Replacement Of Colours

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31330, 29 March 1967, Page 1

Replacement Of Colours

All six of the Army’s territorial infantry battalions will have replacement colours within the next three or four years. The cost is expected to be about £B5OO. The charge is not against the Army vote but comes from the unit funds of each battalion, which will pay about £l4OO for each set of colours. The replacement colours of the 2nd Battalion Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment were expected to be presented to it some time next year, said the adjutant (Captain L. H. Pilling) yesterday. He said the drawings had already been submitted by Army Headquarters to the Inspector of Regimental Colours in Britain whose office would prepare the paintings for the Queen’s approval. It was ex-

pected that the colours—the Queen’s colour and the regimental colour—would be manufactured this year. > Captain Pilling said that colours were being made according to priority laid down by Army Headquarters. The reason for the cost was that each set of colours was made by skilled women. At present the battalion on parade carries the colours of

the two regiments, the Ist Canterbury Regiment and the Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast Regiment which amalgamated into the 2nd Battalion, R.N.Z.I.R. When the replacement colours arrived they would be consecrated and presented to the battalion. The old colours would then be laid up. This was usually in a church or cathedral, he said.