With The Colours

To many of us the term "Colours" means the banners carried by an infantry battalion, adorned with the Battle Honours they have gained in days gone by.
However, "Colours" is also used in military terminology to represent the time a soldier served with a Regiment.
Prior to the war that was to come, men signed on for 12 years service "with the Colours" which could be divided into a number of options for time serving with a Battalion at home or abroad or on the reserve list - ready to be called upon in times of national emergency.
Normally men would serve 7 years with the Colours and 5 years on the reserve, but they could change this for 3 years with the Colours and 9 on the reserve, or alternatively, they could opt to serve to 12 years straight, and promotion to the rank of sergeant could only be obtained if you had served the entire 12 year-period in one stretch.
The 2nd Battalion was running at approx. 590 all ranks in April 1914, but at the drop of a hat, a further 400 men could be called up in a number of hours...

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