51st Division battle flashes 1918 - horizontal or vertical stripes ?

[Florent]

Hello,

While searching the 51st division battle flashes during the war, I have seen that the colours stripes ( 1,2,3 or 4 depending the battalions) for the brigades ( red, light blue ans dark blue) were worn vertically till around 1916 and after, were changed to be worn horizontally.

While looking in the Osprey book regarding the Scottish units, I have seen this photograph , taken in August 1917, where , at right, two soldiers of the 6th Seaforth have their red stripes horizontal, while the soldier at left, from the 5th Seaforth, have his stripe vertical.

Is there a reason ? Did the 5th Seaforth continue to wear the stripes vertically till the end of the war ?

Thanks

Florent

[o j kirby]

Hello,

I have seen photos of troops with either horizontal or vertical...I have seen photos of 5th Seaforths with both, and my own 6th Seaforth OR's tunic has two vertical stripes. I have not seen any rule as yet regarding vertical or horizontal. I will however look at my own photos, and ask around!

Owain.

[KENDO]

Originally officers wore bars vertically and OR's horizontaly. then the 2 senior bdes wore bars horizontally and junior bde vertically all ranks.

Hope this helps

kendo

[4thGordons]

not sure if it will resolve anything -- but her is a Gordon, presumbaly a member of the transport section (taken in Amiens) with the 4 bars Horizontally

Chris