Specialist manufacturer makes regimental history for New Zealand’s army

A Haworth-based manufacturer has made history by creating ceremonial flags bearing the King’s new insignia for the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment.

Wyedean Weaving’s embroiderers spent 900 hours working on the new Regimental and King’s Colours for the 2nd/1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment.

Both ceremonial flags were consecrated and presented on behalf of King Charles during a ceremony this month which was attended by the Governor General of New Zealand, Government officials and military commanders in chief. 

Wyedean’s business development director, Rosie Wright, said: “As a family business it has been an immense privilege to play our part in such a historic moment for the New Zealand Defence Force.

“The last time a King’s Colour was presented to a New Zealand army battalion was before the Second World War, so it was an honour for Wyedean to be trusted with the responsibility of creating the new Colour bearing King Charles’ Tudor Crown insignia, as well as the new Regimental Colour which is emblazoned with the regiment’s battle honours.”

The consecration took place at Burnham Military Camp, the largest army base in New Zealand’s South Island, just three weeks after members of the battalion travelled to the National Army Museum in London to collect the Colours from the Wyedean team. 

Commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Sam Smith of the 2nd/1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, said: “It was an incredible privilege and honour to receive the Colours from the amazing team at Wyedean.

“The level of detail and intricate craftsmanship on the Colours truly make them works of art and they now have a special place within our Battalion’s history.

“To see them presented in front of our battalion and the nation by the Governor General of New Zealand was incredible and they will be flown proudly for many years. Wyedean and the New Zealand Army are now intricately linked through our shared history.”

The two new Colours were hand stitched by Wyedean embroiderers Aileen Henderson, Wendy Hatton and Susan Jones and are the first in New Zealand to be updated with the King’s insignia.

It is a process which can only begin after the designs have been submitted to The King for approval.

Wyedean was founded as a manufacturer of braid and military uniform accoutrement in Haworth in 1964 by David Wright who ran the business with his father Frank Wright, a former textile machine designer who was awarded an MBE in recognition of his invention of a new yarn spinning technique called centrifugal spinning. 

Last year, Wyedean secured the seven-year, £5m contract to replace British Armed Forces’ Colours and Standards with the new King’s insignia and the Tudor Crown.