This cigarette card was published in 1903/4 and shows the new Regimental Colour of the 1st Battalion. There was a ceremony at Aldershot on 26 May 1903 at which the 1st Battalion was presented with new Colours by Field Marshal Lord Roberts. They had recently arrived back from India and although they had not taken part in the Boer War as a battalion, many men had volunteered for the war. The Colour has the red cross of St George and the battle honours arranged in a circle. The circle has five honours in each quarter with two extra added on the lower corners. These would be for RELIEF OF LADYSMITH and SOUTH AFRICA 1899-1902. The central device is the title EAST SURREY surrounded by a Union wreath of roses, thistles and shamrocks, the King’s crown above, and a red and white Rose beneath. The Rose was originally proposed as a badge for the regiment but the Arms of Guildford was chosen instead. The Rose only appears on the 1st Battalion Colour so it is likely that the idea of the Rose was intended for the 31st Regiment before the amalgamation in 1881. The red centre has a gold Roman numeral 1 for the 1st Battalion. It was not until 1930 that regiments were permitted to have their badge in the centre of this Colour. The same battle honours were repeated on the 2nd Battalion Colour. On Regimental Colours pre-1881 there was a small Union Flag in the Upper canton, but the 1881 regulations dispensed with this.
