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REGIMENTAL DISTINCTIONS
The Regimental Title. The full title of The Regiment is The Queen's Lancashire Regiment (30, 40, 47, 59, 81 and 82), but the Regimental numbers are rarely used. The abbreviation is QLR. The short title of The Regiment by which its members usually refer to it, is 'The Queen's Lancashires', which whenever possible is used in preference to the abbreviated form. Commanding Officers and other officers commanding a Regimental or Battalion parade use the form 'Queen's Lancashires'.
The Regiment has a Regular Army battalion, the 1st Battalion, and a number of companies of The Lancastrian and Cumbrian Volunteers, Territorial Army. The abbreviated titles of the two battalions are 1 QLR and LCV respectively.
The Regimental Crest. The Regiment's crest is the Red Rose of Lancaster charged with a Queen's Crown.
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The Regimental Crest |
The Regimental Flag. Equal vertical stripes of black (nearest to the staff), maroon and Lincoln green with the Regimental Crest superimposed on the central stripe. Battalion numbers are in roman numerals next to the staff. Maroon and black were the Regimental colours of the 30th, East Lancashires, Lancashires and Queen's Lancashires in succession since 1878. Lincoln green was substituted for primrose as the third stripe in 1970 to reflect the origins of the 81st (Loyal Lincoln Volunteers). The black stripe also recalls the memory of Wolfe.
The Lancashire Rose. The Lancashire Rose is a single red rose with five petals. The way in which the petals are placed is immaterial. Usually it is represented with two petals at the top with a single barb between pointing upwards, but it is equally correct with a single petal at the top and on our Regimental crest the rose takes this form.
The Regimental Motto. "Loyally l Serve" is compounded from two old Regimental mottoes:
"Loyaute m'Oblige" (Loyalty binds me), the motto of Colonel Albermarle Bertie, who raised the 81st, was adopted by The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment.
"Ich Dien" (I serve), the ancient motto of the Prince of Wales, was adopted by The South Lancashire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Volunteers).
Uniform Embellishments
Facing. As a Royal Regiment, the facing colour, as on the collar, cuffs and epaulettes of full dress uniform, is blue.
Lace. The black stripe in the officers' lace is traditionally said to be in memory of the death of Wolfe at the battle of Quebec, 1759, though it was worn by the 47th Regiment as early as 1751.
Cap Badge.
Cap Badge Backing. The Primrose Diamond worn on soldiers' berets was introduced by the Commanding Officer of 1st Battalion the East Lancashire Regiment at Hamburg in 1945. Primrose (pale yellow) was the facing colour of the 30th Foot 1702-1881 and was carried again in 1916 when 1st Battalion the East Lancashire Regiment wore patches of that colour on their helmets and sleeves at the battle of the Somme. The backing is not worn by officers or by warrant officers class 1.
Lanyard. The maroon lanyard worn by officers, warrant officers, and senior NCOs derives from the East Lancashire Regiment. It was originally worn by the old 59th (2nd Battalion East Lancashires), abolished in 1902 on the introduction of Service Dress, but reintroduced in 1906 at Poona as a unit recognition aid following particularly chaotic formation manoeuvres. The maroon lanyard was worn by the 2nd Battalion throughout the Great War and was subsequently adopted by the whole Regiment and its successors. The three knots are a reference to the Regiment's long naval associations and service under Nelson, whose victories at the Nile, Copenhagen and Trafalgar they commemorate.
Stable Belt. Maroon, introduced in 1958 on the formation of The Lancashire Regiment (PWV). The colour maroon, or a similar shade, was common to all three predecessor County Regiments (the East Lancashire, South Lancashire, and Loyal North Lancashire Regiments) for well over a century.
Buttons. A Lancashire Rose.
Battle Flash. Vertical stripes of black, maroon and green, worn as a patch on the sleeve. Similar insignia was worn by the predecessor regiments on battle dress in both World Wars.
Regimental Rank/Title Slip-Ons. These appear in two versions:
The Regiment has since 1970 worn olive green slip-ons as epaulettes on the jersey heavy wool pullover, embroidered in maroon with the title "Queen's Lancashire" and, for officers, the appropriate badge of rank.
In 1996 a DPM version was introduced, worn as a gorget by all ranks on the front of the combat jacket and embroidered in maroon with the Regimental title and rank.
REGIMENTAL ITEMS OF CIVILIAN DRESS
Regimental Ties:
County: Equal diagonal bands of black, maroon and green.
Town: Maroon, with a small Regimental crest at regular intervals.
Blazer Badges: An embroidered Regimental crest.
Blazer Buttons: Burnished gilt, bearing the Regimental crest.
Regimental Colours. The colours of the Regiment are black, maroon and Lincoln green. The nearest colours in paint in the British Standard Colours as issued by the British Standards Institution are:
Maroon - BSC 541
Lincoln Green - BSC 227
Regimental and Battalion signboards are painted in equal vertical stripes of black, maroon and Lincoln green with white lettering. Regimental sports clothing also uses this colour range, plus primrose. | 
