Sash not plaid

[aohguard]

I am not opening a new can of worms here, and I have read all posts, (I think), referring to sash's/plaids, but my question is;

What is the "protocol" for wearing a sash (not a plaid, fly plaid, pipers plaid, mini fly plaid, nothing "tartan") with a military style doublet. I have seen numerous pipe majors wearing a solid color sash across the chest, but colors vary. What do the colors represent, (rank?), and which shoulder does it hang from, and who should/should not wear it? This would be primarily for parade situations.

[Chas]

Hi aohguard,

In a military setting the wearing of a sash can mean a whole variety of different things. Each regiment will have its own regulations and history surrounding the wearing of a sash. In the British forces, it generally denotes duty personnel, on parade. That is to say the people in charge.

On parade, everyone is, of course, on duty, but there will only be a very few who will be shouting out the orders. Those are the ones wearing the sashes. For working purposes, duty personnel wear an armband or brassard.

As to which shoulder the sash goes over is down to history, the uniform worn and which looks best in the eyes of the senior ranks.

Once a uniform has been chosen, only then can a sash be chosen. One example: If all persons are wearing a 'Sam Brown' and sword and some sort of sabretache, then the sash would not go over the right shoulder as the tassel would get in the way of the sword on the left.

It must also be remembered that the sash is for the other personnel on parade - to identify who is in charge. It is not a rank badge and it should never be worn just to make the wearer look good.

Regards

Chas

[aohguard]

Very informative! Thanks. I have another similar question, about aiguillette's, who can wear them, what is the significance, what do the colors represent (gold, silver, red, white, green, blue, etc....) How are they worn, etc. Any info anyone can give will enlighten me. Thanks.

[Steve Ashton]

Google is your friend.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aiguillette

[Chas]

I can add very little to Steve's link. It is fully covered there.

I will say this, in the UK military, one size fits all. In practise, this means that one size fits no one. I once witnessed an Aide-de-Camp trying to salute Air Chief Marshal Lagerson. He caught his hand in one of the loops and instead of saluting, managed to punch himself so violently in the head that he had to be stretchered off the parade. It was the high point of an otherwise dull day.

The other thing is cost and cleanliness. Unless they are made out of gold wire (very expensive), they are almost impossible to keep clean. They will look grubby within only a few wearings. If gold wire, they get stolen. In the UK military they are classed as V&A (valuable and attractive) and usually only get issued just before a parade and handed back straight after. Even still they disappear with surprising regularity.

Regards

Chas

[macwilkin]

Besides the use of the sash as military insignia, sashes are also sometimes used as regalia of fraternal organisations; Scottish Constitution masonic lodges frequently wear a sash with matching aprons and gauntlets. You will find other groups that wear them as well. Traditionally, such regalia should only be worn at meetings and other events of those groups, and not mixed with "mufti".

T.