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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Unknown pagri flash


poona guard

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I think it’s just another variation of the Royal Artillery two colour flash.  As I mentioned previously there were a variety and it was only in WW2 and subsequently that a standard configuration began to be preferred.  The enclosed shows one early example.  I’m sorry that I can’t comment on the precise unit. 

CE1BBA04-13B4-4147-A95C-3B169AA514CA.jpeg

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21 minutes ago, poona guard said:

Possibly but feels like infantry to me.

Well he has no spurs, whip, or bandolier, so I can understand that.  Perhaps RGA in India, who wore the dress of a dismounted corps for the most part, but that’s just my speculation.  It might be useful to compare the shading of the flash as rendered by orthochromatic film with other images known to show artillery.  I retain an open mind about other options, although I can’t think of an infantry unit offhand that favoured a triangle helmet flash.  For tropical helmets, and apart from Scottish regiments, most infantry seemed to favour a diamond, or square, the latter often based on (originally created from) the strap from their scarlet, or rifle green undress frocks. 

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Essex regiment and some welsh units used triangles that i can think of without checking. The shoulder title under a magnifying glass doesn't look like the start of an R.

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7 minutes ago, poona guard said:

Essex regiment and some welsh units used triangles that i can think of without checking. The shoulder title under a magnifying glass doesn't look like the start of an R.

I understand.  I remember the Essex used purple and black, I believe from the colours of the old 44th and 56th (Pompadours), and the SWB green and white, and Welsh Regiment red and white (if I recall correctly).  I thought the latter two were squares, or perhaps diamonds, but I’m not positive offhand.  Even the Middlesex used a diamond.  The triangle was a bit less common I think from memory.

NB.  It is a noticeably more shallow triangle than usual for artillery.

Edited by FROGSMILE
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Hello there

A posible unit for this chap could be the 1/5th Batt, Essex Regiment, part of 54th Division. ORs wore a triangle split red/black on the left of the pagri, and on the right sleeve, a hint of which seems to show just below the shoulder? This info from Mike Hibberd and Gary Gibbs insignia booklet

William

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4 minutes ago, caladonia said:

Hello there

A posible unit for this chap could be the 1/5th Batt, Essex Regiment, part of 54th Division. ORs wore a triangle split red/black on the left of the pagri, and on the right sleeve, a hint of which seems to show just below the shoulder? This info from Mike Hibberd and Gary Gibbs insignia booklet

William

Yes, I noticed that hint of a badge on the right shoulder.  You might well be on to something I think William.  Good spot. 

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The four Essex battalions in 161.Bde, 54 (East Anglian) Division were definitely all red and black.

Kendo

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