On 30 October 1927 the 123rd Overseas Battalion Royal Grenadiers Colours were ceremoniously deposited at St. James Cathedral. The ceremony conducted by Reverend Charles Hedley was attended by 700 officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of the battalion. During the ceremony, a wreath was hung on the Royal Grenadiers’ memorial window on the west wall of the nave. The 123rd Battalion served at Vimy Ridge, Avion, Passchendaele, Amiens, Cambrai, and Mons. During this period 365 men of the Battalion were killed and over 1,000 were wounded.
In earlier times, Colours played a prominent part in many battles. They served to identify units in battle, often marking the focal point of a struggle. Captured Colours were a prized trophy and attracted enemy attention and inspired much gallantry. By the late 19th and 20th Century, however, they were no longer carried in battle, but their status as the heart and soul of a Regiment continued, and the laying up of Colours signifies and helps keep holy the memories of the men who sacrificed their lives.