Comrade's RWF Blaenau
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History Of The Flash
History Of The Regiment
The Flash
The Royal Welch Fusiliers have a distinction that is unique amongst the British Army, and that is the right to wear the 'Flash' of five black ribbon on the collar. It is a relic of the days when soldiers wore pig tails which, because of the grease, were enclosed in what was known as a 'queue bag'. In 1808 when the Army abolished pigtails the Regiment was serving in Nova Scotia, Canada and refused to comply with the order. When eventually it dispensed with pigtails it retained the ribbons, known as a Flash, which had secured them.
In 1834 an inspecting General ordered the Flash to be removed. The matter was referred to King Williams IV who officially granted the Flash 'as a peculiarity where by to mark the dress of that distinguished Regiment'. At the time of the Great War Lord Kitchener suggested that the Flash should not be worn because it was an aiming mark for the enemy. King George V over ruled him stating that the enemy would never see the backs of the Royal Welch Fusiliers.To this day the Flash is worn by all serving Royal Welchmen.