations and battle honours embroidered on them. This design replaced the Cross of Burgundy in 1843.

Colour of the Spanish Air Force Headquarters, The Streamers are those of the Order of Civil Merit, the Provincial Deputation of Pontevedra, Air Medal and Medal of the Army.

Some regiments continue to use the old variant of a King's Colour, but these are only keeping alive a tradition and these flags have no official status. Smaller secondary standards and banners are also used, these do have official status, and known as second order colours. They are smaller flags than the standard colour, and can be any colour with any symbol, many still use the cross of burgundy.

Trooping the Colour

The 11th of June will see the Household Division perform the Queen's Birthday Parade, commonly called Trooping the Colour on Horse Guards Parade in London. The main part of the parade is a ceremony called trooping the colour, this is when the ensign (junior officer who carries the flag) along with his escort march with the colour through the ranks, so that the guards can all see it. This ceremony was practiced almost daily in camp and barracks in day of old when colours were carried into battle, the purpose behind it was so each soldier could familiarize himself with the flag's markings and easily identify it on a battlefield. 

Similar ceremonies are performed in Australia, Canada, Malaysia and Singapore. To see the best of the five Foot Guard regiments perform it click here, or if you just want a quick overview see the clip

Trooping the Colour is broadcast live at 1030(GMT) on BBC One and recorded and broadcast again at 1800 on BBC Two, unfortunately I don't know if it is broadcast on the BBC international channels like BBC America or BBC UKTV, but I would expect it to be on BBC World News. 

Development & History of Irish Flags Pt13 Foreign Military Service

The "Farewell" flag of the French Army's Irish Brigade

This post is a break in the series so far. The last post has is set at the beginning of the last century, the next will look at period of the Great War (WW1) and Easter Rising. But before the series dives into the 20th Century, which I am sure will be seen as one of the most important centuries in Irish history, I think its important to take breaks. This first break will look at the flags used by Irishmen in the service of foreign nations outside the British Isles, and those used by the Irish diasporas around the world and throughout the centuries. This is a topic we briefly touched on in Part 6, where the colours of the Irish Brigade of the Royal Army of France were described and depicted. The Brigade Irlandaise ceased to be a specialist unit of the French Army in a military restructuring project in 1791. It was absorbed into the regular French Army and lost many of its historic titles, flags and its Irish identity (although most of those in the Brigade were French born or other foreigners at this point.) However many of the soldiers originally swore loyalty to the King of France, and many of the regiments of the former brigade rallied to the Royalist cause when the French Republic was proclaimed in 1792. These units were presented with a "farewell banner." This was a white flag with Fleur de Lees in the corners, (based on the royal banner of France) In the centre was a blue diamond bearing a harp, flanked by two gold shamrocks. Above was the dates the regiments served as part of the Irish Brigade (1692-1792) and the brigade motto "Semper Et Ubique Fidelis" (Always and Everywhere faithfull). A last flourish and acknowledgement of their Irish history. It wasn't just Royalist France that used Irish troops the following countries also had/have Irish regiments and brigades:

Spain 1688-1818

depiction of the Irlanda Regiment flag

There has been a long tradition of Irishmen serving in the Spanish Army, that dates as far back as the 1580s! The story of most of these Irishmen is basically the same, in that they were Roman Catholic exiles who fought for Spain because of Spain's hostility to England and hers support for Irish insurrections. There are examples of various Irish regiments between the 1580s and 1680s. From the flag viewpoint though the Irish Brigade formed of former Jacobite troops is most notable as there are records of their flags. After France; Spain was the biggest employer of Irish Jacobite expatriates in the 18th Century. Like their countrymen in French service they kept their red coats to begin with, however they didn't keep their Jacobite style flags as we will see. There were five Irish infantry regiments in the Spanish Army at the beginning of the century. These were the regiments of Irlanda raised in 1688; Regiment of Hibernia and the Regiment of Ultonia (Ulster) raised in 1709, and the Waterford and Limerick regiments. As stated all these regiments wore red coats. The Irlanda and Ultonia regiments had blue facings on their coats, the others had green.

