SOLD BY ORDER OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE 10TH BARON MONSON THE KING'S COLOUR, 96TH REGIMENT OF FOOT (MONSON'S), CIRCA 1761-65 of silk, sewn from twelve white, eight blue and three red pieces to form a Union Flag of the type in use 1707-1800 and embroidered in the centre with a Union Wreath, of roses and thistles, in coloured silks enclosing, in silver wire and yellow silk thread, the title REGT, over the numerals XCVI; a hoist tube of crimson silk; some slight damage in the upper hoist corner and some contemporary patching of small holes 167.7cm; 66in x 198.2cm; 78in 215-222, esp. pp. 217-221. This Colour would have been one of two used by the regiment in the four years of its existence; the other Colour would have been the Regimental Colour, which would have been of the regimental 'facing' colour (buff) with a similar design in the centre and a small Union Flag in the canton. 96th Foot (Monson's) was formed in India early in 1761 from four companies of 70th Foot (Parslow's) and five Independent Companies, all of which had been shipped from Britain for the purpose. Command of the 96th was given to The Hon. George Monson (1730-76), third son of 1st Baron Monson, who had gone to India in 1759 as major in 79th Foot (Draper's) and distinguished himself at the siege and capture of Pondicherry, being promoted lieutenant-colonel in 1760. During 1761 and 1762, the 96th was divided between Bombay and Madras, with a detachment at Tellicherry, and in 1762 Monson served as quartermaster-general during an expedition to Manila in the Philippines. In May 1763, the 96th was united in Madras as part of a force being formed to undertake punitive action against the ruler of the Carnatic city and province of Madura, which was besieged by the force, commanded by Monson, by the end of August. Madura proving a tougher nut to crack than expected, the siege failed, with the 96th being in action against native cavalry and in the besieging trenches for the remainder of 1763 but being withdrawn to Madras in mid-December that year: the small patched holes in this Colour may have resulted from it having been damaged in action at Madura August-December 1763. Monson sailed for home in May 1764 and some elements of his regiment fought at the battle of Buxar in October 1764; given its provenance, it seems probable that Monson brought this Colour home with him. Those officers and men of the 96th who had not elected to remain in India in other regiments, or in the East India Company's service, probably returned to Britain in 1764 and 1765: the regiment is considered as having ceased to exist by 1765. See A. Cormack 2006, pp.