The Colours are carried by two second lieutenants and escorted by a Colour Sergeant. The Regimental Colour, on the left, does not conform with the pattern as laid down in 1881 which abolished the small Union flag in the top canton and required the battle honours to be arranged in a circular pattern around the central badge. If this Harry Payne postcard depicts the 1st Battalion Colours, then the Gallaher cigarette card of 1899 does not match up with this. This is the 1873 Colour with later battle honours added. By 1905 it would include SOUTH AFRICA 1899-1902. The pre-War King's Colour did not have any battle honours emblazoned.
The Colour-belts worn by the junior officers here, are black leather with silver fittings, similar to those worn (on the right shoulder) by the regimental pipers. They are very different from the plain white Colour-belts worn by the officers of the 2nd Battalion Colour Party in 1898.
