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Friday, 4 April 2025

Colours of the pro-Hanoverian Volunteer Unit the Yorkshire Blues in the '45

Various volunteer units were raised by "patriotically inclined" pro-Hanoverian nobility, gentry and clergy during the '45 and the Yorkshire Blues was one such unit. The money raised by the patriotic association in York, £31,420, funded four companies of infantry, each of 70 men plus sergeants, corporals and drummers. The unit lasted about four months. The name described their uniform, which was blue faced with red and of fairly simple cut and design without lapels.




This blog post: https://defendingthelegacy.blogspot.com/2017/01/flag-of-yorkshire-blues-regiment-in-1745.html put me onto a contemporary print, which unusually details the design of the regiment's flags, although it does not give the colours used. The coat of arms of York in the centre is known but the field of the flags is not. That blog post suggests blue, which is as good a colour as any and probably more likely than most, and I have followed that in my reconstructions of the flags. I have also produced an entirely speculative union flag design; it is quite likely that no such flag was carried but I like to be thorough in these matters! I have also shown the design with the inscription plus one without; the contemporary print shows both and it is not clear if both were used or the design with the inscription is entirely the fantasy of the print maker. One can never be sure in these matters!

The unit saw little action, mostly being used for garrison or escort work, as far as I can tell, but I would be keen to hear more if anyone does have more information.

12 comments:

  1. Another fantastic set of flags David.
    Thanks for sharing.

    Willz.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Willz. :-) I was lucky with these that we have a contemporary source of information; not very common!

      All the best,

      David.

      Delete
  2. This is fascinating! As suggested by the old Rupert Holmes tune (the Pina Colada Song), I never knew. . .

    Kind Regards,

    Stokes

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Stokes. :-) I've always found the 45 a bit depressing but the flags are much less so! ;-)

      All the best,

      David.

      Delete
  3. That's a lovely blue there David and a nice bit of history too. All these volunteer units from the '45 and the Napoleonic era are great, and full of wargaming potential for 'what if?' invasions etc.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Steve. :-) Yes, I agree; those sort of units are a great fund of unusual and varied designs, ripe for use in all sorts of interesting ways!

      All the best,

      David.

      Delete
  4. A terrific flag and what a boon for Jacobite Rebellion wargamers.
    Alan Tradgardland

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Alan. :-) I still have some flags of the 45 to depict yet so watch this space!

      All the best,

      David.

      Delete
  5. Another fascinating flag from a very interesting regiment, great work as always David.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Donnie. :-) I shall do the cavalry standard for the Yorkshire Blues soon too, plus a very speculative set for the short-lived 71st Foot - have to finish some late 17th century Dutch flags first!

      All the best,

      David.

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  6. Replies
    1. Thank you, Ray. :-) The cavalry standard should follow sometime soon...

      All the best,

      David.

      Delete

Saturday 6th June 2020 I've decided to allow comments from Anonymous Users but I'll still be moderating posts, as I'm sure the spam will probably flood in now! We'll see...