'The Colours of the 58th Regiment of Foot Presented on May 10th 1860. Last carried in action at Laing's Nek on Jan 28th 1881'

Blank certificate to be presented to a soldier on leaving the 2nd Battalion, The Northamptonshire Regiment. Published by Gale and Polden Limited, 1930 (c).

The Battle of Laing's Nek took place during the Transvaal War (1880-1881). Here the 58th (Rutlandshire) Regiment of Foot suffered severe losses assaulting a formidable hilltop position occupied by Britain's enemies, the Boers. Amongst the 74 men of the regiment who were killed that day were the two commanding officers and one of the colour bearers, Lieutenant Lancelot Baillie. This was the last time that the colours were carried into battle by the British Army.