December
2003
Laying up of the Old Queens and Regimental Colours
by the Third Battalion The Jamaica Regiment (National Reserve)
on Sunday 02 November 2003
by: Lt Keith E Hammond, Adjutant
3JR(NR)
Click
here to view photo highlights.
 |
|
Both
officiating ministers |
“
These consecrated Colours, formerly carried in the service of the Queen and
Country, I now deliver into your hands for safe custody within these walls”
As tradition dictates, these were the words of the Commanding Officer of the
Third Battalion The Jamaica Regiment (National Reserve) of the Jamaica
Defence Force, Lt Col Linton Gordon as he handed the retired Queens and
Regimental Colours to the Force Chaplain Maj Serano A Kitson during the
service of dedicating and laying up the Old Colours on Sunday 02 November
2003 in the Garrison Church of the Ascension, Up Park Camp.
To this, the Force Chaplain, also in keeping with tradition, responded “I
receive these Colours for safe custody within these walls” referring to
the Garrison Church.
This custom of dedicating and laying up Old Colours in churches and in
memorials has its origins in antiquity. Colours themselves originated from
the days of early man who fixed his family badge to a pole and held it aloft
in battle to both indicate his position and to provide a rallying point for
his troops.
 |
| Both
Officiating Ministers Maj Serano Kitson, Force Chaplain and Maj
Milverton Munroe from 3JR(NR). |
The
Colours are the focal point of the Battalion. They are considered symbols
embodying the loyalty, spirit and traditions of the Battalion and The
Regiment to which they belong.
They are of great significance to each and every single soldier. They
represent the central rallying point in battle in the event that they are
separated from their colleagues and so command the utmost respect from the
troops.
The practice of carrying symbolic flags and banners by military
organizations has been present for centuries. A good example of this can be
seen in the use of the Eagle Standards of the Roman Legion, implemented by
Julius Caesar in order to provide easy identification and esprit de corps
within his army.
 |
|
Colour
Escorts presenting Arms |
It
wasn’t until the 17th Century, when the British military forces began the
transition to regimentation, that a Royal Warrant was issued detailing the
composition and requirements to be adhered to by serving regiments in regard
to the carriage of Colours. By the September of 1743, a Royal Warrant
detailing the carriage of two Colours, the Sovereign and Regimental Colour
was introduced, a tradition that still remains today and which has been
handed down to all the present and former colonies of the British Empire.
The King’s/Queen’s Colour is a reminder to all ranks of their loyalty and
duty to their Sovereign and their Country, while the Regiment Colour is the
symbol of Regimental tradition and of the duty owed by each member to The
Regiment.
Regardless of the origin, design and form, Colours and their insignia are
symbolic of a fighting unit’s spirit and a visual record of gallant deeds
performed by the members of the unit. These are recorded by reference to the
location of the deed and on Colours are called Battle Honours.
 |
|
All eyes
front. |
In
the old tradition, if a mortally wounded ensign wrapped the Colours around
his body and died with them, the Colours were not considered lost. The
honour of the Colours was preserved and carried with the ensign’s soul to
heaven “ to the possession of the eternal forever” and the enemy was denied
the honour of having captured them. It was a soldier’s duty to pick up the
Colours and, at all costs, save them. In the words of Francis Grose in his
Military Antiquities (1786-88) “Indeed a greater act of cowardice cannot
be found than to suffer the Colours to be lost”.
The custom of laying up the Colours has dictated that a regiment’s Colours
should be preserved in the appropriate church of the town with which the
regiment was identified, providing as it were a link with eternity. The
visual presence of the Colours in a church make it possible to rally future
generations and to remind those who have not had the experience, of the
heights to which the human spirit can soar as a group of resolute men
channel their convictions into sweat and sacrifice for goals deemed worthy.
 |
|
Both RSMs
singing their praises. |
The
exact wording used during the service of dedicating and laying up the
Colours is steeped in tradition and should not be altered in any way. After
the Old Colours are received by the Officiating Minister and placed on the
Altar, the following prayer should be recited him:
“ Almighty God and Lord of Hosts, we now lay within this House of Prayer
these emblems of Thy Grace and Blessing; may all who look upon them be
reminded of their duty to their God, their King/Queen their Country, for
Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen”
In fact these were the exact words recited by Maj Serano Kitson upon
receiving the Colours from Lt Col Linton Gordon and placing them on the
altar of the church.
The dedicating and laying up of these Old Colours of the Third Battalion The
Jamaica Regiment (National Reserve) is now regarded as an historic event as
this is the first time in the history of the Jamaica Defence Force that a
Battalion has retired their Queens and Regimental Colours.
Both Colours, the Sovereign Colour (Queen’s Colour) and the Regimental
Colour of the Third Battalion, The Jamaica Regiment (National Reserve) were
granted by the Deputy Inspector of Regimental Colours on the 10th February
1965 of the College of Arms and approved by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.
 |
|
Capt (ret’d)
T Mike Brown greets the Padre |
The
background of the Queen’s Colour is the National Flag of Jamaica with a
circlet containing the Roman figure III and the words “The Jamaica
Regiment”. On the top is the Crown.
The Regimental Colour has depicted on a green background with the Jamaican
crocodile on a log, a circlet around the crocodile with the words “The
Jamaica Regiment”. Surrounding the crocodile and the circlet is a wreath of
sugar cane leaves on which are superimposed the emblematic flowers and
fruits of Jamaica – the lignum vitae bud and flower, the blue mahoe flower
and the fruit of the ackee. On a scroll across the bottom of the wreath is
the Regimental Motto ”Forward”. On top is the Crown
 |
|
Presentation of the first color
on Friday 30th July 1965, by His Excellency,
the Governor General, Sir Clifford Campbell, G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O., on
behalf of Her Majesty, The Queen. |
The presentation of both Colours to the Unit took place on Parade on the
Polo Field, Up Park Camp on Friday 30th July 1965, by His Excellency, the
Governor General, Sir Clifford Campbell, G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O., on behalf of
Her Majesty, The Queen. The Commanding Officer of the Unit was Lt. Col.
C.A.M. Moody, O.B.E.
 |
|
After the
church service. |
The
latter half of the same year saw the Battalion provide the Guard of Honour
for the Governor General on the occasion of the dubbing of Sir Francis Kerr-Jarret.
This was the first occasion the Queen’s Colour was carried on parade since
its presentation.
On Monday the 28th April 1975, The Battalion was afforded the privilege and
opportunity to Troop the Colours for Her Majesty The Queen in person. This
was the first time that a Reserve Unit outside of Great Britain had the
distinction and honour to Troop the Colours for Her Majesty The Queen. Once
again the parade took place on the Polo Field at Up Park Camp.
Since that time, The Colours have been on several other historic parades the
most recent being in August of 1996 when the new Colours were presented to
the Battalion and the Old Colours were marched off for the last time.
|
|
|
 |
|
After the service present
and past Commanding Officers meet the Padre |
|
At the end of the service |
Click
here to view photo highlights.
|
