DCLI Pugaree Flash - Boer War
 

Good afternoon all,

I am trying to find out what ORs had on their pugarees . I was always led to believe the flash was on the left side of the helmet only. I have seen the helmet in the Regimental Museum at Bodmin , which is just a red Cornwall Flash as below., maybe these were just for officers due to cost?? But having seen period photos of ORs they seem to have a bigger flash either side , and i cant seem to see any writing on it. It cant be just a red flash as i believe that was the RAMC pugaree Flash

Was their a written regimental order for the 2nd Duke of Cornwalls on where unit markings should be put on foreign service helmets, if so where would it be ?

I believe they were often made from cut off shoulder straps from the scarlet tunic, and depending on how they were cut could be long or short

Hi Jerry Thanks for your reply, i have heard this , but i have issues with it, would they really cut off there epaulettes , would they even been allowed to ?? seems excessive. I have examined the one in the Regimental museum and its just a thin piece of embroidered cloth

I have seen photos of examples for other regiments seemed to be cut down epaulettes. Peter Suciu says it was often the case in his book military sun helmets of the world p5.

Yes, I have two examples of cut off shoulder straps that were used as flashes in the Boer War or immediate post war. Many regiments apparently had quite a store of old frocks and tunics to use for the purpose. They are definitely from shoulder straps. That said, I am sure some flashes were specially made up, as there must have been a limit to this.

CB

Ahh ok Thanks Jerry , any photos you could share?

I am sure official regs were introduced and as well as cut down shoulder straps, official issues and tailor/field made examples were run up as needed.

I don't have pics of obviously cut down straps to hand but are others from Peter and Stuarts mil sun helmets book

Andrew T is the person who would know -I suspect he has one of the largest if not the largest D C L I collections outside the museum I''ll see if I can find his details Not sure if he is still a member

Military insignia of Cornwall
Plate K no 118-Helmet flash -for the side of the khaki tropical helmet South Africa 2nd battalion such flashes were cut from the shoulder straps of discarded red tunics [bugle/Cornwall ]
Plate K no119 worn as above [no 118 ] by the 2/4 th bn [territorial] on 2nd line garrison duty in India embroidered white on dark green
David

mention here of using cut down shoulder straps

http://www.militarysunhelmets.com/20...e-british-army

Some people dispute that cut down shoulder straps were worn as FSH flashes.
The KORR states on its online be site that regiment wore cut down shoulder straps.

regs listed here for the wearing of flashes or not on fs and khaki sun helmets

https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...ad.php?t=64482

an example of a cut down shoulder strap here on page 3

http://www.lightbobs.com/uploads/9/2..._1882-1967.pdf

These are my examples of Pagri flashes that are definitely cut off shoulder strap titles. The R. Warickshire is likely of Boer war vintage, whilst the Oxford is likely shortly after when stationed in India.

CB

Hi David, thats great , any photos?