Jamaica Regiment - Colours
On battlefields of old, Regiments would form lines and advance against the enemy, literally shoulder to shoulder. Perhaps the greatest motivation driving scared men into imminent danger was the companionship of their comrades about them. It was this bond that epitomizes the regiment, as it still does today.
Regiments needed a powerful visual symbol' with which sometimes scared and confused soldiers could readily identify on the battlefield. It was to this that troops would rally and it was behind this symbol that line would advance. Standards and banners had been used for centuries in this regard; even the ancient Romans marched behind the symbol of an eagle. Tudor regiments did not serve the emperor or Queen, but their colonel. The colonel of the regiment was the founder and financial backer of private regiment and was as a figurehead, so it was his heraldic symbolism that was chosen to lead the regiment in battle as such the colours were born.
A colour is the official ceremonial flag of a military unit (originally of an infantry unit only), and in this context it is sometimes used in the plural when referring only to a single flag.
In the regiment of infantry of the British army and the armies of other commonwealth countries, each battalion carries two colours, which collectively are called a stand. These are large flags, usually 36 inches by 45 inches, and mounted on a pike which is 8 feet 2 inches in length. The King's/Queen's colour is usually a version of the country's national flag. Often trimmed with gold fabric and with the regiment's insignia placed in the centre. The regimental colour is a flag of a single colour, usually the colour of the uniform facings (collar/lapels and cuffs) of the regiment, again often trimmed and with the insignia in the centre.
The Queen's colour is the senior of the two. It is carried on parade only when a guard is mounted over a member of the royal family, His Excellency the Governor General and commander in chief or a visiting foreign head of state. It is only trooped for members of the royal family, He the Governor General and C-in-C and on occasion of ceremonial parades if the commanding officer so desires. Normal compliments are paid to the colours when marching on and off parade by all troops. The colours are always to be played on and off a parade to the tune of the regimental march. A regiment colours came to personify its ethos and, although they are nothing but sheets of embroidered silk, once consecrated they have come to be venerated and treated with reverence. On parade the colours will always be carried by a junior officer (an ensign) escorted by armed Senior NCOs. Even when cased in their protective leather covers they are marched under armed escort.
The Queen's Colour of the three infantry battalions comprising the Jamaica Regiment is designed with the Flag of Jamaica as the backdrop. The design and colour comprises a diagonal cross in gold with four triangles in juxtaposition; the top and bottom triangles are in green and the hoist and fly triangles are in black. In the centre of the colour is superimposed a crimson garter, itself encircled by two bands of fimbriation. The words "THE JAMAICA REGIMENT" are inscribed on the garter between the two circular bands of fimbriation while in the centre of the garter is superimposed the Roman numeral I, II or III (indicating the specific battalion). The fimbriation, letters and number are all in gold.
Surmounting the garter is a representation of St Edwards' Crown in gold and crimson. The Fringe is also in gold. It has two gold cords and tassels, and a pike with a metallic finial on top. The finial is a gold coloured cast replica of a Crowned Lion on a Crown. The field is Royal Blue and in the centre is superimposed a crimson garter, itself encircled by two bands of fimbriation. The words "THE JAMAICA REGIME T" are inscribed on the garter between the two circular bands of fimbriation while in the centre of the garter is superimposed a Jamaican crocodile fess wise on a log; the crocodile, log, letters and fimbriation all in gold. Surmounting the garter is a representation of St. Edwards' Crown in gold and crimson. The garter is surrounded in the centre by a wreath of Tudor Roses, Shamrock and Thistle. The wreath is open ended at the top to accommodate the St. Edwards' Crown. At the bottom of the wreath is a scroll inscribed with the regimental Motto "FORWARD". The fringe is royal blue and gold. The Pike, cords, Tassels and Finial being the same as the Queen's Colours.
The Regimental Colour of First Battalion the Jamaica Regiment field is Royal Blue and in the centre is superimposed a crimson garter, itself encircled by two bands of fimbriation. The words "THE JAMAICA REGIME T" are inscribed on the garter between the two circular bands of fimbriation while in the centre of the garter is superimposed a Jamaican crocodile fess wise on a log; the crocodile, log, letters and fimbriation all in gold. Surmounting the garter is a representation of St. Edwards' Crown in gold and crimson. The garter is surrounded in the centre by a wreath of Tudor Roses, Shamrock and Thistle. The wreath is open ended at the top to accommodate the St. Edwards' Crown. At the bottom of the wreath is a scroll inscribed with the regimental Motto "FORWARD". The fringe is royal blue and gold. The Pike, cords, Tassels and Finial being the same as the Queen's Colours.
The Regimental Colour of Second Battalion the Jamaica Regiment field is Maroon and in the centre is superimposed a crimson garter, itself encircled by two bands of fimbriation. The words "THE JAMIAICA REGIMENT" are inscribed on the garter between the two circular bands of fimbriation while in the centre of the garter is superimposed a Jamaican crocodile fess wise on a log; the crocodile, log, letters and fimbriation all in gold. Surmounting the garter is a representation of St. Edwards' Crown in gold and crimson. The garter is surrounded in the centre by a wreath of Water Lilly, Periwinkle, White Easter Lilly, the Tudor Roses and water Reeds symmetrically disposed to the right and left, with the Fern closing the loop at the lower section. The wreath is open ended at the top to accommodate the St. Edwards' Crown. At the bottom of the wreath is a scroll inscribed with the Regimental Motto "FORWARD". The fringe is Maroon and gold. The Pike, cords, Tassels and Finial being the same as the Queen's Colours.
The Regimental Colour of Third Battalion the Jamaica Regiment (National Reserve) field is Dark Green and in the centre is super-imposed a crimson garter, itself encircled by two bands of fimbriation. The words "THE JAMAICA REGIMENT" are inscribed on the garter between the two circular bands of fimbriation while in the centre of the garter is super-imposed a Jamaican crocodile fess wise on a log; the crocodile, log, letters and fimbriation all in gold. Surmounting the garter is a representation of St. Edwards' Crown in gold and crimson. The garter is surrounded in the centre by a wreath of sugar cane leaves, on which are super-imposed Lignum Vitae flowers, Blue Mahoe flowers, and Ackees. The wreath is open ended at the top to accommodate the St. Edwards' Crown. At the bottom of the wreath is a scroll inscribed with the Regimental Motto "FORWARD". The fringe is dark green and gold. The Pike, cords, Tassels and Finial being the same as the Queen's Colours.
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