From early times, soldiers used their unit’s flags (known as colours) for orientation or as a rallying point during battles and engagements. So that soldiers might more easily identify the flags in the heat of the fight, trooping the colours was created. This involved military officers marching in front of the troops (trooping) and waving the flags (colours). There are varying accounts of when (some accounts say before battle; others say at the end of the day) the practice took place.
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