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Miniatures Adventure => Age of the Big Battalions => Topic started by: Rabbitz on October 04, 2024, 04:46:53 PM

Title: A question for all you Napoleonic war experts.
Post by: Rabbitz on October 04, 2024, 04:46:53 PM: Hello there collective hive mind.

I was wondering if you could help out a newbie to the period.
Did all British regiments, have the Union Jack flag on the left of their other flag or were there any units that flew them the opposite way around?

I have a vague recollection that there was at least one regiment that flew them the other way around, but I could just be imagining it.

Thanks for any help you can offer.
Title: Re: A question for all you Napoleonic war experts.
Post by: MaleGriffin on October 04, 2024, 06:11:13 PM: IIRC, it is always to the right (left as viewed with the unit facing you) because it is the position of honor. The "King's(or Queen's) Colour" has precedence to the regimental colour, just as the King has precedence to the regiment. It's the same reason the grenadiers are the furthest right when the regiment is formed in line. They are the "senior" company in the regiment. When multiple regiments are formed on parade, the most senior regiment forms on the right.

I hope this helps.
Title: Re: A question for all you Napoleonic war experts.
Post by: Tommy20 on October 04, 2024, 06:41:14 PM: Someone more educated on it than I will no doubt pop up, but I BELIEVE the Guards carried them reversed.
Title: Re: A question for all you Napoleonic war experts.
Post by: IronDuke596 on October 04, 2024, 07:11:26 PM: Correct.
Title: Re: A question for all you Napoleonic war experts.
Post by: Jemima Fawr on October 05, 2024, 06:43:47 AM: Yes, the Foot Guards had the Union Flag (which were company or 'captain's' colours in the Guards) on the left and the crimson colour (known as the colonel's, lieutenant-colonel's or major's colour) on the right.

The 1st Foot Guards could also carry a third colour, known as the Royal Standard if the King was present (which was another fairly plain crimson flag - not the quartered Royal Standard flown from palaces), though that wasn't carried in the field after the War of Austrian Succession. Some Militia regiments also had a third colour where the county had more than one Lord Lieutenant.
Title: Re: A question for all you Napoleonic war experts.
Post by: vtsaogames on October 05, 2024, 07:50:17 PM: Not what you asked, but some Guards trivia: the 2nd Guards were the Coldstream Guards, named for the town where General Monck (and his regiment of the New Model Army) declared he would back the return of Charles II, effectively ending the English Republic. As far as I know, this was the only New Model regiment taken into the new Royal Army. The regimental motto is "second to none".
Title: Re: A question for all you Napoleonic war experts.
Post by: Rabbitz on October 05, 2024, 11:17:21 PM: Thanks for all the help. It’s very much appreciated
Title: Re: A question for all you Napoleonic war experts.
Post by: anevilgiraffe on October 07, 2024, 01:11:47 PM: insert obligatory "it's only the Union Jack on a ship... otherwise it's the Union flag" post here... ;)