Tactical Recognition Flash

[CV9030FIN]

Hi.

I've noticed that UK troops use Tactical Recognition Flashes in camo uniform sleeves but I can't find any additional info about those or site that would show all official flashes. It is very easy to find a lot of info about UK unit cab badges or US unit shoulder patches, but nothing about UK Tactical Recognition Flashes! I would also like to get some background info about these badges history, for example is Para RGT's Drop Zone Patches meant for the same purpose? If some one could help it would be much appreciated.

 

Thanks.

[67th Tigers]

Hi.

I've noticed that UK troops use Tactical Recognition Flashes in camo uniform sleeves but I can't find any additional info about those or site that would show all official flashes. It is very easy to find a lot of info about UK unit cab badges or US unit shoulder patches, but nothing about UK Tactical Recognition Flashes! I would also like to get some background info about these badges history, for example is Para RGT's Drop Zone Patches meant for the same purpose? If some one could help it would be much appreciated.

 

Thanks.

 

Basically the same, but Para DZ flashes are assigned at Bn rather than Regt/ Corps. That said, there are alternate flashes (such as the PWRR Blue-Yellow diagonal flash).

 

The wikipedia articles include the main TRFs: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Army_...r_of_Precedence

[CV9030FIN]

Basically the same, but Para DZ flashes are assigned at Bn rather than Regt/ Corps. That said, there are alternate flashes (such as the PWRR Blue-Yellow diagonal flash).

 

The wikipedia articles include the main TRFs: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Army_...r_of_Precedence

 

I knew that wiki site, but I was looking somewhat more comprehensive "recognition guide" -type page. Thanks anyway.

 

BTW is some of the old RGT flashes now in use as a BN flashes after cut downs and amalgamations? I mean that there is now days many former RGT's that have only 1st BN's left. Does The Rifles* have their own TRF or due the sub units use their old TRF's?

 

 

Edit:

*The Light Infantry, the Royal Green Jackets, the Devonshire and Dorset Light Infantry and Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Light Infantry merged together by the end of 2007 to form a single large regiment to be called The Rifles.

Edited March 19, 2008 by CV9030FIN

[BillB]

I knew that wiki site, but I was looking somewhat more comprehensive "recognition guide" -type page. Thanks anyway.

 

BTW is some of the old RGT flashes now in use as a BN flashes after cut downs and amalgamations? I mean that there is now days many former RGT's that have only 1st BN's left. Does The Rifles* have their own TRF or due the sub units use their old TRF's?

Edit:

*The Light Infantry, the Royal Green Jackets, the Devonshire and Dorset Light Infantry and Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Light Infantry merged together by the end of 2007 to form a single large regiment to be called The Rifles.

[pedant mode] CV, a few of those titles in your edit aren't quite right mate. Some of those regiments were not LI or Rifle units before the mereger, they were county regiments - the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment, the Gloucestershire Regiment, the Berkshire Regiment and Wiltshire Regiment were just that.[/pedant mode]

 

TBH I don't think you'll find a definitive list of TRFs. AIUI some regiments don't like them, I think I'm correct in saying that some regiments simply done't have one, and it will take a while for the latest set of amalgamations to settle down. Like many things connected tothe BA, regiments simply do their own thing.

 

BillB

[67th Tigers]

[pedant mode] CV, a few of those titles in your edit aren't quite right mate. Some of those regiments were not LI or Rifle units before the mereger, they were county regiments - the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment, the Gloucestershire Regiment, the Berkshire Regiment and Wiltshire Regiment were just that.[/pedant mode]

 

TBH I don't think you'll find a definitive list of TRFs. AIUI some regiments don't like them, I think I'm correct in saying that some regiments simply done't have one, and it will take a while for the latest set of amalgamations to settle down. Like many things connected tothe BA, regiments simply do their own thing.

 

BillB

 

The RGBW made a rod for their own backs and got shafted. What I was told (Summer 2005) was:

 

The Foot Guards (5 Battalions)

1st Battalion (ex-1st Bn, Grenadier Guards)

2nd Battalion (ex-1st Bn, Coldstream Guards)

3rd Battalion (ex-1st Bn, Scots Guards

4th Battalion (ex-1st Bn, Irish Guards)

5th Battalion (ex-1st Bn, Welsh Guards)

6th Battalion (ex-London Regiment)

 

Royal Lowland Regiment

1st Battalion (ex-1st Bn, Royal Scots and 1st Bn, KOSB)

2nd Battalion (ex-1st Bn, RHF)

3rd Battalion (ex-52nd Lowland Regiment)

 

The Highland Regiment

1st Battalion ( ex-1st Bn, Black Watch)

2nd Battalion (ex-1st Bn, Highlanders and 1st Bn, A&SH)

3rd Battalion (ex-51st Highland Regiment)

 

The Queen’s Regiment

1st Battalion (ex-1st Bn, PWRR)

2nd Battalion (ex-2nd Bn, PWRR)

3rd Battalion (ex-3rd Bn, PWRR)

 

The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

1st Battalion

2nd Battalion

5th Battalion (ex-Tyne Tees Regiment)

 

The Royal Anglian Regiment

1st Battalion

2nd Battalion

3rd Battalion (ex-East of England Regiment)

 

The Royal Lancashire and Borderers

1st Battalion (ex-1st Bn, King’s and elm 1st Bn, KORBR)

2nd Battalion (ex-1st Bn, QLR and elm 1st Bn, KORBR)