Uniform, badge and colours of the Ultonia  Regiment
19th Century

All infantry regiments carried two colours, a King's Colour and a regimental colour. The King's Colour was certainly the Spanish Cross of Burgundy. The above left picture appears to be an early example with a harp and (Spanish) crown in the canton. For most of the Brigade's existence it appears that in each corner were crowned coats of arms alternating between the historic kingdoms of Castile and Leon. The regimental colour was the same colour as the regiment facings (blue for Irlanda and Ultonia, green for the others. The centre bore the figure of a harp. By the time of the late 18th and early 19th Century, the flags had changed. The King's colour featured the Royal Coat of arms, and the regimental colour was a cross of burgundy. In the corners of each of these flags was the regimental badge.
 While the Waterford and Limerick regiments had a short existence the others served all over the world, the last Irish regiment being disbanded in 1818. Like the Franco-Irish regiments as time went on the number of Irish born soldiers in the regiments decreased, and by the time of their disbandment most only a small percentage was Irish the rest were Spanish, but of Irish decent or from other foreign countries.  The Spanish Irish Brigade served the Spanish Empire in the war of Austrian Succession fro 1745 onward. As well as Europe they saw action in the Americas notably in Florida.  They fought alongside their countrymen in the British Army (87th Regiment the Royal Irish Fusiliers) at the Siege of Tarifa in 1812. Irish soldiers in Spanish service are depicted in the  Sharps Battle episode of the Sharp series of British TV, when British officer Major Sharp (played by Sean Bean) and his Irish Sergeant Pat Harper (played by Daragh O'Malley)  train and fight alongside an Irish unit of the King of Spain's Guard. episode can be Seen here.(Yes I am a Sharp fan). Irish soldiers also served in German and Austrian Armies in the 18th Century, however it is not know what flags if any were used by the few all Irish regiments.

reenactors of Spanish-Irish infantry recreating the Siege of Tarifa

French Republic 1803-1815

Imperial Eagle of the Legion Irlandaise

The Legion Irlandaise (Irish Legion) was formed in 1803 as a light Infantry battalion of the French Army. It was later upgraded to a regiment of five battalions. It was initially formed to take part in Napoleon Bonaparte's planed invasion of the United Kingdom. The legion was to form an indigenous part the Corps d'Irlande which was a 20,000 strong Corps of the invasion army tasked with conquering Ireland. It was initially made up of former rebels who took part in the rising of 1798, and irish deserters from the Royal Navy, although as time went on like the other Irish units mentioned its numbers were made up of other nationalities notably German and Polish. In 1805 Napoleon presented the legion with an imperial eagle standard, the only foreign unit in French service to receive such an honor. The flag that flew from this standard is reported as being green, with a harp in each corner.On one side was a Circleular French tricolour within a gold laurel wreath, the tricolour was horizontal rather than vertical, and bore the text "Le Premire consul aux Irlandais unis" The reverse was the same but had a solid red circle with the text "Liberte de Conscience, L'idependance de l'Irlande"

This seems to be a little different from the original proposal as described by Thomas Emmet brother of Robert Emmet. Emmet describes the original proposal is a green flag with a circular French tricolour in the centre defaced with the letters "RI." Around the top of which was the inscription "L'independance De L'Irlande" and at the bottom "Liberte De Conscience." There is no referance to a harp or the reverse, so the original proposal was presumably the same on both sides. The legion's uniform was also described as a green tunic, waist coat and trousers, the cuffs, collar and facings of which was to be yellow, which seems an odd colour to chose. Presumably yellow was chosen as the harp is always depicted as golden, and this is reflected by the yellow.

