Inspector of Regimental Colours

The Inspector of Regimental Colours is an officer of arms responsible for the design of standards, colours and badges of the British Army and of those Commonwealth states where the College of Arms has heraldic jurisdiction.[1] The office was created in 1806, and is currently held by Thomas Woodcock, Garter Principal King of Arms.[2]

History

From 1747 the Crown exercised control over the design of the colours carried by regiments of foot of the British Army, which had previously been unregulated and subject to the whim of the colonel of the unit concerned. From that date only devices or badges granted by royal authority were to borne on colours or clothing. A royal warrant dated 19 December 1768 restated these principles and also included cavalry regiments. From 1770 the general officers making inspections of troops were instructed to ensure that colours were in conformity with the 1768 warrant. However, they had little knowledge of the correct emblazoning of heraldic devices, and regiments frequently turned to the officers of the College of Arms for advice on the matter. Delays in issuing new colours due to doubts about the regulation design meant that old ones remained in service long after they had become unserviceable: for example the colours of the 9th (East Norfolk) Regiment of Foot were found in 1798 to be "...nothing but rags, so that no device or number could be seen on them".[2]

In 1803 and 1804 the Board of Ordnance, which was the agency responsible for providing colours to the troops, exchanged correspondence with George Nayler, York Herald, about the delay in issuing colours. It was a result of this that the office of Inspector of Regimental Colours was instituted on 4 June 1806, with Nayler appointed to the post.[2][3] Nayler immediately contacted the various regiments seeking details of their colours and ensuring that they were in conformity with the 1768 warrant.[2] From that date the office of the inspector has prepared official paintings and from 1855 assumed responsibility for militia colours and from 1908 those of yeomanry and infantry regiments of the Territorial Force.[4][2]

The office today

The Inspector of Regimental Colours approves the design of all colours, guidons, standards, cap badges and defence agency insignia. Artwork of the design is executed by an heraldic artist at the College of Arms and is signed by the inspector and by the Queen.[1]

List of Inspector of Regimental Colours
Dates[2]NameOffices held in College of Arms
4 June 1806 – 28 October 1831George Nayler (knighted 1813)York Herald until 1820, Clarenceux King of Arms 1820–1822, Garter Principal King of Arms 1822–1831
11 November 1831 – 25 July 1842William Woods (knighted 1832)Clarenceux King of Arms until 1838, Garter Principal King of Arms 1838–1842
28 July 1842 – 7 January 1904[5]Albert William Woods (knighted 1869)Lancaster Herald (until 1869), Garter Principal King of Arms 1869–1904
22 June 1904[5] – 22 June 1929Henry Farnham Burke (knighted 1919)Somerset Herald until 1911, Norroy King of Arms 1911–1919, Garter Principal King of Arms 1919–1930
23 June 1929 – 4 March 1957[6]Gerald Woods Woolaston (knighted 1930)Norroy King of Arms until 1930, Garter Principal King of Arms 1930–1944, Norroy and Ulster King of Arms 1944–1957
30 May 1957[6] – 5 July 1961[7]Sir George Rothe BellewGarter Principal King of Arms until 1961
10 August 1961[7] – 1977Sir Anthony Richard WagnerGarter Principal King of Arms 1961–1978
1977–1978[8][9]John Riddell Bromhead WalkerClarenceux King of Arms 1968–1978
1978–1992[10]Sir Alexander Colin ColeGarter Principal King of Arms 1978–1992
August 1993 – 1995[11][12]Sir Conrad Marshall John Fisher SwanGarter Principal King of Arms 1993–1995
2 October 1995 – March 2010Sir Peter Llewelyn Gwynn-JonesGarter Principal King of Arms 1995–2010
Since April 2010Thomas WoodcockGarter Principal King of Arms since 2010

References
  1. "Naval, Military and R.A.F. insignia". College of Arms. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  2. Edwards, T. J. (1953). Standards, Guidons and Colours of the Commonwealth Forces. Gale & Polden. pp. 89–96, 134.
  3. Sumner, Ian (2001). British Colours & Standards 1747-1881 (1) Cavalry. Oxford: Osprey. p. 12. ISBN 9781841762005.
  4. Sumner, Ian (2001). British Colours & Standards 1747-1881 (2) Infantry. Oxford: Osprey. p. 32. ISBN 9781841762012.
  5. "Naval & Military Intelligence". The Times. 11 June 1904. p. 3.
  6. "Inspector of Regimental Colours". The Times. 31 May 1957. p. 6.
  7. "Inspector of Regimental Colours". The Times. 11 August 1961. p. 10.
  8. "WALKER, John Riddell Bromhead". Who Was Who. Oxford University Press. December 2007. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
  9. "Obituary: Lieutenant-Colonel John Riddell Bromhead Walker". The Times. 11 September 1984. p. 16.
  10. Patric Dickinson (28 February 2001). "Obituary: Sir Colin Cole". The Independent. p. 6.
  11. "College of Arms". The Times. 2 August 1993. p. 16.
  12. "SWAN, Sir Conrad (Marshall John Fisher)". Who's Who. Oxford University Press. December 2011. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
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