3rd Battalion (ex-Lancastrian and Cumbrian with elm of Kings and Cheshire)

 

The Yorkshire Regiment

1st Battalion (ex-1st Bn, POWORY)

2nd Battalion (ex-1st Bn, Green Howards)

3rd Battalion (ex-1st Bn, Duke of Wellingtons)

4th Battalion (ex-East and West Riding and elm Tyne Tees)

 

The Royal Irish Regiment

1st Battalion

5th Battalion (ex-Royal Irish Rangers)

2nd, 3rd and 4th Battalions to eventually disband

 

Royal Wessex Regiment

1st Battalion (ex-1st Bn, Devon and Dorsets and Gloucester elm of RGBW)

2nd Battalion (ex-Berkshire and Wiltshire elm of RGBW and Hampshire elm of PWRR)

3rd Battalion (ex-Rifle Vols, minus LI Coys and with elm from Royal Rifle Vols)

 

The Mercian Regiment

1st Battalion (ex-1st Bn, WFR)

2nd Battalion (ex-1st Bn, Staffords and elm 1st Bn Cheshires)

3rd Battalion (ex-West Midlands Regiment and elm Kings and Cheshires)

 

The Royal Welch Regiment

1st Battalion (ex-1st Bn, RWF and elm 1st Bn, Cheshires)

2nd Battalion (ex-1st Bn, RRW)

3rd Battalion (ex-Royal Welsh Regiment)

 

The Light Infantry

1st Battalion

2nd Battalion

5th Battalion (ex-LI from RV, WMR, Tyne Tees and EWR)

 

The Royal Green Jackets

1st Battalion

2nd Battalion

4th Battalion (ex-RGJ from Londons and RRV)

 

The Parachute Regiment

1st Battalion (to assume special forces support role)

2nd Battalion

3rd Battalion

4th Battalion

 

The Royal Gurkha Rifles

1st Battalion

2nd Battalion

 

The first upset was the merger of the Foot Guards was deemed politically unacceptable, so they kept the titles but will treat them as a large/large regiment. There was then the fight in Scotland to reprieve another Bn (which was successful), although they prettymuch all needed to be light role because of their strengths. In the PWRR, the old Queensmen were trying to ditch the R Hamps into a nacant R Wessex and reform the Queen's. The stickler was the RGBW, which refused to merge, straight out refused, so instead they were cut (their lineage split between the PWRR, whose Queensmen lost their fight as a result, and the D&D), the D,G&D's were left without a battalion to amalgamate with to the East, so had to amalgamate westwards with the LI.

 

However, the D,G&D had a coup de grace to deliver. They had the deciding vote in forming a large/large Light Div Regt, and voted with it, and voted to ditch the Rifle lineage. There was a lot of horse trading going on for a while with the RGJ refusing to adopt Colours etc., but the RGJ traditionally have friends in high places (aside from the Foot Guards, they provide the most general officers) and won most of the arguments.

[CV9030FIN]

[pedant mode] CV, a few of those titles in your edit aren't quite right mate. Some of those regiments were not LI or Rifle units before the mereger, they were county regiments - the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment, the Gloucestershire Regiment, the Berkshire Regiment and Wiltshire Regiment were just that.[/pedant mode]

 

TBH I don't think you'll find a definitive list of TRFs. AIUI some regiments don't like them, I think I'm correct in saying that some regiments simply done't have one, and it will take a while for the latest set of amalgamations to settle down. Like many things connected tothe BA, regiments simply do their own thing.

 

Okay I give up ....I really thought that I understood BA structure...it seems impossible for non-Commonwealth officer!

 

Thanks for info about TRF's.

[BillB]

Okay I give up ....I really thought that I understood BA structure...it seems impossible for non-Commonwealth officer!

 

Thanks for info about TRF's.

I shouldn't worry about that, mate, I suspect that most BA officers don't have a clue about structures outside their own little corner either...

 

BillB

[CR2 Commander]

Here is a link showing Regiments and Battalions of British Army.

 

http://www.armedforces.co.uk/army/listings/l0001.html

 

Each Regt/Battalion/Corp has been given a TRF we have a big poster on the wall at work showing what each should all be wearing. Wont be there for a while so wont be able to get my hands on it.

Edited April 6, 2008 by CR2 Commander

[CV9030FIN]

Here is a link showing Regiments and Battalions of British Army.

 

http://www.armedforces.co.uk/army/listings/l0001.html

 

Each Regt/Battalion/Corp has been given a TRF we have a big poster on the wall at work showing what each should all be wearing. Wont be there for a while so wont be able to get my hands on it.

 

Thanks for info! Photo of that poster would be really nice....

[Briganza]

Basically the same, but Para DZ flashes are assigned at Bn rather than Regt/ Corps. That said, there are alternate flashes (such as the PWRR Blue-Yellow diagonal flash).

 

The wikipedia articles include the main TRFs: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Army_...r_of_Precedence

 

This came about because 1 PWRR was part of the air landing Brigade and based in Canterbury. As part of the brigade they required to have soldiers para trained (GOC very upset because troops who were para trained would not use funny coloured hats this was before 16 AA put them all in funny coloured hats) and as part of the brigade had a DZ patch of vertical blue and yellow. This would have been about 94/95. 2 PWRR then took over the role and needed a DZ patch that was different and had diagonal half blue and yellow.

 

I would agree with Bill, regimental dress is down to individual regiment/Bn. At one time we had blue cravats and chevrons.