A completely different description of the Legion's flag is given Miles Byrne who was an insurgent in 1798 and an officer in the legion. He describes a green flag, one side of which had a gold harp and the inscription, "L'independance d'Irlande" and on the reverse side the inscription "Napoleon I, empereur des Francais a la legion Irlandaise."

Eagle of the Irish Legion according to Byrne 

Why these descriptions are so different is unclear. It could be that after battle the flags of the Eagle Standard were so damaged that it was deemed they needed replaced and that the flag described by Byrne was such a replacement. Alternatively Byrne may simply have been describing a battalion colour rather than the Imperial Eagle of the legion. However the lack of any battalion number seems to make this theory unlikely. After the victory of the Royal Navy at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, Napoleon postponed his invasion of the UK and turned his attentions elsewhere. The Irish Legion saw action in the Iberian Peninsula and the German Campaign of 1813. 11 of its members received the Legion d'Honneur the highest decoration in the French military. It was formally disbanded by King Louis XVIII on 28 September 1815. Its flags were burned and its eagle destroyed. 

Gran Columbia 1819-1830

In 1819 Simon Bolivar the liberator of Spanish America recruited many British citizens (many of whom were Napoleonic wars veterans)  into a brigade of foreigners, known as the British Legion; to fight in the war of independence from Spain. There were three battalions in the British Legion including an Irish one,(1st British Legion, 2nd British Legion and Irish Legion). As well as marching under the national tricolour of red, blue and yellow the British Legion is reported to have used the Union Jack alongside this in the campaign to liberate New Grenada 1819-1820. However the Irish legion used a different flag. The Irish commander General D'Evereux flew a flag from his Dublin hotel when he was recruiting. This flag which was to be the unit flag, was described as green with the device of a harp around which were the "stars of Colombia" possibly the seven stars that later appeared on the Venezuelan flag. The Irish Legion was short lived and was eventually absorbed into the other British Legion and foreign volunteer units. What happened to the flag is unknown. 

Mexico 1846-1848

The St Patrick's Battalion was a unit of the Mexican Army led by John Riley, and made up primarily of Irish deserters from the American Army. As well as Irishmen it was made up of various nationalities most of whom were practicing Roman Catholics. The exact role of the battalion seems to have been a mix of things. There was an infantry company, artillery battery and reconnaissance troop, all under the title of St Patrick's Battalion. 

There are numerous descriptions of the flag of the battalion, a lot of which varied greatly. According to Riley's own account of the deeds of the battalion he described the flag as having "St Patrick, the Harp of Erin and Shamrock on a green field." 

According to an American  Journalist the battalion flag was:

"of green silk, and on one side is a harp, surmounted by the Mexican coat of arms, with a scroll on which is painted Libertad por la Republica Mexicana ["Liberty for the Mexican Republic"]. Under the harp is the motto of Erin go Bragh! On the other side is a painting... made to represent St. Patrick, in his left hand a key and in his right a crook or staff resting upon a serpent."

Two American soldiers described the flag as:

".a beautiful green silk banner [which] waved over their heads; on it glittered a silver cross and a golden harp, embroidered by the hands of the fair nuns of San Luis Potosí."

the other simply described the flag as

"aloft in high disgrace the holy banner of St. Patrick."

A Mexican source gives a very different description of the flag:

"white flag/standard, on which were found the shields of Ireland and Mexico, and the name of their captain, John O'Reilly embroidered in green"

One possible explanation for so many different designs is that different flags were used by the infantry, artillery and reconisence branches of the battalion.

A flag that was captured by the US forces was hung up in the chapel of the US Military Academy of West Point but was subsequently lost or stolen. 

