According to author Anthony Baker " The award of battle honours is primarily a system by which the Sovereign recognises the presence of a regiment and its contribution to, a particular battle. Secondly, it provides a means for that regiment to publicise its past glories by displaying the names of these battles. An Honour is normally the name of a battle, the word battle being used in its broadest sense as a fight or hostilities between opposing armies or elements of them, shown on a regiment's Colours for all to see."
The first Battle Honour to be awarded to the Britich Army was actually for campaign service, not a battle, in Tangier between 1662 and 1680. The 1st Royal Dragoons and the 2nd Foot (the Queen's Regiment) were garrsioned there for eighteen years from 1662 but an increase in skirmishing activity led to the 1st Foot Guards, the Coldstream Guards and the 1st Foot (the Royal Scots) being sent out there during the last year of the period. The regiment therefore has the distinction of being granted this first honour.
The regiment has taken part in almost every major campaign and has been involved in many battles since its formation in 1656. it has been awarded seventy-eight Battle Honours, or Honorary Distinctions to give them their correct description. Forty-five are borne on the Colours of the Regiment. Below are listed the campaigns and battles that the regiment has been involved in since Tangier.
Honours 1680-1902 |
Honours 1914-1918 |
Honours 1940-1991 |