This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website

United Kingdom: Royal Artillery Association

Last modified: 2003-04-26 by rob raeside
Keywords: united kingdom | ministry of defence | artillery | royal artillery association |
Links: FOTW homepage | search | disclaimer and copyright | write us | mirrors



[Royal Artillery Association flag]

See also:


The Royal Artillery Association site shows its flag.
Bruce Berry, 17 July 2001

This is the ordinary camp flag of the Royal Artillery. A similar flag appears at the Royal Artillery web page. I think the Association's flag could well be based on this pattern, but will have the name of the association and the branch name on it somewhere as well.
Ian Sumner, 18 July 2001

Thanks to the Royal Artillery Museum, I have got a copy of the section of the 2002 regimental standing orders that covers flags, so here is the official word on the subject:
The Royal Artillery standard is for ceremonial use only. It is to be flown at R.A. Headquarters, including those of formations, units and sub-units, RA establishments and schools, during: visits by Royalty, visits and inspections by the Master Gunner, the Colonel Commandant and the Director Royal Artillery. It is 13.5 inches x 36 inches for a 10 feet flagpole, 18 inches x 48 inches for a 16 feet flagpole, and 36 inches x 96 inches for a 35 feet flagpole.
(Note: the RA standard is the long heraldic style standard I referred to above. It has the RA flag at the hoist, and the fly is red over blue with a red, yellow and blue 'compony' edge. Across the fly are two white stripes with the regimental motto 'Quo fas et gloria ducunt' in black. If the unit wears a formation sign on its uniform then this can be displayed on the standard; also, if it was converted from another arm-of-service, then it can bear its old regimental badge on the standard as well. The standard was designed by Garter King of Arms, and introduced generally in 1945.)

The RA flag is the blue over red flag with the gun badge as shown. The red is specified as UJ red (British Standard 20C49); the blue as dark royal blue (04D45). It is for day-to-day use at all RA headquarters, units and establishments. The three sizes are 24 x 36, 36 x 54 and 48 x 72.

Regimental flags are now laid down by regimental HQ, and the Museum sent me some sketches of those the Regular Army.

The following regiments use the red over blue flag, with the regimental number in gold Roman numerals just below: 12th, 14th, 16th, 26th, 39th and 47th.

The 4th Regiment uses the letters RA doubled, reversed and intertwined, with the regimental number in gold Roman numerals just below, and a crown above.

The 5th Regiment uses the letters RA, etc. on a light blue flag, with in addition the inscription 5th REGIMENT in white above, and ROYAL ARTILLERY in white below.

The 12th Regiment uses the letters RA etc., on a flag of St. George.

The 19th and 40th Regiment use the letters RA, etc. on a flag of St. Andrew.

The 22nd Regiment uses the Welsh flag without any artillery symbols at all.

The 29th (Commando) Regiment uses the letters RA, etc. on a 'commando green' background.

The 32nd Regiment uses the letters RA, etc on a dark blue background.

The 1st, 3rd and 7th (Parachute) Regiments, Royal Horse Artillery have a dark blue flag with the RHA badge in the centre. The centre of the badge is blue for the 1st, red for the 3rd, and maroon for the 7th. The 3rd and 7th Regiments also have the regimental number in gold Roman numerals below the badge.

I've no info. on the flags of Territorial Army regiments.

Ian Sumner, 24 March 2003

[Royal Artillery Association standard]

I have come across a photo of a standard. It is that of 667th Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery T.A. from the early 1950s (raised 1947; disbanded 1954).

The regimental number is white; the grenade is yellow. The shield is the formation sign of the regiment's formation, 100 Army Group Royal Artillery. The shield is 1 a red rose, barbed and seeded proper on white, 2 white and light green stripes, 3 red, 4 blue.

Artillery regiments that wished to place an old badge on their standard did so in place of the grenade. I have seen a sketch of the standard of 151st (Ayrshire Yeomanry) Field Regiment R.A, T.A. (dates between 1940-46) with the badge of the Yeomanry in the fly.

In 1947, the regiment converted back to an armoured unit, and the regimental guidon now bears a small Royal Artillery badge. But that is a story.

Ian Sumner, 24 March 2003