flashes: the official UK way

[Steve Ashton]

Being serious for just a moment.

I'm not an expert on Kilted Regiment uniform standards but I have learned a few things as the Regimental kilt maker to one unit.

We all know and recognize that the different military units have different and distinctive Tartans. This is also true for sporrans, color of tunic and many other items that allow them to be recognizable from each other.

Flash placement is no different. I happen to know that the Canadian Scottish Regimental standard for flash placement has changed at times and is subject to change again. The current standard is aligned with the shin bone.

The Argyle & Sutherlands may use a different placement and so may the Black Watch.

The only standard that matters is the one the current Regimental Sergent Major sets for his unit. The standard may change when the RSM changes.

To one old US Marine this idea that a uniform could change with a change of command was sort of strange. I'm used to one standard that applies to every Marine regardless of unit.

In kilted units the RSM has great leeway in setting many standards, so if we read about a uniform standard we should also need to know the time period and RSM that the standard was applicable to.