flashes: the official UK way

**OC Richard** · 21st July 13, 05:31 AM

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** · 21st July 13, 02:19 PM

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

**Father Bill** · 21st July 13, 02:39 PM

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** · 21st July 13, 03:59 PM

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.