As for the Gloucestershire Regiment, it began as Colonel Gibson's Regiment of Foot, in 1694 - though nowhere near Gloucestershire, but down in Portsmouth. Its first foray into battle came in 1705, during the War of Spanish Succession, which you probably think you have not heard of, but it included such battles as Blenheim and Ramillies.
For almost another fifty years, almost every time a new colonel came along the name was changed, but in 1742 all this changed and the regiment was renamed to the 28th Regiment of Foot.
In August 1782, there was another, even bigger change, for it was decided to link all our regiments with counties, though many of them had no connection with the county to which they were linked. The idea was that local men would be more likely to join a local regiment, should conflict occur. Therefore our regiment was renamed to the 28th (North Gloucestershire) Regiment of Foot, and given a companion, the 61st (South Gloucestershire) Regiment of Foot - this having been formed in 1758 as the 61st Regiment of Foot.
Our original Churchman reference book, issued in 1948, lists the set as :
- 123. Aug. 1912. 50 REGIMENTAL COLOURS AND CAP BADGES. (Untitled series). Size 2 11/16" x 1 7/16" or 67 x 36 m/m. Numbered 1-50. Fronts lithographed in colour. Backs in blue, no descriptions. Printed by Mardon, Son & Hall. Also issued by Player.
The Player set was actually issued earlier, in 1910, and it comes in three versions - one covers Regular Regiments and has a blue back , whilst one covers Territorial Regiments and can be found with both blue or brown backs. I thought we had shown one of those before but will have to hunt tomorrow. And I will also try to find out how the cards were selected for our Churchman version - unless anyone knows and can save me hunting.
As usual, the description in our World Tobacco Issues Index is shorter, just :
- REGIMENTAL COLOURS AND CAP BADGES. (A). Sm. Nd. (50).. See H.73. ... C82-26
And it remains the same in our updated version, save a new card code, of C504-340.