GARTER FLASHES
Hi all,
I have always been fascinated by the things that make British Soldiers look different from each other, those identifying marks and traditions that make British Army uniform ....... well not uniform. Badges are of course the main area for differences, but since the introduction of DPM in the late 1960's and the withdrawal of the Army from hotter climes more obvious distinctions have been slowly lost. The stable belt remains and is still worn even with MTP and also lanyards, but the loss of No1 Dress, Khaki Drill, Jungle Green and even the reductions in No 2 Dress means that things like Coloured Side Caps, Hose Tops, Garter Flashes have virtually disappeared. I have just posted a small album with the very few Garter Flashes that I have, RAOC, RAC, RAEC etc and wonder if any members have any other examples that they might like to add to the album hopefully making a record for anybody that might be interested in the future. Cheers Sean |
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ROYAL ENGINEER hose top flash's. hope these help?
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OOP'S Should have looked at album first. :eek:
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Hi Jerry
Thanks for that, these things are quite hard to find now for anyone that's interested. I have included a pair of RE ones in the album, have a look at the Malay RE ones Cheers Sean |
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I collect Rhodesian army items including garter tabs. The ones I have are attached for interest.
Rh Arty = Rhodesian Arty, RhASC = Rhodesian Army Services Corps, RLI = Rhodesian Light Infantry, RRR = Royal Rhodesia Regt, NRR = Northern Rhodesia Regt |
That's great very interesting, would be OK if I copy and paste them into the album and name you as the contributor ? In that way there is a source of reference for any interest in these things
Thanks again Sean |
Sean, You are most welcome to use the images. Glad they are of interest. Regards. Dudley
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Kings Liverpool Regiment
Never seen examples for the Kings Liverpools but they are described in the regiments Dress Regulations under "Officers Pt.II- Tropical Dress"-
(e) Leg wear (ii) Flashes of Regimental colours with maroon flash on top of, and to the front of, the blue; showing 1 1/2 inches below the bottom of the turned down hosetops. P.B. ( Would be interested in acquiring a pair if anyone comes across them ) |
Thanks Peter, when you think how long battalions and units spent east of Suez, and even Cyprus, Malta and Libya you would thought there would be loads of photos of chaps in khaki drill shorts and garter flashes, but as they were probably optional and an added expense most probably didn't bother, my RAOC ones came from an uncle who retired in the 1970s yet my father who served in places like Aden from where we have hundreds of photos never wore them. Bit like side hats I suspect.
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When I was in coloured sidecaps were optional and if you wanted one you bought your own but there were regiments where they weren't worn by junior ranks. The garter tabs on the other hand were issued along with hosetops of regimental colour, in REME we wore navy blue hose tops and a red and yellow garter tab. The RA wore khaki hosetops and although I can't remember I'd guess at red and blue flashes.
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I believe Garter flashes were also used to differentiate different Royal Marine units - different colours for different Commandos from memory with tabs broadly matching lanyard colours - I think it may have been a post war practice. I collected some a few years ago now, but can not place them unfortunately. Hopefully someone will be able to illustrate them although I can not find any mention of them on the rmhistorical.com site, or in John Rawlinson's RM Dress distinctions book. Ones I recall were a) two red tabs, b) two light blue tabs, and I think c) two white tabs - all double tabs. I am pretty sure they looked like a swallow tails, with white band for around calf ...
Mike |
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40 Cdo. RM Light Blue. 41 Cdo. RM Yellow. 42 Cdo. RM White. 45 Cdo. RM Red. HQ and Sigs Sqdn 3 Cdo. Bde RM Green. Ritchie. |
Thank Mike & Ritchie that's great, I wonder if anyone has any examples they can share pics of?
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I just found the ones I have - actually a bit different than I recalled but here they are (I find it is black (not white) band for calf - of fairly stiff elastic)
White - No.42 (RM) Cdo Red - No.45 (RM) Cdo Ritchie (or anyone else) - Any help with dating would be much appreciated All the best Mike |
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Keith |
Many thanks Mike, would it be ok if I add your pics to the album?
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Hi Keith yes you right about the British ones have a look at my album
Regards Sean |
Sean
By all means use the images in your album, it will help make a useful resource. I thought I had seen light blue ones but evidently not. Hopefully there are others out there. As you say, a neglected aspect of uniform distinction. Mike |
Irish Guards.
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Irish Guards pipers saffron flash.
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152 (North Irish) Regiment RLC Pipers.
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Red flash worn by piper. Comes as a double flash left (back shown). But separated to make a pair. Photos show the double flash worn when the band was RLC.
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That's great can I add these to the album as a point of reference for others? I als remember seeing pipers from the UDR in Sennelager wearing saffron would they have been the same pattern as the Irish Guards?
Regards Sean |
Garter Flash
Sean no problem using the pics. Most Irish regiments wore saffron flashes. Thought there might have been some minor variation to shape and size. The Royal Irish Regiment pipers wear red.
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Dug these out.
The top 3 courtesy of a 41 RM Commando mechanic/electrician. Cannot recall his explanation unfortunately, after all these years (1977) I believe they pertained to a specific company. Bottom 2 are different-sized R. Signals, also acquired locally. Note that both are reversed. GTB |
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Finally tracked these down in a box of the items I do not collect. I assume these a R Hampshires? 4 in x 1 in. Mike
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I also have a pair of Dark Blue which I am not sure about (reported to be early RAOC but changed when Dark Blue hose tops were adopted) |
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If you want I can take a better picture of a complete pair and I will try and track down some other New Zealand Examples. Cheers Rob Attachment 179911 |
That's great Rob, can I add them to the album so it becomes a reference guide for others?
Cheers Sean |
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picked these up recently, RA from the colours and from what is shown in this thread. They seem a good match to the aussie set shown.
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Royal Anglian type
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Here are some royal Anglian ones
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Ahhh thanks for showing, ive got the one on the far left which I thought might be something to do with RAC but mystery solved.
Cheers Sean PS can I add your photo to the album as a reference.? https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...p?albumid=2985 |
RAMC were dull cherry.
Chris |
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My father's Welch Regiment garters from when he was in Cyprus 1959/60
Feel free to add to your album David |
Many thanks David that's great
Regards Sean |
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Sherwood Foresters
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Fab MH331 can I put your image in the album?
Regards Sean |
Certainly Sean
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These are Blue/Yellow or Yellow/Blue, would that be RASC?
Rob |
Could be Rob, are they for sale?
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