1918-20081918-2008 1918-2008 11 July 2008 Presentation of the Queen’s Colours for the Royal Air Force in the United Kingdom and for the Royal Air Force Regiment th Anniversary of the Designed by Command Media Services, HQ Air No. 0209-08CW royal air force . royal air force. ‘Per Ardua Ad Astra’ ‘Per ArduaProgramme Ad Astra’ ‘Per Ardua . Ad Astra’ ‘Per Ardua . Ad Astra’ 1918-20081918-2008 1918-2008 A moth-eaten rag on a worm-eaten pole, It does not look likely to stir a man’s soul; ‘Tis the deeds that were done ‘neath the moth-eaten rag, When the pole was a staff and the rag was a flag. Sir Edward Hamley th Anniversary of the Front Cover Picture: Presentation of the First Queen’s Colour for the RAF in the UK, 26th May 1951 in Hyde Park. royalroyal air air force force ‘Per Ardua . Ad Astra’ ‘Per Ardua . Ad Astra’ ‘Per Ardua . Ad Astra’ ‘Per Ardua . Ad Astra’ Foreword By Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy GCB CBE DSO ADC BSc(Eng) FRAeS FCGI RAF Chief of the Air Staff personnel for the parade who, along with drill instructors and support staff, have come together to provide today’s display. They include not only the Colour Parties for the RAF and RAF Regiment, but also the Standard Parties from sixty-one RAF and RAF Regiment squadrons. All of the individuals that you see on parade have invested considerable It is a great pleasure for me to welcome you to RAF Fairford effort to ensure that they achieve the highest standard of today to take part in this memorable day in the history turn out and drill. Personnel from other parts of our Service of the Royal Air Force, when both the RAF and the RAF are also involved today, and to help celebrate this significant Regiment have the honour of being presented with new milestone in our history you will see later this afternoon Queen’s Colours. This privilege is only bestowed every 5 a mass flypast of aircraft and a number of short displays years, so today will be a unique opportunity for many people. that are representative of RAF aviation through the ages. Outlined elsewhere in this programme are details of why It is also fitting that this ceremony takes place here at RAF Colours and Standards are so important to the Armed Forces. Fairford and is set against the backdrop of the world’s biggest Of course, for our Sovereign to present new Colours is always military air show, the Royal International Air Tattoo. The a significant event and one in which we take great pride. This Tattoo raises considerable sums of money which goes to is especially so today because this is the first time that Her support the RAF Charitable Trust and we are delighted that Majesty The Queen has presented two Colours at the same ‘RAF 90’ has been selected as one of the major themes for time. Furthermore, falling as it does in our 90th Anniversary this year’s Show. I would like to express my personal thanks year, a year that sees the Royal Air Force committed at to the Tattoo organisers and our United States Air Force unprecedented levels on enduring and dangerous operations colleagues, who operate this base, for the tremendous support overseas, today’s ceremony has a special resonance for all of us they have provided to today’s event. in the Service. Whether you are a visiting Chief of an overseas Air Force, Inevitably, mounting a parade such as this requires a representative from Industry, a distinguished guest from tremendous effort and hard work by large numbers of people. elsewhere in the community, a serving member of the Royal RAF stations from across the Service have contributed Air Force, a veteran, a family member or friend, thank you for attending this unique event - and I hope you enjoy the day. royalth Anniversary air of the force royal air‘Per Ardua force . Ad Astra’ ‘Per Ardua . Ad Astra’ 1918-20081918-2008 1918-2008 The Origins of the Colours and Standards of the RAF In December 947 the King approved the granting of Royal practice continued until 88. Men continued to die fighting Colours to the RAF in the United Kingdom. The Colours are to save their Colours and thereby the honour of the regiment. the senior ceremonial flag in the RAF and “fly not only for The last time Colours were carried into battle was in January the living, but for all who have died ….for the King”. The 88 during the st Boer War. Colours, Standards and Battle Honours awarded to the RAF are an outward sign of this close link. Standards and Colours In 943 His Majesty King George VI marked the 25th of the RAF Anniversary of the formation of the RAF by granting to RAF Standards