Hose tabs in front?

[lschwartz]

I first wore hose length socks with garters and flashes when I was in the Boy Scouts back in the 60's and 70's. The summer uniform included shorts and knee socks with garters and tab (or flashes). We wore them on the outside of the calf, which is how I wear mine now.

But, again, I started this thread as a quest for knowledge, so this is all good. Carry on with the comments.

Larry

[OC Richard]

About Dominions regiments I know next to nothing, but of the five old kilted regiments of Scotland three wore their flashes one way, two the other.

So the Black Watch and the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders wore their flashes with the leading edge of the front flash coming to the front centre-line of the diced hose.

The Gordon Highlanders, Cameron Highlanders, and Seaforth Highlanders wore their flashes more to the side, at around the 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock positions on the leg, or with the leading edge of the front flash coming to the edge of the centre row of dicing.

For all five regiments, when plain hose are worn the flashes are worn in the same location they would be worn on their diced hose.

The vast majority of civilians wear their flashes at around the traditional 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock positions. You don't think about it when you're getting dressed, it's just the flashes usual place.

Time for photos!

The Black Watch, well showing the flashes lining up with the leg and dicing centre-line



Same with the Argylls



Camerons, the flash coming to the edge of the diamond rather that its centre



ditto Gordons



I just looked over around 100 vintage photos and flashes are seen in less than half of them.

When flashes are visible they're more to the side, around the 10 and 2 o'clock positions, or as far back as 9 and 3 o'clock.

This photo shows the typical look