TOPIC:

Good afternoon all,

I am trying to find out what ORs had on their pugarees . I was always led to believe the flash was on the left side of the helmet only. I have seen the helmet in the Regimental Museum at Bodmin , which is just a red Cornwall Flash as below., maybe these were just for officers due to cost?? But having seen period photos of ORs they seem to have a bigger flash either side , and i cant seem to see any writing on it . Does anyone have the answer ? Thanks in advance

Welcome to the forum and maybe you would like to see this thread......

www.angloboerwar.com/forum/21-uniforms-b...ouch-hat-flash#43744

Mike

There's quite a good write-up and photos here
www.militarysunhelmets.com/2012/a-study-...uth-africa-1899-1902
and
www.militarysunhelmets.com/2013/the-brit...onial-pattern-helmet
and
www.militarysunhelmets.com/2012/pagets-horse-in-the-boer-war
In brief, flashes or badges of various types were sometimes worn on one side [in which case, it'd always be the left - I think!] or on both sides of the foreign service helmet, though most soldiers seem to have had no flash at all. The early flashes seem to have been white embroidery on red cloth, and were said to be derived from the epaulet on the red home service uniform, though I have my doubts...
The slouch hat, being up on the left [or on the right right if you were a Boer] bore an emblem or badge on only the raised flap.
Hope that's useful!
Rob

Thanks Mike

Thank you for your rply, much appreciated Rob. I think what i need to see if it exists is the regiments orders on flashes etc. i have started looking on NAtional Archives with no luck

There's a lot of knowledge about helmet flashes on this forum, you might enquire there:
www.britishbadgeforum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=93