flashes: the official UK way

[OC Richard]

I was looking for something or other online and came across Andrew Lenz's site, the page where he tells you how to lace Ghillie Brogues.

I was surprised to read the following:

There are two standards with regard to the location of the flashes. The official UK way is to have the leading edge of the flash line up with the shin bone. The "we're not under control of the throne anymore" (USA, and perhaps elsewhere) way is to have them fully on the side.

This is, of course, wrong on multiple counts and absurd to boot.

If looking for "official" ways to wear something the place to look is the Scottish regiments of the British Army (if they don't know how to wear kit, who does?) and the most common way of wearing flashes is for them to be at, more or less, the 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock positions, or a bit forward of being directly at the side, the leading edge of the front flash often in line with the edge of the front diamonds of the diced hosetops:



The less common way, which is probably what he means with his "official UK way", is the way that flashes are/were worn by The Black Watch, The Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, and the pipers of The Kings Own Scottish Borderers, that is, with the leading edge of the front flash coming up to the front centerline of the front diamonds of the diced hosetops (and to, more or less, that imaginary line when wearing plain hose)

[freddie]

I've always worn mine the 'Black Watch' way.

[Father Bill]

Being a civvie, I've always done it somewhere in between the two and lost no sleep on it because it's the "Official Father Bill Way" of doing it.

[mookien]

As long as I get my flashes or garters on the outside of my knees, each about the same distance slightly forward of the lateral collateral ligament, I'm happy. And so is my orthopod.

[Father Bill]

How long does it take to charge your orthopod?

[mookien]

How long does it take to charge your orthopod?

Actually, he charges me, ... LOTS!

[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?