TROOPING THE COLOUR

Taranaki Daily News, 4 June 1934, Page 9

TROOPING THE COLOUR

ANTIQUITY OF FLAG SYMBOLS. INITIAL CEREMONY AT SYDNEY. The annual ceremony of the Trooping of the Colour now associated with the King’s Birthday is an historic one. As associated with the anniversary of the Sovereign’s birthday the ceremony is not one of antiquity, but the association of ceremonial with the flag or colours is not exceeded in length of time by any other military custom. From time immemorial bands of' men have had banners, flags or other like devices as the symbols of a particular group. The Greeks, Assyrians and Romans had theirs. These devices were regarded with great veneration by their particular groups and were always the rallying point, in battle. From the earliest times standards have been borne in battle.

As far as regimental history the world over is concerned, the history of the colours is that of the regiment itself. In fact regimental or any colours are in themselves almost a short history of the Empire’s military doings. All through soldiers have been taught to look with rsepect to the colours, and any function in connection with them has always been one of a ceremonial nature.

The ceremony of trooping the colours of a regiment began in the 18th century when the ensigns of the regiments (now colour sergeants) took charge of the colours and displayed them outside their lodgings so that the men would know where to rally in case of emergency.

Trooping of the colour is performed on the King’s Birthday in other parts of the Empire. Yesterday it was done at Sydney for the first time by a volunteer militia force. It has grown from a regimental ceremony into a great national gesture of loyalty to the Throne.