Regimental Colour, British Swiss Legion, 1855-1856.
This flag is the Regimental Colour of the 2nd Battalion, 1st Regiment of Light Infantry of the British Swiss Legion. The British Swiss Legion was one of many troops which were raised following the Foreign Enlistment Act of December 1854. This Act authorised the raising of troops abroad to address the problem of the shortage of men in the British Army. 

The 1st Regiment of Light Infantry (of two battalions) was formed in August 1855 and was sent to the East in November 1855. Realising that it would be impossible to hut them in the Crimea, they wintered in Turkey at Smyrna (Izmir), where they remained until peace was declared in April 1856. The entire Swiss Legion, which numbered 3,150 officers and men, was then disbanded.