Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research 99/397

THE 105 TH REGIMENT OF FOOT , 1761-1763

131

for Imbrothering the Queens Cypher ribbon and St. Andrews and a large Crown In the Centor With a Large Scroll with ye Queens Royall Highland Regt. ornamented with thissells and rosis firs Battalian for the 2d Battalian In the sam mannor

13.0.0

15.0.0

with the addition of 2 large flaimes for lining the 4 ho ... [illegible]

0.4.0 —————- £89.6.6 ——————

sent to Mr Donaldson 15 of december 1761 Recd 31st March 1763 of George Ross Esqr Eighty Nine Pounds Six Shillings & Sixpence being the amount of the above Bill Wm Nicholson Pall Mall 31st March 1763

Having received the articles mentioned in the Above Accompt, you will please pay the Same and charge them to Acct of Dav: Grame To George Ross Esqr 17 Conduit Street

Though sufficiently detailed as a bill, it is unfortunate that the colour of the flames that differenced the 2nd Battalion’s colours was not mentioned. Other details, such as the colour of the title scrolls and the arrangement of the roses and thistles, as also the precise colouring of Saint Andrew, must also be conjectural but the latter’s representation with his characteristic diagonal cross is traditional. The reconstruction may be considered a satisfactory combination of the elements of the design. 18 Clearly yellow was an acceptable colour for the decoration of the pipe banners attached to the instruments’ drone pipes and it would have provided the necessary contrast for the flames in the colours of the 2nd Battalion. The regimental colour – plain blue with the Union in the upper canton, would have had these flames emerging from the lower, outer corner of the union. The quantity 17 George Ross was evidently the regiment’s British agent in London. According to the 1763 Army List he also served in that capacity to the 7th and 11th Dragoons, the 16th and 17th Light Dragoons, the 3rd Foot Guards and the 53rd, 75th, 78th, 97th and the 103rd Regiments of Foot, as well as the Fencible Men of Argyllshire. In Ireland, the regiment’s agent was Mr. Montgomery of Dublin. 18 I am particularly grateful to Miss Bridget Wright, the bibliographer of the Royal Library, Windsor for providing me with an image of Queen Charlotte’s cypher/monogram – C R – taken from Her Majesty’s bookplate.