Dr Mathias | 19 Jun 2014 4:30 p.m. PST |
I'm quite sure I saw a post criticizing the box art of the Wargames Factory British recently, which stated that the colours were in the reversed positions. I'm be damned if I can find the post
The sources I have don't mention the positions of the flags, and when I looked on the Perry site the painted examples they have show the King's flag on the unit's left, regimental on the right (as viewed from within the regiment).
Or, one behind the other.
WGF's box art:
Putting the cased colours argument aside, and assuming the unit has two flags, is there an official positioning of the command, drummers, colors etc? I want to get it right, it seems like there's always someone that calls me out on an incorrect color or some little detail I missed. |
Toronto48 | 19 Jun 2014 6:50 p.m. PST |
Based on current procedures the Wargames Factory has the Colours reversed Facing a Colour party a viewer would see the King's/Queen's Colour on the Left and the Regimental on the Right . From the Pointof View of the Colour party the Kings/Queen's Colour always goes on the right side. There is usualy a Colour guard between the two colours See attached Pictures
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Brian Smaller | 19 Jun 2014 6:53 p.m. PST |
I am not trying to be funny here. Given that each figure, under most rule-sets, represents anything from 20-50 men, does it really matter unless you are making a 1:1 representation of a battalion? |
ColCampbell | 19 Jun 2014 6:54 p.m. PST |
Yes, there is. In line regiments the Union flag (i.e., Union "jack") goes on its own right, while the regimental flag (colored field and Union canton) goes on its own left, just the opposite of the box art. It is the same in most Continental armies such as Prussian and French, as well as in the U.S. Army. Hope that helps. Jim EDIT: Seems I was beaten by Toronto48. |
historygamer | 19 Jun 2014 7:02 p.m. PST |
The King's Colours go on the right, the regimental colour (Colonel's) on the left. |
historygamer | 19 Jun 2014 7:03 p.m. PST |
Trail probably was the most common position to advance at as well. :-) Quickly, anyway. |
Dr Mathias | 19 Jun 2014 8:22 p.m. PST |
Thank you gentlemen, much appreciated. Didn't know about the colour guard. @Brian Smaller- I hear you. I suspect that if I show a picture with flags switched, someone will comment
just trying to be proactive :) |
Supercilius Maximus | 19 Jun 2014 8:50 p.m. PST |
Also bear in mind that the Foot Guards did it the other way around – the plain crimson colour was the King's Colour and hence went on the right (as you face the enemy), whilst the union flag was the Regimental Colour and went on the left. The 1764 Manual of Arms prescribes a colour guard comprising one file from six of the "hat" companies, with the two either side of the colours providing two files each; an appropriate number of corporals and sergeants were added. Most Continental regiments appear to have had one regimental colour – ideally in the facing colour – and occasionally also four "grand division" colours (the latter being red, white, blue and buff). I believe that in this period, the (regimental) colour guard was made up of senior sergeants and corporals. German regiments had five colours per unit – one colonels, or Leib, colour and four ordinary/regimental colours – belonging to each of the non-grenadier companies *. The former was usually either white, or the "reverse" of the colour scheme on the regimental colour. They were grouped together in the centre of the unit in action, with a small colour guard (I believe this was composed of the "left-over" files when the eight combat platoons had been "told off" prior to action; possibly the best bayonet men were chosen). [ * the Regiment Rall apparently had five colours for its main companies, but its "grenadier grenadier" company did not ] The French had two colours per regiment – one colonel's (usually white with a white cross) and one regimental (usually with a white cross and four coloured cantons). The former was carried by the 1st Battalion and the latter by the 2nd Battalion. The colour guards consisted of corporals, possibly augmented by the regimental sapeurs (this may have been only on parade). |
Dr Mathias | 19 Jun 2014 9:09 p.m. PST |
When it comes to military uniforms and procedures, it seems there's always an exception to the general guidelines :) |
Winston Smith | 21 Jun 2014 4:36 a.m. PST |
"As the colonel shall decide. " |
spontoon | 21 Jun 2014 7:14 p.m. PST |
There was also a practical reason for the consistent placing of the kings colour on the right: in the thick smoke of the battlefield the colours might be the only identifiable item seen of a unit. Hence the postitioning of the two colurs would tell a commander which way the unit was facing! |
Supercilius Maximus | 22 Jun 2014 9:40 a.m. PST |
Good point – if the wind was blowing towards the enemy, your flags would be pointing towards them as well. Of course, that problem never arises on the wargames table where all units in both armies are marching into the wind. Usually gale force, if the billowing flags are anything to go by! |