Throughout the 18th century the Royal Regiment had the distinction of being the only line regiment to have two battalions, but in 1804 two more were added so that they now had a 3rd and 4th Battalion. The Colours in this illustration belonged to the 3rd Battalion and are an important relic of the regiment. They have four battle honours which are emblazoned on both flags: EGYPT, PENINSULA, NIAGARA and WATERLOO. The honour for Niagara was won by the 1st Battalion in 1814 and was conferred on the regiment on 19 May 1815. But the 3rd battalion fought in the Peninsula so gaining that honour on 29 Mar 1815. What is not easily explained is the absence of the honour for Corunna (1808) in which the 3rd Battalion were prominent, both during the arduous retreat and the battle. This honour was conferred on 20 Feb 1812.
However, the most important battle honour for the Royal Scots is Waterloo. The 3rd were the only battalion to be present at both Quatre Bras on 16 June and Waterloo on 18 June 1815. The honour was conferred on the 3rd battalion on 23 Nov 1815 (19 months later for the regiment as a whole) so these Colours date perhaps some time in December 1815 but more likely 1816. After the 3rd were disbanded on 24 April 1817 the Colours were carried by the 2nd Battalion and retired in 1827.
From 1812 to 1821 the regiment was officially recognised as the Royal Scots so that the title was The 1st Regiment of Foot or Royal Scots. The Colours show the title THE ROYAL SCOTS on the scroll below the centre. The Sphinx and EGYPT are just above. The central device is the royal cypher surrounded by the collar of the Order of the Thistle. Either side of the St Andrew pendant are conjoined thistle and rose on one side and shamrocks and rose on the other.
In three corners are thistles and crowns The upper canton of the King’s Colour has IIId Battn and on the Regimental Colour the horizontal red part of the Union flag has the same but in larger lettering. PENINSULA and NIAGARA are on scrolls either side of the centre, blue on the King’s Colour and red on the Regimental Colour. WATERLOO is placed at the bottom in gold letters with laurel sprays above and below.
Some websites claim that these Colours were carried by the 3rd Battalion in the battle of Waterloo but the illustration depicts them in good condition when one would expect them to be tattered. The battle honour for Waterloo could have been added after the battle. But as NIAGARA is an integral part of the design it would have meant that these Colours would have been produced in just a few days before the battalion sailed for Belgium or while they waited in Brussels.