Confederate States of America 1861-1865

Irish-Americans fought on both sides in the American Civil War, in some cases like at the Battle Fredericksburg, Irish regiment was pitted against Irish regiment. In fact this is one of the great tragedies of Irish soldiers in foreign service throughout the centuries, most of the time the sooner or later face their own countrymen on the other side.
While the Irish regiments on both sides of the civil war are rightfully celebrated, the flags used by those in Confederate service are less well known than those of their Union rivals. Partly because while many Confederate regiments had Irish companies and Irish platoons, there were rather few Irish regiments that used Irish flags and symbols, unlike in the US Army. But those that were used were just as elaborate as their 'Yankee' kinsmen.

reported flag of the 24th Georgia Regiment

One of the more unique Irish flags from the conflict was that of the 24th Georgia Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Their flag is said to have been the national flag of the CSA the 'stars and bars,' with the canton containing 10 stars in a circle and one in the centre, representing the state of and claimed by the Confederacy, in a similar way to the USA flag. In the fly on the white bar it had a gold Irish harp. it may also of had the text "14th Georgia Vols" (no thats not a typing error) on the rd bar above. Personally I would have made a flag more like this.

The colour of the 10th Tennessee Infantry Regiment is probably the most celebrated Irish Confederate flag. There was no doubt it could be anything but an Irish regiment it was even nicknamed the Confederate Irish Brigade despite being only one regiment. (the term "Irish Brigade" seems to have been adopted by various units numbering far less than brigade strength possibly trying to compare themselves with the celebrated French Irish Brigade), The 10th's colour was a green flag which depicted a harp decorated with white lilies as its badge. On a scroll above this was the text "Sons of Erin" and below the motto "Go where Glory Waits You."
Unusually for the period and rank in question, the regiment carried a colonel's colour. This was a much smaller flag than the regimental colours, and probably served in the role of a personal flag of the officer which is suggested by the presence of his name on the flag.
This flag is also green, with a harp in its centre surrounded by a circlet of shamrocks. Around the edge is the text "Col R W McGavock, 10th Tenn Regt CSA."

The flag of the 33rd Virginia Volunteer Infantry was also a green flag. It the text "Emerald Guards" entwined with shamrocks in the canton. Below this was a scroll with the name "Virginia" after the regiment's home state. This flag is interesting as it does not have a harp as its main badge, instead it had a shamrock.

Another example of a green harp flag used by CSA forces is that of the 8th Alabama Regiment, who used a green flag with a gold boarder. In the centre was a harp device within a wreath of shamrocks. Above this was the Ireland forever motto "Eirn Go Bragh!" and below was the Irish battle cry "Faugh a Ballagh!" (Clear the Way!).

That concludes the Irish flags of the Confederacy the flags of the Union continued the use of green harp and other flags as well as the adoption of Irish Battle cries. 

 United States of America 1861-1865

The Union Army was the only army in the civil war to have an Irish Brigade (although other units called themselves "Irish Brigades" they were often only regiments), and as such the regimental colours of the US Irish Brigade featured a standard design. The flags of the Brigade are notable due to their close relationship with the Fenian flags mentioned in Part 11, with the inclusion of the Sunburst appearing from clouds. Each regiment in the Federal Army carried two flags a national colour which was usually a variant of the Stars and Stripes and a regimental colour, many of which followed common patterns, which for Irish regiments was generally a green harp flag.
The most famous Irish regiment of both sides during the civil war was the 69th Regiment of New York State Volunteers. The first flag presented to the regiment was a green harp flag which was made when the regiment mutinied rather than parade for the then Prince of Wales who was visiting the USA. Its national colour was presented just before the regiment marched out of New York to the fighting in Virginia. The regiment was heavily involved in the first Battle of Bull Run and acquitted themselves well, however their colours were captured by the Confederates, however not before three successive bearers of the regimental colour were shot down and the national colour was retrieved. The regiments commander held aloft the national colour, to rally the federal troops, but was captured along with the flag in the process.
The 69th would join three other regiments; the 63rd New York Volunteer Infantry and the 88th New York Volunteer Infantry (numbered out of sequence after the 88th Regiment of Foot (Connaught Rangers) of the British Army) to form the Irish Brigade. Although other regiments and battalions (some of which were not Irish) served in the brigade temporarily, these were the core regiments. These three regiments adopted a standard design of regimental colour that was used throughout the brigade.
The field of each flag was green, the central badge was the device of a harp in a wreath of shamrock, above which was the sunburst used by the Fenian Movement. Above and below were red scrolls, the top one bore the regiment name (eg 69th, 63rd or 88th Regiment) and the words "Irish Brigade". The bottom scroll had the regiments motto in Gaelic "Riamh Nar Dhruid O Sbairn Lann" (who never retreated from the clash of spears). 

