Battle Honours

[Julian Whippy]

While looking into the history of Battle Honours I wondered if any one knew of any scandal or upset that occurred surrounding the subject ? Has an honour ever been rescinded ? Also is there an actual list of criteria that a Regiment must perform to win an honour ? Finally can Artillery units or other Corps be given Honours and if so is there a list ?

Thanks

[rflory]

The Royal Artillery has no battle honours. The word "Ubique" means "everywhere". Regards. Dick

[Terry_Reeves]

Battle Honours are only awarded to the Cavalry, Infantry and Royal Tank Regiment. Like the RA however, the Royal Engineers also carry the motto "Ubique".

The awards of battle honours was often a very hit and miss affair, and has been the subject of much discussion. In 1881 the Alison Committee ruled that only victories should be commemorated by honours, although this ruling never stood the test of time. In 1909, the Ewart Committee retrospectively awarded the honour " Gibraltar 1704 - 1705" to eight regiments and "Gibraltar 1779-1783" to four regiments. The same committee, whilst reviewing awards for the South African War 1899-1902 also added Tangier 1662-1680 to the list . As can be imagined there were a number of regiments who missed out, and some who did gain awards, probably should not have been entitled to them.

The end of WW1 saw changes to the way in which these honours were awarded. AO 338 4 Sept 1922 stated that "The guiding principle in the selection and allotment of battle honours will be that Headquarters and at least 50 percent of the effective strength of a unit in a theatre of way must have been present".

The Battles Nomenclenture Committee drew up the official list of battles, for WW1 there were 163, and Regimental committees were set up to decide which honours they would carry on their colours. Because of the practical diificulties of emblazoning these honours on the standards , giudons or Kings Colour, in addition to those that had already been awarded, these were restricted to ten.

Terry Reeves

[hmsk212]

can Artillery units or other Corps be given Honours and if so is there a list ?

I have an Official Copy of "Battle Honours Awarded for the Great War" - Complete List - Issued with Army Orders for February 1925. This does not show any Corps or Artillery Unit other than the Honourable Artillery Company as being awarded an Honour.

The Honours awarded to the HAC were :-

"The Battle Honours which have been selected to be borne on Colours or Appointments are printed in dark type"

Honourable Artillery Company

The Great War - 3 Infantry Battalions and 7 batteries of Artillery

"Ypres, 1915, '17," "Somme, 1916, '18," "Ancre Heights," Ancre, 1916," Arras, 1917, '18," Scarpe, 1917, '18," "Arleux," "Bullecourt," "Pilckem," "Polygon Wood," "Broodseinde," "Poelcappelle," "Passchendale," "Amiens," "Albert, 1918," "Bapaume, 1918," "Drocourt-Queant," "Hindenburg Line," "Epehy," "St. Quentin Canal," "Cambrai, 1918," "Selle," "Sambre," "France and Flanders, 1914-18," "Piave," "Vittorio Veneto," "Italy, 1917-18," "Rafah," "Egypt, 1915-17," "Gaza," "El Mughar," "Jerusalem," "Jordan," "Megiddo," "Sharon," "Damascus," "Palestine, 1917-18," "Aden."

Steve

[Julian Whippy]

Many thanks to all , it seem the answers are "ubique" !!