The New York herald., 1921-01-10
ROYAL AMERICAN
COLORS PRESENTED
Historic Standard of Kings
Rifle Corps Accepted by
Trinity Church.
ON GOVERNORS ISLAND
Returned to Place Where Tory
Troops Were Stationed From
1855 Until 1888.

An instance of international good
Fellowship was celebrated yesterday In
coiorful setting on the parade grounds
at Governors Island and impressively
concluded In the quaint little Cnapel OF
st. Cornelius the Centurion. IL was the
formal acceptance by the rector. war
dens and vestrymen of Trinity Church
Of the original colors of the Kings Royal
Rifle Corps of Great Britain, which was
first known as the Royal American
Regiment and which was stationed at
Governors Island from 1856 until 1888.
The formal presentation of the colors
was made by Emile A. Hart. great
grandson of Gen. Aaron Hart, who was
commissary to Cen Sir Jeffery Amherst
of the Royal American Regiment The
colors. which were presented to the
First Battalion of the Royal American
Regiment in 1888, were formally ac-
cepted by the Rev. Dr. William L. Man
ming. rector of Trinity Church. and after
being blessed and dedicated were hung
with appropriate ceremonies above the
high altar of the chapel.
The Royal American Regiment was
established in 1856 by order of King
George II. 1t was officered by foreign
ers" recruited entirely in what now are
the States of Maryland. Virginia and
Pennsylvania It's abject was TO meet the
advances of the Indians by a combina-
tion of the training of experienced SOL
diers and the experience and woodcraft
of scouts. The regiment had an hon.
orable record. 1t was in engagements at
Bushy Run, Pa. under Col Henri Bou-
quet; at Louisburg in 1858, at Quebec
in 1859 and later at Montreal and
Charleston. Following the fall of Que
bee in 1853 and the capture Of Montreal
by the British the then regimental
commander. Col. Haldimand, was Sc
lected as military governor of Montreal
The regimental march. which was COM
posed during Col. Haldimands tenure
OF command, was played yesterday at
the conclusion of the ceremonies.
The historic colors We're carried by the
regiment in Canada. in Jamaica and TO
the Cape of Good Hope. In 1918 they
became the property of Lieut.. tool Alex
ander Andrews the commanding officer.
A descendant of his later presented the
colors to Col. Walter Holbeck, a sue
ceeding commander and Col Holbecks
widow presented the colors to the regi-
ment. now known as the Kings Royal
Rifles. 1t was through the courtesy of
Col. Butler, commanding officer of the
Kings Royal Rifles, and Field Marshal
Grenfell. colonel commandant, that the
colors are now returned to America TO
be hung in the chapel of Governors ISL
and. where the regiment was stationed
in the early days of it's existence.
The deed of gift by which the transfer
is made follows
The Officers and Men of The Kings
Royal Rifle Corps have the honour to re-
quest that the accompanying Regmental
Colour which was presented to the 1st
Battalion in 1888. under its original
name of The Royal American Regiment
may be taken in charge by the Rector
Churchwardens and Vestrymen of Trim
ity Church. New York. and be deposited
in the Chapel of St. Cornelius the Cen
turion. Governors Island in memory OF
the fact that Governors Island was the
Depot Of the Regiment from 1856 20
1888. and Trinity Church that in which
the Officers and Men habitually wor-
shipped
1T is hoped also that this Colour may
serve as memento of the fact that The
Royal American Regiment and the Regi-
ments of New York fought shoulder to
shoulder not only during the many years
of warfare which ended in the conquest
of New France and the subjection of the
Indian Tribes bordering on the Graat
Lakes but also. after the lapse of a
enemy in more terrible European con-
test. GRENFELL Field Marshal
Colonel Commandant Kings Royal
Rifles.
May 29. 1920.
LONDON
16 ST. JAMES STREET S.W. t.
The colors were received from the Rev
Edmund Banks Smith, chaplain OF the
post, by n color guard provided by the
Twenty second United States Infantry.
AS Chaplain Smith handed over the colors
the escort presented arms. In front of his
quarters. fanfare from the regimental
buglers marked the passing. and spec
tators, numbering a couple OF thousand.
who were present on invitation. stood
bareheaded. Then. with the reginental
band playing n quickstep, the color
guard wheeled into position and. escort
ed by a company of the regiment IN