The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-02-15 00:00:00

THE CAPTURED COLOURS OF THE 24TH REGIMENT.

A Correspondent writes as follows on the above
subject to the Daily Chronicle :
" One incident, above all others, in connection with he
deplorable news from Zululand, will cast a gloom, deep and
dense,vherever the British ensign waves, or a British soldier's
uniform is seen. The loss of its colours by the Queen's regi-
ment, engaged in the terrible encounter. with an over-
powering enemy, is an event seldom recorded in our military
aims's. Until now few English regiments had ever lost
their colours in action; while the instances are numerous
where British soldiers have greatly distinguished themselves
by taking colours from their foe upon the battle-field. Many,
toe, are the recorded deeds of fidelity and devotion that have
been performed in defence of tee colours. At the battle of
Aibuera, in 1811, the officer that carried the "King's
culour" of the 66111 Regiment, while charging the
enemy, was shot through the breast. In the ralee
ne fell unnoticed, and with him fell the colour. Per-
ceiving a body of the enemy's cavalry hovering near the
spot where he lay bleeding to death, and afraid that they
would dash down upon him for the purpose of securing the
trophy, the brave fellow, with the little strength that was
left to him, tore the colour from the staff and thrust it
within the breast of his coatee. Meanwhile the regiment
had discovered its loss. Great, therefore, was the consterna-
tion which prevailed amongst all ranks. To hide
the disgrace which seemed to have befallen the
corps, the matter was kept a secret from all
besides ; . and a few hours later in the day, to
the evident relief of everyone concerned, the colour
VMS safely restored to the custody of the regiment.
The searching party of the 66th had found its protector ere
his life-blood had finally ebbed away, the embroidered silk
having effectually stopped the crimson overflow from his
wound. Unfortunately, the gallant young ensign was not
spared to receive the reward of his fidelity. Death claimed
him for its victim almost immediately after the removal of
the ' colour ' which, stained with his blood, was restored to
its staff, and carried throughout the remainder of the Penin-
sular campaign. Not alone to the gaglish soldier have
' The colours ' been the symbols of his country's honour.
The ancient cohorts of Rome paid peculiar homege to their
'eagles '—the golden bird with which the flagstaffs were
surmounted—and she vevilla, as the colours' were called,
were deposited on a shrine, before which every recruit had
to swear the oath of allegiance. For a Roman Legion to
lose one of these precious eagles was accounted a great
national disgrace, and as an event which boded ill to
the military fortunes of Imperial Rome. Let us hope
no such ill augury to Imperial Englalid is in-
volved in the calamity which has befallen the down
smitten Twenty.fourth I Sure may *we be that our brave
soldiers yielded up their sacred trust only with their last
drop of blood. Greatly as all her Majesty's loyal sub-
jects must deplore the disaster which overshadows the
glorious traditions in this particular corps, and of the proud
Army to which it belongs, it is a mournful satisfaction to
know that there was nothing in the conduct of the brave
Twenty-fourth to bring disgrace or dishonour upon either.
Such, alas! is the fortune of war."