Media Advisory: Royal Presentation of New "Colours" to Local Army Regiment

ST CATHARINES, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Sept. 13, 2012) - Media are welcome to a historic military event involving a formal parade, a gun salute and War of 1812 re-enactors, as HRH The Princess Edward, Countess of Wessex, GCVO makes a formal presentation to the Lincoln and Welland Regiment at 9:30 a.m. on September 15th at Queenston Heights, Niagara-on-the-Lake.

The history of distinctive symbols to identify military units is as old as war itself. Regimental colours, when carried into battle, served two practical purposes - identification and place of concentration. A commander observing a battle could see where all of his units were located by looking for the colours, while soldiers of a unit would use the colours as a rallying point.

The term "The Colours" is descriptive of the infantry flags which evolved in the British Army, and refers to the two flags of a battalion, the senior of which is called the Queen's (or King's) Colour, and the junior, the Regimental Colour. Together they are referred to as a "stand" of colours.

This Saturday, the Lincoln and Welland Regiment will receive the Queen's Colour, to replace their King's Color, in addition to a new Regimental Colour which will contain the names of all Battle Honours awarded to the Regiment and will contain the recently awarded Battle Honour Niagara. The parade is happening on the very battlefield of Queenston Heights where the Lincoln Militia fought with General Brock in the War of 1812.

Notes to editor / news director: Interested media are asked to contact Captain Chris Canavan, Adjutant of the Lincoln and Welland Regiment, by email at Christopher.Canavan@forces.gc.ca, or by phone at 905-357-8791. A media zone and program has been established for video and photos.