Wearing the red sash

[L1A1]

Hello all

I was watching a video on another website of members of the Army Air Corps mounting guard at Windsor Castle.

I noticed that both the sergeant and the warrant officer were wearing red sashes. Until now, I thought that only sergeants and warrant officers of infantry regiments wore the sashes.

Could anyone explain why the AAC SNCO's/WO's do the same?

many thanks

L1A1

[Postwarden]

Tha attached illustration, taken from Regiments at a Glance published in 1960 shows a Sgt of the Glider Pilot Regiment wearing the red sash.

I would suggest the AAC inherited the right to wear it from the GPR?

Postwarden

[Toby Purcell]

Originally Posted by Postwarden

Tha attached illustration, taken from Regiments at a Glance published in 1960 shows a Sgt of the Glider Pilot Regiment wearing the red sash.

I would suggest the AAC inherited the right to wear it from the GPR?

Postwarden

Yes, that is correct. Also the original AAC was a large Corps that officially incorporated the GPR, the Parachute Regt and the SAS, all of whom were first and foremost trained as infantry.

[Mike H]

I don't think the red sash is just an infantrx item. The rmp alsn wore them in the 90s,also army apprentice sgts and wo's as well. Interestingly royal signals provost sgts wore the same sash but in blue.

[jeep]

And, if memory serves, BLACK in the RTR.

[engr9266]

During my time in the RE's the Provost sgt wore a red sash also when a SNCO (SGT/SSGT) was Duty Officer they wore a red sash as I did many times.

[Sunray9]

Royal Marines SNCO's and WO's also wear the Red Sash.

[L1A1]

Thank you so much gents, the connection to the Glider Pilot Regt certainly makes sense.

I did not know about the sashes worn by the Engineers, Signals and RTR, very interesting.

thanks once again for some excellent information

[Michael Dorosh]

To be technical, I was of the understanding that warrant officers' sashes in infantry units were (are) crimson, while sergeants' sashes are red.

[Toby Purcell]

Originally Posted by Mike H

I don't think the red sash is just an infantrx item. The rmp alsn wore them in the 90s,also army apprentice sgts and wo's as well. Interestingly royal signals provost sgts wore the same sash but in blue.

Red sashes are and have been for generations for the infantry and associated Corps (RM (from RMLI) SASC, RAPTC and AAC) only, as per clothing regulations for the Army. All other wearers are doing so illegally. That is not to say that a blind eye is not turned, but the fact remains that it is illegal.

As an example the enclosed photo shows two staff sergeants of an infantry battalion with red sash, but the regimental schoolmaster (who is not infantry) does not wear one. Addititionally a warrant officer staff clerk of the AOC who also does not wear one for the same reason.

[Toby Purcell]

Originally Posted by Michael Dorosh

To be technical, I was of the understanding that warrant officers' sashes in infantry units were (are) crimson, while sergeants' sashes are red.

That is correct Michael. Sergeants sashes are scarlet worsted and warrant officers sashes are crimson silk, although in both cases there are synthetic and or mixed material versions. These differences are not always observed unless the unit quartermaster takes the trouble to ensure that they are, but there are NSNs for both and the more conservative regiments are careful with their correct usage.

The crimson version is very distinctive, in that as well as its more rich colour it has a herringbone weave. Originally it was for Staff Sergeants, who before the creation of warrant officers were the generic group of senior sergeants above the rank of Colour Sergeant.

See enclosed images. The single picture is the warrant officers (originally staff sergeants) version and the pair is the sergeants worsted version.

[Tankie2RTR]

Originally Posted by jeep

And, if memory serves, BLACK in the RTR.

Only the Sgt and S/Sgts on SDO duties wear a Black sash when doing the duty And that is also worn by those from the regiments attached arms doing the duty also.

Our ones are red ones dyed black as ive had to re- dye them some time back. Not one of the best jobs to do while being provost staff

[Toby Purcell]

Originally Posted by Tankie2RTR

Only the Sgt and S/Sgts on SDO duties wear a Black sash when doing the duty And that is also worn by those from the regiments attached arms doing the duty also.

Our ones are red ones dyed black as ive had to re- dye them some time back. Not one of the best jobs to do while being provost staff

I believe that RTR and Royal Signal sashes are unofficial and thus obtained under regimental arrangements. There is no NSN for them because as far as clothing regulations are concerned they do not exist. The only other official sash that I know of is the pale blue one that was approved for the RAF Regiment (only) at some point since WW2.

[L1A1]

Thank you so much gents, I am amazed how much information came out of a simple question. I was totally unaware of the use of sashes by the Signals and RTR.

The reason I asked was that in the Australian Army, only infantry sergeants and warrant officers wear the sash. The only non infantry regiment that does is the S.A.S, but they originally started as part of the Royal Australian Regiment.

Thanks once again

[REMEVMBEA1]

I wonder if it's perpetuating the Redcoat in some way , there's uasually a reason somewhere in antiquity for all these customs.