Custom-made cabinets
“A Beautiful Cabinet to Protect Our ‘Colours’”
The Australian Furniture Directory recently completed a commission for a display cabinet for the Air Forces No. 2 Flying Training School. This cabinet was custom-made for the RAAF to display the ceremonial banner of “Colours” of the unit. We asked for some background regarding the history and tradition of the banner that we felt very privileged to have contributed toward through the new cabinet.
Graciously Flight Lieutenant Joshua Tamm and Flight Sergeant Lachie Wray of No. 2 Flying Training School responded.
“It’s a beautiful cabinet and we are very happy with the craftsmanship, although it took us a while to find the concealed light switch.”
The Governor-General’s Banner of No. 2 Flying Training School is made of blue silk and features the Governor-General’s pennant in the top left corner, wattle sprays in the other corners, and the Unit Badge surrounded by the Southern Cross in the centre. The banner is fringed and tasselled in blue and gold and is hung of a staff with an eagle aloft.
The badge of No. 2 Flying Training School incorporates a black swan in full flight in front of an enflamed torch. The torch of learning signifies that No. 2 Training School is a training unit. The black swan symbolises the transition of a student pilot from an ungainly cygnet to a graceful swan, and identifies the squadron with Western Australia, where it was formed on 1st January 1969. The Unit motto, ‘Seek the Heights’, complements the badge.
The different ceremonial flags (generically ‘Colours') of today’s defence forces are a service’s most cherished possession. They are the embodiment of Service traditions, achievements, and history, and are a tangible recognition of the service’s devotion to duty, Sovereign and State. Most military forces around the world have ‘Colours' and attach to them reverence and ceremony similar to those of the Commonwealth Forces.
Brief History of these types of Banner:
Historically, military units would have a Banner or ‘Colours’, which were taken into battle and commonly positioned at the centre of a battle line alongside a Unit Commander. When carried into battle in the centre of the front rank of a formation, they could easily be seen and recognised, thus being used as a rallying point for troops. As the ‘Colours’ were invaluable to a unit, they are often assigned escorts to protect them. You will still see this today. When Number 2 Flying Training School march in ANZAC Day parades, we carry the banner with an armed escort to protect it. This group is known as a Colour Party.
Historically, the Colour Party was comprised of Sergeants. These troops were chose from the most senior and bravest sergeants in the unit, as they generally had to stand in the most exposed places on the field of battle. An important indicator of a victory was generally the capture of the enemy ‘Colours’. Because of this, the colour party became an obvious target and the scene of the most ferocious fighting in the battle.
Generally speaking, the capture of an enemy’s Colour was a sign of a victory in the battle.
Today, the tradition of the Colours is more ceremonial but are still of the utmost importance to the Unit of which they belong. They are usually embroidered with the highest quality materials including silk and gold thread and last many years, as they should not be touched with bare hands and are encased in cabinets for display and protection.
When they start getting a little old the Colours are retired and sent off to be housed for protection for future generations. The RAAF Colours of various Squadrons that have been retired reside in the Chapel and Messes at RAAF Point Cook, considered the birthplace of the RAAF, with some of them nearing 100 years old.”
Our unit is very proud of the Governor General’s Banner, and we are thankful to now have somewhere to appropriately display it.
We at the Australian Furniture Directory now have a greater understanding of the significance of the ceremonial flag. Thank you for trusting us with the design and manufacture of the display cabinet.
All the best for the future and thank you for serving the nation.