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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: 2november78 on Monday 24 October 11 14:06 BST (UK)

Title: With the Colours
Post by: 2november78 on Monday 24 October 11 14:06 BST (UK)

Hello,

My Gt grandfather Ernest Walters (b.1877, Kensington), worked on the railway as a porter, according to the census.
I have done a quick search and on the records, which I'm looking at, it states that in Aug 11 he was 'with the colours'.

Is this a term used to do with the armed forces?

Title: Re: With the Colours
Post by: ainslie on Monday 24 October 11 14:49 BST (UK)

The term usually applies to regular soldiers who signed for for a number of years with the colours [meaning full-time service] and  a number on the reserve [which meant liability for recall in the event of emergency or war].
The numbers varied at different periods which I leave to an expert to explain.
A