Battle Honours
The regulation Colours presented to all four Battalions on 18 June 2010
Until 1914, all battle honours awarded to an infantry regiment, less Rifles, were emblazoned on the Regimental Colour. In 1924 regiments were allowed to emblazon 10 Great War battle honours on the King's Colour. In 1956 they were authorised to emblazon a further 10 from the Second World War on the, by then, Queen's Colour, 2 battle honours from the Korean War were also authorised for the Regimental Colour.
To accommodate the accumulation of amalgamated honours, post 1958 regiments were authorised to emblazon up to 40 honours on both colours, still in accordance with the split between battles of the two world wars and other battles. The total has since been increased and 43 honours is the permitted maximum on the Queen's Colour and 46 honours is considered to be the maximum which can be carried on a Regimental Colour.
THE QUEEN'S COLOUR
On amalgamation, the Yorkshire Regiment boasted 75 Battle Honours from the two world wars. Several of these were awarded to two or more of the antecedent regiments and so it was possible to reduce this figure to 55. This meant that with a maximum of only 43 allowed they were reduced by a further 12. This was achieved by taking recommendations from antecedent regiments and thus we now have those Battle Honours which best carry forward our Golden Thread. Although there is a reduction of the total to be incorporated onto the Colour it is important to clarify that no Battle Honours have been 'lost'; all of them will appear in the Army List but only 43 can be carried on the Colour.
THE REGIMENTAL COLOUR
The design of the Regimental Colour was approved by the Regimental Board who agreed that there would be identical colours for each battalion (less the distinction of battalion numbers). The use of the Cross of St George as a background, as for PWO and DWR, was approved. Garter King at Arms, the Inspector of Regimental Colours, and PS 12 (A) all approved use of this form as it would be unique to the Regiment. This also has the additional advantage of conforming to the Honorary Colours that are carried by the 3rd Battalion. It is permitted to carry 46 non-World War Battle Honours on the Regimental Colour as follows:
OTHER DISTINCTIONS
Four antecedent emblems are placed on the Regimental Colour - the White Horse of Hanover in the top right corner; the Star of Brunswick bottom left; the Dannebrog Cross bottom right and the Elephant & Howdah bottom centre. The appropriate Battalion Roman Numeral is placed in the top left corner.
THE HONORARY COLOURS
The award of the Honorary Colours to the 76th Foot was made by the Governor General of India, in 1803, for services in India by the Honorable East India Company and in particular for their part in the capture of the fortress of Ally Ghur and capture of Dehli. On the formation of the 33rd/76th Foot in 1881, the stand of Honorary Colours from the 76th were retained by the 2nd Battalion The Duke of Wellington's Regiment until their disbandment in 1948 when the 1st Battalion adopted them. These square colours are replicas of those presented in the nineteenth century and Battle Honours listed correct up to 1881. These colours are unique and an important part of DWR and now YORKS heritage. The Honorary Colours are carried by 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment And maintained at Regimental expense.
HONORARY DISTINCTIONS
The Leeds Rifles - The Badge of the Royal Tank Regiment, with dates 1942-45 and scrolls: North Africa and Italy.
The 8th Battalion The West Yorkshire Regiment - Awarded The Croix de Guerre for their part in the capture of Montainge de Bligny in 1918.