The plaque is now lost but was originally on one of the pillars in the nave. Above it would have hung the colours.
RE-DESIGNATED AS FOLLOWS:-
1856 AS THE 6TH PUNJAB INFANTRY (FRONTIER FORCE)
1904 AS THE 59TH SCINDE RIFLES (FRONTIER FORCE)
1922 AS THE 6TH ROYAL BATTALION FRONTIER FORCE RIFLES (SCINDE)
THE TITLE "ROYAL" WAS CONFERRED FOR
CONSPICUOUS SERVICES IN THE GREAT WAR.
Further Information
Papers held at the Museum of the Royal Army Chaplains Department show only that the above inscription ws recommended and may have been amended. [Ref No. sc/p/75/41]. Another paper shows the Senior Chaplain enquiring whether this plaque should be duplicated on the other side of the church as was the case with the other colours. [Ref No. sc/p/75/48]. The latter was written on 5th November 1929.
A further hand written note at the museum reads:-
"Inscription on mural tablet beneath the Queens Colour Scinde Camel Corps
The standards waving above this tablet are consecrated to the memory of General Sir Charles Napier G.C.B., the conqueror of Scinde, by whose genius the Scinde Camel Corps was formed. Happier than most conquerors he received the affections of the vanquished by a wise and beneficient rule of that noble province which his valour and military skill had won for his country.
The Scinde Camel Corps was raised in 1843, became the 6th Punjab Infantry in 1853 and its designation has since been changed to the 59th Scinde Rifles. The Colours were presented to the Royal Garrison Church, Portsmouth in 1875 by Captain Bruce.
The connection between Portsmouth Church and the Scinde Camel Corps is the fact that Sir Charles Napier is buried in the church - on the pillars on either side of the spot where he lies hang the Colours of the Cheshire Regiment carried at the battle of Meeanee.
The other two pairs of Colours are the Hampshire Regt., the regt. colours being the one that was placed in Taku Fort on the occasion of its capture, and the Royal Fusiliers [...] colours were presented to the church by General Lord FitzClarence a former commanding officer, when he was Governor of Portsmouth. He presented his old battalion then stationed here with new colours, the old ones were given to him and when he left Portsmouth on transfer to Bombay he presented the old colours to the church.
[Signed] Richard Kelly, Brig. Genl."
