flashes: the official UK way

[imrichmond]

Interestingly, two of the leading authorities on pipe band dress (insofar as one can accept any authority in this rather subjective and very fluid domain) both favour the Black Watch tradition. The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association's Drum Major Manual (2008) specifies that "The leading edge of the flash should be vertically in line with the front of the leg" (p. 19), and the Regimental Drum Major Association's Dress Manual for Pipes and Drums (2007) further specifies: "Leading edge of front flash to be centred on the front of the leg, bisecting the hose dicing or ribbing of the hose" (p. 16) The RDMA does seem to acknowledge that some variation is acceptable since it adds in a note that "the band needs to be consistent in flash positioning on the leg." As OCRichard points out, however, these directives are often more honoured in the breach than in the observance.

[Panache]

I wear mine with the leading edge at the 10:00 and 2:00 positions because that is was what personally find pleasing.

Cheers

Jamie

[MacGumerait]

I'm with the 10:00 and 2:00 position crowd on the flashes .

However , I have noticed over the years the 10 and 2 position references of the flashes can also relate to time of night .

If one is doing a pub crawl , at 10 pm the flashes are proper ... at 2 am the flashes may end up anywhere on the leg .

Must be a time , space continuum thing .... I'm sure the military must have already experienced this phenomenon .

[mookien]

... If one is doing a pub crawl , at 10 pm the flashes are proper ... at 2 am the flashes may end up anywhere on the leg .
...

But, on whose leg?

[MacGumerait]

But, on whose leg?

Well , that depends on the owner of the flash .

[The Wizard of BC]

Now that I know this, I will file it away for the day when I sign up, take the oath, and join the Black Watch. While on duty, and in uniform, I will know the way to wear my flashes.

For one must abide by the proscribed uniform so that one is, with all the rest, well, uniform.

In the mean while I guess I will just keep to my slovenly, civilian ways. It helps to confuse the small children. "Oh look mommy, a man in a kilt. But why are are his flashes out of place?"

[MacGumerait]

Now that I know this, I will file it away for the day when I sign up, take the oath, and join the Black Watch. While on duty, and in uniform, I will know the way to wear my flashes.

For one must abide by the proscribed uniform so that one is, with all the rest, well, uniform.

In the mean while I guess I will just keep to my slovenly, civilian ways. It helps to confuse the small children. "Oh look mommy, a man in a kilt. But why are are his flashes out of place?"

Haaa ! Good one . Reality check !

[herminator]

I wear mine with the leading edge at the 10:00 and 2:00 positions because that is was what personally find pleasing.

Cheers

Jamie

I´m with Jamie here!

Shalom
Hermann

[English Bloke]

I wear mine like this.



I have two "rules" for myself.

1. I line the leading edge of my flash to the 12 o'clock position on my shin.
2. I try not to use the flashes as a substitute for semaphore flags.

I do this because it's how I like to wear my flashes. I am not bound by any set of rules and I don't get in a muck-sweat how other people wear theirs.

If I'm wearing garter ties, I tend to follow Chas' approach, for the same reasons he states.

[OC Richard]

The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association's Drum Major Manual (2008) specifies that "The leading edge of the flash should be vertically in line with the front of the leg" (p. 19)

The Regimental Drum Major Association's Dress Manual for Pipes and Drums (2007) further specifies: "Leading edge of front flash to be centred on the front of the leg, bisecting the hose dicing or ribbing of the hose" (p. 16)

I've often expressed the opinion that many of the guidelines in these very manuals are rubbish.

They're saying, in effect, that the Drum Majors (and the entire regiments) of The Gordon Highlanders, The Seaforth Highlanders, and The Cameron Highlanders were doing it wrongly, that the pipers of The Scots Guards, The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, The Royal Scots, and The Royal Highland Fusiliers are doing it wrongly.

The people who write these manuals ought to have some basic awareness of the subject matter.

One of my other pet peeves is the way these manuals say that full plaids must be worn, but that's for another time.