The Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders amalgamated with the Seaforth Highlanders in 1961 and these Colours represent the combined regiments. The Camerons continued to carry their Regimental and Queen’s Colour after amalgamation, up until 1964 when the Colours shown here were produced. On 21 May 1964 the 1st Queen’s Own Highlanders, after a tour of duty in Brunei and North Borneo, paraded at Holyroodhouse to receive the Colours from Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
The Queen’s Colour, on the left is the Union Flag with a total of 33 emblazoned battle honours for both World Wars of both regiments. The same honours are repeated on the other side of the flag. Both regiments actually had many more battle honours for the two World Wars, the Camerons had 52 for WW1, 53 for WW2, and the Seaforths 60 for WW1 and 54 for WW2. In the centre is a Roman numeral surrounded by the Regiment’s title: QUEEN’S OWN HIGHLANDERS over the top of the circle, SEAFORTH AND CAMERONS around the base of the circle. Queen Elizabeth II’s crown is on top.
The Regimental Colour is buff, the facing colour of the Seaforths, and has a mixed blue gold fringe around the edge. The central badge is the combined stag’s head of the Seaforths and the thistle and crown of the Camerons, all on a red background, within a circle bearing the regimental title as on the Queen’s Colour. A Union wreath of thistles, roses and shamrocks surrounds the circle with the motto CUIDICH N’ RIGH on a scroll at the base. In the top right corner is the VR cypher and Garter with the gold Roman numeral beneath. In the top right corner is the Cypher and Coronet of Frederick, Duke of York and Albany (brother of George IV, from whom the 72nd Duke of Albany’s Own Highlanders derived their title in 1823). The Sphinx and EGYPT gained by the Camerons in 1801, is in the lower left corner. The lower right corner has an Elephant superscribed ASSAYE, the battle honour granted to the 78th Ross-Shire Buffs in 1803. In the lower centre is the cypher and coronet of Prince Philip just below a scroll bearing the battle honour SOUTH AFRICA 1899-1902. The remaining combined pre-WW1 battle honours are arranged in a circular pattern on a laurel wreath, 18 on each side. These Colours were in service until 2001 when they were replaced by combined Colours of the Seaforth, Camerons and Gordons.
