The word ‘Colours’ is often used to describe not only the Colours of infantry battalions but also the Standards of the Household Cavalry and Dragoon Guards and the Guidons of Dragoons, Hussars and Lancers. Rifle Regiments do not carry Colours. All three types of Colours are direct descendants of the banners of the knights and barons whose followers made up the armies of Crecy and Agincourt. Originally the distinguishing marks of the leaders, they gradually became the means of identifying the units themselves. Thus they came to be regarded as symbolic of the spirit of those who fought under them, and the practice of consecrating them grew up.

During the 17th century Colours were carried by each company, but by the beginning of the 18th century they had been reduced to three in each infantry regiment. These were carried in battle by the three divisions of the regiment – musketeers on the flanks and pike men in the centre. With the abolition of the pike in 1707 the colours were reduced to two the Queen's Colour and the Regimental Colour, which are carried by most Infantry regiments to this day.

In earlier days the colours were trooped through the ranks of their respective regiments prior to an engagement, so that they could be recognised as a rallying point during the course of the battle. Although the Colours are no longer carried in battle as the tangible incentive in the attack or as a rallying point in defence, they constitute the sacred symbol of the Regiments honour and devotion to duty and depict, in the Battle Honours emblazoned on them, the courage, sacrifice and steadfastness of our forbears. 

A stand of colours normally comprises:

A Queen's Colour, usually with the design of the Union Flag with a gold circle in the centre, within which the regiments’s name (and sometimes initials or number) are inscribed;

A Regimental Colour, usually a plain flag in the colour of the regiment's "facings" (traditionally the colour of the lining of the redcoat jacket) or the Cross of St George, with the regiment's insignia in the centre.

 Regimental Colour.
 

Now, however, for the soldiers of Berkshire and Wiltshire things have changed, for traditionally Rifle Regiments do not carry Colours and as such the privilege of carrying them on parades throughout the counties will no longer be available. Those of our predecessor regiments are now only to be seen where they have been laid up.

Here we will show examples of our former Regiments colours, where and when they were presented and when and where they were laid up (where known). It each case we list the battle honours awarded with the ones carried on the colours shown in BOLD TYPE.

They are shown in the order of precedence, followed by the order of amalgamation.