The National colours were of course Stars and Stripes but in the canton (that is the blue square with the 34 stars of the period) appeared a crimson stripe with the unit name. These colours were presented to the brigade in 1861 by a committee of Irish ladies.These colours were carried by the brigade in many engagement. In 1862 during the battle for Richmond (capital of the CSA) the Brigade's Commander ordered that if their was a danger of the flags being captured, they were to be burnt to prevent them falling into enemy hands, no doubt he remembered the disgrace of the first colours of the 69th being captured at Bull Run. Fortunately for them this didn't happen, and the colours became icons of the Brigade's bravery and heroism so much so, that on the 1st July that year at Malvern Hill, a confederate colonel is said to have remarked "Here's that damned green flag again" upon witnessing a fresh advance from the 88th! Such remarks from the enemy are perhaps the greatest compliments to a soldier (well for an Irish soldier at least). At various battles the iconic colours became a target and many were shot down carrying it, in fact to carry it almost meant certain death, but whenever the order "raise the colours" was given there was always somebody willing to take the risk for the honor of carrying it. Even when the pole was broken by a bullet when carried by a Cpt McGee, he picked up the flag and draped himself in it.  The flags like the brigade had taken a heavy toll and by the end of 1862 were laid up for safe keeping in the New York Chamber of Commerce, where it was hoped they would inspire "interest and pride in every patriotic citizen" 
The brigade was temporarily without flags and unlike the picture above did not carry in colours in the battle of Fredericksburg, wearing sprigs of green in their caps as an alternative expression of their identity. 

The New Colours were presented after the battle, these were also green flags, with the 'badge' used on the previous flags in the canton, however the top scroll reads "number (69th 63rd or 88th) Regiment NYSV" (New York State Volunteers, and the bottom simply reads "Irish Brigade" In the fly between two laurels were the battle honors of 1861, other battles were added later. Below the badge was an inscription of the presentation. The 69th's reads "Presented by the Citizens of New York to the 69th NYSV, (1st Regiment of the Irish Brigade) Brigadier Gen Thomas Francis Meagher Commanding In grateful appreciation of their gallant and brilliant conduct on the battle fields of Virginia and Maryland in the War to maintain the National Dominion of the American Union. Nov 1862"
 The other flags were identical except 69th was replaced with the appropriate number. At least Two of these flags survive, and one (the 69th) was given by President Kennedy to the Irish Republic in 1964, and is in the care of the National Museum of Ireland, the other 63rd is i believe at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana. In the later part of the war these three units numbering only 220 fit men, were grouped into a single battalion who marched under the colours of the 88th. The Irish Brigade and it's colours are among the most celebrated flags of the American Civil War, becoming a symbol of Irish-America. Reproductions of the "fighting 69" flag are waved proudly by Irish-Americans today, The 69th Infantry linage continues as a unit of the New York National Guard, although they no longer carry green harp flags as colours, they do use the flags of their predecessors in an unofficial capacity. 

Another regiment that used a green harp flag was the 17th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment. The had quite an elaborate green flag, which bore a harp, flanked by shamrocks and ensigned with the coat of arms of the USA. This central badge was flanked by gold "mantling" with the American and state shields in the centre. Above and below were two red scrolls, the top reading "Faugh a Ballagh" and the bottom "Wisconsin Irish Brigade." (another example of the nostalgic use of the word "brigade") I am not sure if this flag had any official status, the use of the word brigade for a regiment suggests not, on the other hand the US War Department had other things to worry about in a civil war than flags.

