Battle honour: Encyclopedia II - Battle honour - The Granting of Battle Honours in the Second World War

Battle honour - The Granting of Battle Honours in the Second World War

A special committee known as the Battles Nomenclature Committee was formed in Britain during the Second World War. Comprised of military representatives from all Commonwealth nations, it was the committee's responsibility to advise the Army Headquarters on matters pertaining to the granting of battle honours.

At the end of the war, the committee submitted a report to the Army Headquarters containing:

• The definitions of war theatre, battle, action and engagement
• A detail list of all theatres, battles, actions and engagements throughout the entire war for which regiments may be granted battle honours

A copy of this document was then forwarded to each regiment's honours committee. By army orders a regimental honours committee should be consisted of at least five officers of the regiment. These officers should include the regiment's past and present commanding officers as well as Honorary Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel.

Upon a review of this list and based on the actions undertaken by the regiment during the war, the regimental honours committee may then submit an application to the Army Headquarters to claim their corresponding battle honours. In cases where regiments took part in actions which were not listed, the honours committees may also submit additional claims in their applications as well. Whatever the situation was, it was the honour committee's responsibility to submit evidence to proof that the regiment concerned was worthy of the battle honours they claimed.

Once the final approval was granted in Britain, an announcement will be publicly made. The ceremonial part of the granting of new battle honours will eventually be made in the form of the presentation of new Regimental and Sovereign's Colours to the regiment by the British monarch or an agent of the monarch's (such as the Governor General of Canada).

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "The Granting of Battle Honours in the Second World War", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki