Historical information
Presented by the Honourable Lord Mayor JT Franklin, CMG, MLC, JP, at a parade held at Karrakatta Camp on 7 April 1929. Consecrated by the Chaplain General COL Riley, OBE, VD, DD.
With the re-activation of the Citizen Military Forces (CMF) following the Second World War, the 11th/44th Infantry Battalion (The City of Perth Regiment) was raised in 1948 as a linked battalion to carry on the identity and traditions of the pre-war 11th and 44th Battalions respectively. The King's and Regimental Colours formerly held by these two battalions were passed on to the new battalion who paraded them in rotation on ceremonial occasions.
Under major reorganisation of the CMF in 1960, all individual infantry battalions that existed at the time within each State were amalgamated to form State regiments, taking effect from 1 July 1960. Thus from that date the 11/44th, 16th and 28th Infantry Battalions were amalgamated to form The Royal Western Australia Regiment. In September 1960, at a ceremonial parade held at Northam Camp, the Colours carried by all former battalions were handed over for safe keeping by the new regiment
These former colours were subsequently laid up in the undercroft at the State War Memorial, King's Park on 29 November 1964. These were transferred to the Army Museum of WA in 1988 as part of the Bicentenary Colours Project.
Physical description
Dark green with gold fringe. In the centre the battalion colour patch of a brown over blue rectangle within a circle inscribed "ELEVENTH INFANTRY - PERTH REGIMENT". Beneath the circle a scroll inscribed with the regimental motto "VIGILANS". The whole surrounded with a wreath of Australian wattle and surmounted by the Crown. In the upper canton the Arabic numeral "11".
Battle Honours emblazoned on the colour:-
SOUTH AFRICA 1899-1902, SOMME 1916-18, POZIERES, BULLECOURT, YPRES 1917, MENIN ROAD, HAZEBROUCK, AMIENS, HINDENBURG LINE, LANDING AT ANZAC, DEFENCE OF ANZAC
References
- Tradition of Regimental Colours Australian Army web site detailing traditions and practice for Regimental Colours