Other "yankee" Irish units adopted the more standard design of US regimental colour, (that is a blue field with US coat of arms, with a scroll with the regiment name at the bottom) but added an Irish shield to it, The 9th Connecticut Regiment did this.
Some of the American Civil War flags mentioned here appear in the opening titles of the film God's and Generals:

South Africa 1880-1902, WW1 & WW2

Members of what is believed to be McBride's Irish Brigade in Boar service
with a green harp flag a rare photo indeed

Many Irish regiments had seen service in South Africa throughout the colonial period, it is not until the Anglo-Boar conflict that we see Irish units in Colonial South African service, These include the Cape Town Irish Volunteer Rifles and Driscoll's Scouts. Unfortunately these units don't come into this blog as the Cape Town Volunteers were a rifles regiment (in commonwealth military tradition rifle regiment never carried and still don't carry regimental colours) and it is unsure if Driscoll's Scouts carried or used flags as they were irregulars. On the side of the Boar Republics there was however an Irish 'Brigade' (Like in the American Civil War the term Irish Brigade is used to describe any Irish unit whatever size, Only about 500 Irishmen fought for the Boars at any one time, the size of a small battalion, In fact the only group of Irishmen to fight in Brigade strength in the Boar Wars was the British 5th Brigade aka Hart's Irish Brigade, which included 1st Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 1st Battalion Connaught Rangers and 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers).
There are many units of the Boar Irish using green harp flags, A homemade 'Fenian' flag was taken to South Africa by John McBride a major in the "Irish Brigade," there is at least one reference to this flag being carried into battle, for most part however in what was a guerrilla war this flag was wrapped around one of the soldiers rather than flown. It was buried to prevent it's capture when the 'brigade' thought it was surrounded. A green flag with a Brian Boru harp in the cetre surrounded by shamrocks possibly the latter flag was flown beside the Boar Vierkleur flag in their camp at Modderspruit during a sports event on Christmas Day 1899.
A green harp flag was also used to taunt their fellow countrymen on the opposite side during fighting at Ladysmith in 1900. Two Companies of the Royal Irish Fusiliers who had managed to escape after the rest of their battalion were forced to surrender on 30 October 1899, were in the besieged British garrison, A Michael Dannit said the Boar Irish sent challenges to the "Anglo -Irish" to come out and attack them. He says that the "Royal Irish" were stationed on a hill, the Boars charged up with a green flag fired on them and fled, teasing the British who gave chase calling on "the fenians to stand and face them" but were ambushed by the Boars. This could be the flag in the above photo.
A green flag with harp and antique crown was captured by the Boarder Regiment in 1900 and can be seen at their museum in Carlisle Castle.
Another interesting and unique flag was sent to the Boar-Irish in South Africa but didn't arrive untill the war was over. This was made by the Women's nationalist movement Inghinidhe na hEirann (Daughters of Ireland) and Arrived in Africa just as the 'brigade' was disbanded, it travelled back to Ireland, and is owned by the descendants of an IRB member who have given it to the National Museum of Ireland on a long term loan. This flag is made of green poplin with a gild braid boarder and fringe. Had it arrived in time it almost certainly wouldn't have survived the fighting. It bears a harp, and uniquely the cloth is cut away on the inside of the harp. At the top in the lettering "Transvaal Irish Brigade" and on the bottom "Ar dTur Ar Muintear Ar dTeanga" (Our country, Our People, Our Language).
On the outbreak of the 1st World War a group of ex British officers in the Johannesburg Irish Club decided to form a regiment in the South African Army for the citizens of the region who were Irish or of Irish descent. This regiment known as the South African Irish Regiment served in the Allied armies in both the first and second world wars, it is still a regiment in the South African National Defence Force consisting mostly of reservists. Although like most Irish regiments in this post as time went on the actual number of Irish people in its ranks is questionable. Any South African can join this regiment, being of Irish descent no longer being a requirement, however it retains it's Irish identity, traditions, and symbols, is regimental march Killaloe (courtesy of SA Irish pipes and drums) is the same as the Royal Irish Regiment's . Its colour is a green flag, featuring a harp with the motto "Faugh A Ballagh" This is in a wreath of Shamrock joined at the bottom by a King Protea the national flower of South Africa, Below this are the regiment's five battle honours from the World Wars .

