This well-worn Colour is from the National Army Museum website. The information provided says that it dates from 1859, the year after the 2nd battalion of the 10th was raised. However, the battle honour scrolls include honours conferred after that date, so alterations had to have been made over the years.
The size of Colours borne by the Line Infantry regiments was authorised in 1858, to be 4ft 6ins flying by 4ft on the pike. In 1868 the size was further reduced to 3ft 9ins by 3ft. Other changes made in 1868 included the addition of a fringe around the edge: gold and silver for the Queen’s Colour and gold and white for the Regimental Colour. The pike was also changed from a spearhead top to a gilt Royal Crest.
The central device has the Roman numeral X within a red circle inscribed NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE. This was the title of the regiment until 1881 when the number was dropped and the name changed to The Lincolnshire Regiment. The circle is surrounded by a finely embroidered Union wreath of English roses, Scottish thistles and Irish shamrocks. The crown above is Queen Victoria’s.
A scroll on the base of the wreath looks like a battle honour but actually says II BATT. so definitely identifying the Colour as being for the 2nd Battalion. The original battle honours in 1859 would have included the Sphinx and EGYPT awarded in 1802, PENINSULA, awarded in 1815, SOBRAON, awarded in 1847, PUNJAUB, MOOLTAN and GOOJERAT, awarded in 1852.
The battle honours added later would have been LUCKNOW awarded in 1863, BLENHEIM, RAMILLIES, OUDENARDE and MALPLAQUET, retrospectively added in 1882, KHARTOUM and ATBARA added in 1899, and PAARDEBERG and SOUTH AFRICA 1900-02 added after 1902.
The left of this photo shows that the sheath into which the pike was inserted is of red cloth. There are also cords and tassels of crimson and gold mixed. These had traditionally been attached to the Colours, mentioned in the 1747 Regulations.
