Ian Sumner

In 1914, Charles Delvert joined the 101st Infantry. A little history. Because of the changes that have taken place since 1789, the French rule is that the 'current' regiment is the bearer of the traditions of every previous regiment that bears the same number, irrespective of whatever amalgamations and disbandments occurred. Thus the 101st is the descendant of all infantry units with the number 101.  The 101st was originally raised in 1787 by the Prince-Bishop of Liège from the French-speaking parts of the Austrian Netherlands. Entering French service, it was named Royal-Liégeois. In 1791, all the old names were abolished, and the regiment became the plain 101e Régiment d'Infanterie. Even this title smacked too much of the past, and in 1793, regiments were abolished, to be replaced by 'half-brigades'. This came too late for the 101st because the whole regiment deserted in 1792 and joined the Austrians. So in 1793 at Besançon, the 101e Demi-Brigade de Bata...

So, what are we all doing for Mazagran Day? Mazagran is a small town 4km to the south of Mostaganem, in Algeria. On 3rd February 1840, a large force of fighters under Mustapha ben Tami, one of Abd el-Kadr's principal lieutenants, swept into the town. The size of ben Tami's force is unclear. One (French) account says 10,000 ('by the most moderate accounts'); another (also French) says 1,500-2,000. The French garrison consisted of 123 men from the 10th Company, of 1st Battalion, Infanterie Légère d'Afrique, commanded by Captain Hilaire Lelièvre. General Baron Guéhénec , the commander of the Oran Division, published an account of the action in an order of the day: 'On 3rd February, between 10 and 11 in the morning, a column of eight hundred men attacked the redoubt at Mazagran ... The town, unoccupied, was captured by the enemy in an instant; a lively fire broke out in several places; the enemy artillery opened fire. Night put an end to the fighting. ...

Voting has started on choosing a new flag for the West Riding of Yorkshire. Go to http://andystrangeway.wordpress.com/west-riding-flag/ and make your choice now! Voting closes on 23rd April, and the winning design will be announced on 24th May. Edit: And the winner is ... A! Congratulations to the designer, Michael Faul A  B  C D E F

The voting has already started to choose a new flag for the East Riding of Yorkshire. Hurry along to http://andystrangeway.wordpress.com/east-riding-flag/  to cast your vote. The finalists are: A B C D E Edit: the voting has now closed. The winner will be announced on 15 April Further edit: the winner is D, designed by Trevor and Thomas Appleton. The flag is now registered with the Flag Institute . F

The voting has opened for a new flag for the North Riding of Yorkshire. Get along to http://andystrangeway.wordpress.com/north-riding-flag/ to cast your vote. The flags on the shortlist are A B C D E F Edit: voting has now closed, and the winning design of the new flag will be announced on May 1st, and will be unfurled for the first time at the Strathmore Arms, Holwick on May 4th. Edit the second: And the winner is .... [roll of drums] ... D! Congratulations to the designer, Jason Saber, from Kent. See Andy Stangeway's site . 

The Yorkshire flag - which flag will represent the North Riding? And so to Hovingham, to help select the shortlist for a new flag for the North Riding of Yorkshire . Five judges will select six flags from all those submitted; the public will then be given a chance to vote for the one they prefer. Voting opens on 6th March.

The Yorkshire flag - what will replace it in the East Riding? And so to Hull to help select the shortlist for the competition to select a new flag for the East Riding of Yorkshire. Six designs will be selected from the entrants by a panel of judges that includes representatives from the East Riding Society, the Flag Institute, Beverley Civic Society and the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. Edit: just returned from Hull, shortlist duly selected. There were some very interesting and striking designs, using lots of flair and imagination. We selected the six best, and the voting will be launched on BBC Radio Humberside on Monday 25th February, so that everyone can have their say.

British colours and standards 1747-1881 1: cavalry (Elite 77) by Ian Sumner, artwork by Richard Hook (Botley, Osprey, 2001; ISBN 1841762008) British colours and standards 1747-1881 2: infantry (Elite 81) by Ian Sumner, artwork by Richard Hook (Botley, Osprey, 2001; ISBN 1841762008) The flags, colours and standards of the British Army between the regulations of 1747 and the reorganisations of 1881, in the characteristic Osprey style. A wide variety of regiments are represented in the photographs, coloured artwork and line drawings, supported by extensive tables of battle honours. Both regular and volunteer regiments are covered. Much of the material is based on original research and presented here in print for the first time. The author is the Librarian of the Flag Institute, the country's leading authority on vexillology.