Canada WW1, WW2

regimental colour 2nd btn The Irish Reg of Canada

On the outbreak of the great war in 1914 the Irish communities of Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver were quick to get permission to raise regiments from the Department of the Militia. It was hoped that these regiments would serve with the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF). However they were used to provide draft replacements for the CEF battalions.
The Canadian Irish Rangers sent a detachment to the 60th Overseas Battalion CEF. It was amalgamated with the 22nd and 23rd Canadian Reserve Battalions in 1917, and ceased to exist as an independent unit. The Canadian Irish Fusiliers sent detachments to join the 121st (Western Irish) Battalion CEF. After the war they amalgamated with the Vancouver Regiment to form the Irish Fusiliers of Canada. The Irish Regiment of Canada was raised in 1915 and sent numerous battalions overseas including the 110th Canadian Overseas Battalion and 208th Irish Battalion CEF. The Irish Regiment of Canada is unique among all the Irish units, as it is the only kilted Irish regiment, with it's own unique "O'Saffron " tartan. (In most Irish regiments in Commonwealth armies and the Irish Defence Forces, solid coloured saffron kilts are worn only by pipers). They adopted this in 1931. The practice of carrying regimental colours into battle was abandoned in the Boar War for operational reason, they are now only symbolic and ceremonial. The Canadian Irish colours followed the basic Canadian Army pattern which is itself based on the British one. In days of old the field of the flag is the colour of the facings on the regiment's uniform, for most Irish regiments green is adopted. The central badge is a red disc with a badge (usually the regiment's badge but other symbols may be used). Around this was a wreath of shamrocks, roses and thistles, this was later replaced with maple leafs (and other relevant plants, like shamrocks in Irish colours.) This design is usually ensigned with a crown.  Around this is a wreath bearing the battle honours of the regiment. Historic badges are often displayed in the corners, older regiments might also display battle honours that are badges in the corners. The King's/Queen's colour was a Union Jack (this has been replaced with the modern flag of Canada). The badges of the historic Canadian Irish regiments were:
 a crowned shamrock with the  motto "Quis Separabit?" for the Irish Rangers

The Irish fusiliers had a heraldic flaming grenade common for fusilier regiments, and a historic crown,  inside the grenade was an irish harp ensigned with a maple leaf.

The Irish Regiment have a crowned eight pointed star, which bears an irish harp and the motto "Fior Go Bas" All these would have been used in the colours.

The Irish Regiment of Canada's second battalion still exists of the Canadian order of battle, as one of it's primary reserve units, it is the only sole irish regiment in the Canadian armed forces (although most of its members are Canadian born)
If you know of any relevant flags not mentioned in this post please do not hesitate to share them with me, by either commenting or posting them to my wall.

For more in this series see the links below or click the label History of Irish flags:

Also in the Series

Pt 1 Early Flags

Pt 2 Dawn of Heraldry

Pt3 Origins of the Harp

Pt 4 St George in Ireland

Pt5 Rebels Invaders and Civil Wars

Pt6 Jacobites & Williamites
Pt7 St Patrick's Saltire
Pt 8 Military flags of the 18th & 19th Centuries

Pt 9 The Rising of 1798
Pt 10 Union Jacks & Green Harp Jacks
Pt 11 Fenian Brotherhood
Pt 12 the Home Rule Crisis
Pt 13 Foreign Military Service

Pt14 The Tricolour
Pt15 Flags at Sea
Pt16 Modern Military flags Pt1
Pt 16 Modern Military flags Pt2