Of great pride to all messes are its priceless items of silver. The JDF officers’ messes are no exception and boast several beautiful pieces of silver. Some items date back to early 19^th Century. All items were donated by officers of the respective messes. The infantry regiments have a wide selection that have been passed on from regiments that have historical links to the present day Jamaica Regiment and indeed the JDF. The various battles in which so many brave West Indians participated are proudly inscribed on many pieces.

The JDF only displays these items on rare occasions, such as Regimental Dinner Nights and Force functions. These items are regarded as a proud part of our heritage and indeed history.

Click below to view the various types of silver:

Standards, Guidons and Colours

The origin of the customs of carrying Colours goes back to the days of early man, who fixed his family badge to a pole and held it aloft in battle for the dual purpose of indicating his position and acting as a rallying point should the occasion arise. Medieval chivalry followed the same idea when armorial bearings were placed on their banners so that these could be seen well above the melee. When armies were beginning to adopt a system of regimentation at the beginning of the 17^th century each company was allotted a Colour, a custom, which persisted for about a hundred years.

These have evolved from the banners of the knights of the Middle Ages. The Standard (a square banner) was then carried by a knight; the Guidon (an ensign or standard ending with a tail or point, now swallow-tailed) being carried by a banneret. When a banneret was created a knight the point of his Guidon was cut off, thus transforming it into a Standard.

Colours have become the symbol of the spirit of a regiment, for they bear the battle honours and badges granted to the regiment in commemoration of the gallant deeds performed by its members from the time it was raised. This association of Colours with heroic deeds has caused them to be regarded with veneration. The fact that Colours are consecrated before being taken into use, and after service are laid up in sacred or public buildings, helps to maintain the atmosphere of veneration with which they are surrounded.

Regimental Colours are carried on all ceremonial parades by all Regiments who have been granted Colours.

The Queen’s Colour is carried only when a guard is mounted over:

• Her Majesty the Queen, His Royal Highness Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, or a member of the Royal Family.
• A governor-general, governor, high commissioner, lieutenant governor or officer administering the government in his capacity as Her Majesty’s representative within the area of his jurisdiction.
• A foreign sovereign, the president of a republican state or a member of a reigning foreign Imperial or Royal Family.

The Queen’s Colour will not be trooped except in the case of:

• A Guard mounted over Her Majesty The Queen, His Royal Highness Prince Phillip Duke of Edinburgh, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and members of the Royal Family.
• A Guard mounted over Her Majesty’s chief representative in British Dependent Territories.
• A ceremonial parade held in honour of the Queen’s birthday.
• The occasion of Presentation of Colours.

Queens and Regimental Colours of The 1st Battalion Jamaica Regiment with two members of the Battalion in Ceremonial Uniform.

Queens and Regimental Colours of The 2^nd Battalion Jamaica Regiment with two members
of the Battalion in Ceremonial Uniform.

Queens and Regimental Colours of The 3^rd Battalion Jamaica Regiment with two members
of the Battalion in Ceremonial Uniform.

Laid up Colours

Old colours are laid up in sacred buildings.    These colours of the various West India Regiments have been laid up in the Garrison Chapel at Up Park Camp.   They can never, under any circumstances, again be carried on parade.

Allied Regiments

1. Allied Regiments develop where mutual interest exist between two (02) Units or Regiments of different Forces/countries which agree to enter into an alliance with each other; to co-operate with and assist each other in a more familiar and distinct manner than would otherwise occur.

2. The mutual interests which promote unions between Units/Regiments are normally based on shared history (fought together in a war), common goals and their present and pending working relationship, or, a combination of these factors.

3. The seed for an alliance is usually sown during the visit of a Colonel to a host Unit or Regimental Headquarters where a bond of friendship develops, or, the two (02) Units have had occasion(s) work with each other and a satisfactory bond develops between the Units.

4. Whatever the catalyst, one Colonel would write an invitation to the Unit/Regiment with which it intends to form an alliance and outline its position on the matter. The invitee would then in writing set out its acceptance of the two Units/Regiments being allied, one with the other.

5. However, before actual letters are exchanged, some level of dialogue usually takes place to ascertain that both parties would welcome such a union.

6. An alliance between two Units of different Forces is an honourary agreement. The agreement is not legally binding as it does not stem from any convention, or, rule of law. Although the agreement is established through the exchange of letters, the transaction remains basically a goodwill gesture founded on good faith, similar to an agreement sealed by a handshake.

7. However, once an alliance is formed, the status of relationship changes immediately between the parties. The agreement instantly deepens the sense of bonding and places certain expectations and obligations on the nature and quality of the relationship that exists from thereon.

8. It is therefore bad form to ignore one’s Allied Regiment and allow the relationship to dissipate.

9. The relationship between Allied Regiments is based on a system of reciprocity which comes into effect in a number of ways:

a. Whenever an opportunity allows for overseas involvement, it is expected that their Allied Regiment would be favoured.

b. It is customary to extend invitations to one’s Allied Regiment to functions such as Dinner Nights and commemorative events such as the Victoria Cross Day activities -whether or not it is likely that the affiliated Unit/Regiment will he able to attend.

c. In areas of training expertise may be provided or exchanged as required.

d. Exchanges and attachments of personnel within the affiliation are encouraged.

10. The infantry battalion of the Jamaica Defence Force (collectively referred to as the Jamaica Regiment) are allied to two regiments overseas – The Staffordshire Regiment (The Prince of Wales’s) of the British Forces and the 2^nd Royal Canadian Regiment of the Canadian Forces.

11. The concept of Allied Regiments may be described at best as an informal gratuitous arrangement in which the Units/Regiments participate in any activity from which they benefit and simultaneously fosters goodwill between them.