Colours
of the 24th (County of London)
Battalion (The Queens)
Following
the outbreak of the Great War they were lodged with due and
proper ceremony in the Parish Church of St Mary, Newington.
They were restored to the Battalion after the Great War. About
a month after the outbreak of the Second World War they were
again lodged, but this time in Southwark Cathedral. On the return
of the 1/7th (Southwark) Battalion to England in December 1944
from the campaign in North-West Europe, it was decided that
whilst the Battalion was stationed at Yeadon, near Leeds, the
Colours should be regained for use and display at that station.
Accordingly in January 1945 the Colours were taken from Southwark
Cathedral, and they then remained in the Officer’s Mess
at Yeadon. When in December 1945 the Battalion was ordered to
be placed in suspended animation, arrangements were made for
them to be lodged again in Southwark Cathedral; and this was
done the same month. Here they remained until the Regiment was
adopted by the Borough of Southwark, and on 24th February 1951
the Colours were received by the Regiment which marched them
back to the Headquarters in Braganza Street; this was the last
time they were publicly paraded in the streets.
The 7th Battalion became an artillery regiment after the Second
World War, but kept the Colours until they were laid up on 12th
November 1961 at St Mary’s, Newington.
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