were first awarded in 943. To qualify a operational flying squadrons who met specific qualifications squadron had either to be of 25 years standing, or to have the right to a ceremonial flag to be known as “The Standard”. earned the Monarch’s appreciation through exceptionally The Standard is the embodiment of the squadron and the outstanding operations. Both RAF Regiment and Royal symbol under which it fights. Its presence on parade or at a Auxiliary Air Force units are eligible but not reserve units. ceremony represents that of the Squadron to which it belongs. The general design of The Standard was chosen in 947 and The practice of having Colours and Standards within the was approved by the King in June 950. The first Standard RAF has been inherited from the Army through the Royal to be presented, in April 953, was that of Squadron by Flying Corps connection with the RAF Colours based on the AVM Sir Charles Longcroft who had been the Squadron’s first RAF Ensign. The RAF Regiment follows a similar practice Commanding Officer. to that of the Royal Marines in that it has its own Colour for When a Standard is presented part of the ceremony the RAF Regiment as a whole and also individual Squadron includes a drumhead service of dedication, a practice which Standards. In so doing both the Royal Marines and RAF reflects the blessing of flags first mentioned in a manuscript Regiment show their link to the Army infantry role. of the 4th Century. When a squadron disbands or a Colour The concept of colours and standards is extremely is replaced the flag is not destroyed as was a Roman Eagle old; to the Roman Legions the loss of their Eagle was an unmitigated disgrace. Banners, flags and pennants decorated medieval battlefields. They were used to identify friend from foe and to act as rallying points. The English Civil War saw the first real military flags such as we would recognise today; a period which also say the beginnings of the modern Army. The close personal association of Monarch with the granting of Colours and Standards began to develop during the reign of Charles II. The practice of colonels choosing their own devices did not stop until 743 when a Royal Warrant brought to a halt freedom of design, Colours and Standards became royal rather than personal emblems. This warrant emphasised that the regiment’s loyalty was to the Crown not the colonel. Despite an order given in 8 that Colours and Standards should no longer be carried into battle the ‘Per Ardua . Ad Astra’ ‘Per Ardua . Ad Astra’ 3 9 Colours have been presented to the RAF. Those of the defunct overseas Commands are laid up in the RAF Church of St Clement Danes in London. Each Colour is a 3 foot 9 inch square made of light blue silk with appropriate device or badge and the Royal Cypher and carried on an 8 foot 6 inch pike. The original design for Colours did not include the Royal Cypher but King George VI requested its use to reflect his personal associations with the RAF. Colours are paraded for royal visits or other royal occasions or at events selected by the Air Force Board. A Colour is normally presented by the Sovereign or their representative. The Queen when Princess Elizabeth presented the Colour to the RAF in the United Kingdom on behalf of her father King George VI who was prevented from doing so himself through illness. The presentation ceremony for a Colour also includes a religious aspect. As with Standard presentations there is a drumhead service but whilst a Standard is dedicated a Colour is consecrated. (With thanks to Mary Hudson -RAF Air Historical Branch) but laid up in a cathedral, church, or chapel where they hang until they crumble away. The first King’s Colour was first presented on 6 July 948 by King George VI to the RAFC Cranwell. At the presentation ceremony he defined the symbolism of the Colour. “Firstly it is a King’s Colour, and therefore the symbol of the loyalty which you owe to your Country. Secondly, as the Colour of your Service, it enshrines the history, embodies the traditions and represents the ideals of the Royal Air Force. Finally it belongs to this College, and commemorates the leaders who have gone out from Cranwell and especially those who have laid down their lives.” Colours are usually designated King’s/Queen’s Colours. In all royalth Anniversary air of the force royal air‘Per Ardua force . Ad Astra’ ‘Per Ardua . Ad Astra’ 1918-20081918-2008 1918-2008 Colours and Standards in the Making: From design to completion Ceremonial Office memory of the first aircraft flown by the squadron in France.