Tartan Flashes 1943
 

When the Army introduced printed arm titles in 1943 they quickly agreed that Scottish Regiments could replace them with tartan flashes, examples of which many Scots regiments already wore.

As officially approved items they were available through Ordnance channels and the attached extract from a May 1944 amendment to the 1942 War Vocabulary of Clothing etc list the flashes available at that time.

I am familiar with all of them except that for the 5th Bn Seaforths.

Can anyone illustrate a correct example for this battalion please?

Jon

The caption to the drawing in the attached photo is "Private 5th Seaforths 1944/5 "

P.B.

Peter,

Thank you. I had seen one reference to the sign as being Government tartan and that would seem to support it. The Men at Arms Series I believe?

Jon

Jon,

Similar, The Elite Series by Osprey" Scottish Units in the World Wars ".

Peter.

Would this explain a question I was going to post?

I recently acquired a letter from a Lt in 116RAC with a tantalising snippet regarding their tartan and mention of 'shoulder titles'. Here's the passage from the letter (dated 31 Aug 1943) - 'The CO has kindly (but unfortunately) presented me with enough tartan for shoulder titles & the balmoral which the Major gave me, so tomorrow, for the first time I appear with balmoral in lieu of beret - and do I look a duck or do I?!! It's awful strange but at some time or other I'll manage to wear my beret again, 'cos I'm really attached to it, and mighty proud to wear the RTR badge - even tho' I'm not allowed to do so here. Our badge is a stag's head, with "BYDAND" (Stand Fast) written on it.'

So this does confirm that 116RAC officers, at least, wore the tartan sleeve flash.

Interesting he uses the phrase shoulder title but not if this is a tartan flash as discussed here. Which leads to another couple of questions:
Were the tartan flashes referred to in the Vocabulary, or the ACI that confirmed their use as such, as 'shoulder titles'? and
Would the Gordon Highlanders have worn a flash on L, R or both arms? (Possibly not conclusive for 116RAC but a good start.)
Many thanks.

John