FLAG FUNERALS

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 27, 31 January 1919, Page 2

FLAG FUNERALS

Britain is the only country which allows its historical flags to go into the pawnshop or auction room. One such flag, after having waved over the 39th Foot for threo years during .the siego of Gibraltar, was actually found covering the sofa cushions of a tradesman's sittingroom!

In 1886 the Ist Battalion, Gloucester Regiment, recovered from a pawnbroker at York four flags, which it had borne from 1795 to 1810 through the Egyptian and Peninsular campaigns. • There may bo seen to-day in the E«ndal Parish Churoh a pair of the old colours of the 2nd Battalion Border Regiment. They were rescued in. 1888 by Lord Archibald Campbell from a a London upholsterer, who had advertised them for sale as though they wore, mero window.curtains.

■To prevent old ooloars meeting with such faiee many have been cremated, -with great ceremony, and the ashes preserved carefully in a box. Others have been buried with full military honours, among them being sets belonging to the King's Own Scottish Borderers and the 2nd' Battalion Worcester Regiment.