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.

[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 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.

[Carnforth]

Please accept my apologies for resurrecting a long dormant thread and also this being a rather long-winded first post from a newly registered, but long term, reader of the forum.

Originally Posted by Toby Purcell

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.

I do so agree with the above (less the AAC bit ! )

There is so much mis-understood, even in today's army regarding the Infantry Sgts Sash.
One is the myth that passing the Guards Drill Course qualifies the wearer- like many army myths, it falls down on logic. Do they not wonder that, if it's a qualification of the course, why do some attendees start the course wearing the Infantry Sgts sash, like, er infantry sgts?

Another myth (one that unfortunately seems to have become a reality) is that you are allowed to wear the sash if you are on public duties even though it is not part of your regiment or corps uniform regs.

The Royal Signals are culprits in this, despite the RSigs being a 'mounted' corps by descent and wearing the wide 'cavalry' stripe on their trousers and subalterns wearing spurs and cross-belts.

I've also seen a video of Royal Artillery Sgts/WO2s (probably TA/Reserve)wearing the sash at a Palace Guard mounting, something that would put old school RSMs at the former RA Depot, Woolwich in danger of apoplexy.

It is quite true that the Army Air Corps has Glider Pilot Regiment antecedents but they also inherit the Royal Artillery distinctions via the Air Observation Pilots.
I would suggest that the Army Air Corps do not have the infantry sash as part of their uniform for the following reasons;
1 The AAC are not included in the Army Clothing Regs quoted in an earlier post.
2. The sash is not worn by AAC on formal parades other than Public Duties.
3. There is a clash between their 'mounted' accoutrements and an Infantry sash.
(The only exception to this I know, and there may be others I am not aware of, is the wearing of the broad mounted trouser stripe by the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, passed down from the distinction awarded to the Royal Fusiliers for their association with protecting the Artillery trains )

So why do they wear it on public duties? Partly through lack of knowledge of the uniform traditions and also perhaps the army has changed its outlook from;
" We do this/ wear this because we (our regiment/corps) are different to anyone else"
to "What they are wearing looks rather nice, can we wear it, too?"

It may be of interest to the OP that Commonwealth armies such as Australia and Canada, seem to stick closer
to the British traditions of the Infantry Sgts sash than the British do.

[tynesideirish]

Originally Posted by Toby Purcell

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 they are presumebly authorized at unit or sub unit level, that would be classed as colonels perogative. Such as Battery staplebelts worn in barracks only. Wearing them outwith the barrack area , well that would be Incorrectly dressed at worst surely, but illegal? Really?

[Carnforth]

Originally Posted by 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

Perhaps someone in AAC has finally gotten around to reading dress regulations.
No sign of sashes worn on their recent presentation of a guidon to celebrate their 60th anniversary.


http://http://www.itv.com/news/meridian/update/2017-07-06/prince-charles-celebrates-army-air-corps-60th-anniversary/


Edited to add;

Perhaps guidon is a clue why the infantry sergeants sash is not part of their dress regs