The following is being distributed at the request of His Honour, Colonel The Honourable Edward Roberts, Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador, and Honorary Colonel of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment:

First World War regimental colours to be moved from Government House

Members of the general public are invited to attend a ceremony at Government House, 7:30 p.m., Thursday, October 21, that will see the First World War-era King's and Regimental Colours of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment transferred from their current location at Government House to The Rooms. In the same ceremony, replica colours will be unveiled.

Participating in the ceremony will be His Honour, Colonel The Honourable Edward Roberts, Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador and Honorary Colonel of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, a guard comprising officers and non-commissioned members from the First and Second Battalions of the Regiment, and the regimental band.

The Colours will be received on behalf of The Rooms Corporation. When the regiment was disbanded in 1919, the Colours were presented to the Governor and have been in the possession of successive Governors of Newfoundland and, since Confederation, the province's Lieutenant Governors ever since. His Honour will return the Colours to the Royal Newfoundland Regiment during the ceremony, with the Colours then being presented by the Regiment to The Rooms Corporation. In order to prevent further deterioration, the Colours will be removed to The Rooms where they will be preserved in climate controlled conditions and displayed to the public.

For infantry regiments in the Commonwealth, the Colours comprise two flags: The Queen's Colour, a reminder to all ranks of their loyalty and duty to the Sovereign and the Country, and the Regimental Colour, which is a symbol of regimental tradition and of the duty owed by each member of the regiment. Any honours or distinctions earned by the regiment in battle are carried on the regimental colour.

Media contact:
      Lori Anne Legge, Private Secretary, (709)729-4494
      Capt. Michael Pretty, Royal Newfoundland Regiment, (709) 570-4555
      Edward Hollett, Gryphon Public Affairs, (709) 745-5988

2004 10 20                   9:30 a.m.