Quote:
Originally Posted by iaindh
Colin Owen has the NMR, 3rd MR, "3" with helmet flash worn from 1914; this is when the SAMR were formed
I must say though, that Dudley Wall also dates the flash to 1923.
Having said that most helmets in the photos in the book "Urgent Imperial Service," have flashes on them.
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Helmet flashes were certainly worn in WW I, but they weren't standardised. The standard pattern for ACF units, with provincial colour (in this case, blue for Natal) at the top and branch colour (in this case, grey for mounted rifles) at the bottom, was introduced in 1923. It's possible that the NMR wore a patch of green over brown only before 1923, but that's a guess on my part.
I wonder if the regimental history, 'Rough but Ready', by E. Gutsche, throws any light on the subject. Unfortunately, i don't have a copy to hand to check.