3 DESCRIPTION

The guidon measures 77 cm (30 in.) by 113 cm (44� in.) and is swallow-tailed (split-fly) (fig. 2). It is made of a single layer of lightweight, tightly woven warpor weft-faced plain weave (rib) silk fabric. No selvage is present, and thus the identification of the rib as warp or weft is undetermined. The silk is now a dull greenish yellow color on the front. It has a central device, a circular appliqu� bearing the royal cipher of King Edward VII encircled by the regiment's full title, all couched in metallic threads on a fuchsia silk ground. An ornate colorful crown embroidered directly on the ground using silk threads surmounts the central device. Fleurs-de-lis embroidered in the same way appear one each to the right and left of the crown. The applied crests or “battle honors” are similar in shape to a scroll or ribbon (fig. 3) and refer to military campaigns. They are located directly underneath each fleur-de-lis and are constructed of heavy metallic embroidery threads. A silk-thread embroidered maple leaf appears on both the lower left and lower right sides. All of these motifs appear on the reverse of the flag as well. The book Old Colours Never Die: A Record of Colours and Military Flags in Canada (Dunbar and Harper 1992) features a before-treatment photograph of the First Guidon.

Fig. 1.

The First Guidon after treatment with its overlay in place. Accession number RCD 43/M233