Painting showing the 'Flash' of the Royal Welch Fusiliers by J. A. Atkinson (watercolour)

Description

This is the first known painting showing a soldier of the Royal Welch Fusiliers wearing the Regimental 'Flash', or bunch of black ribbons on the collar.

The 'Flash' is a relic of the days when soldiers wore pigtails 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 William IV who officially granted the Flash 'as a peculiarity whereby to mark the dress of that distinguished Regiment'. Lieutenant Colonel John Christopher Harrison is celebrated as the officer who won the right for the Regiment to wear the 'Flash'. He joined the Regiment in 1805 and retired in 1837 as commanding officer. At the time of the First World War (1914-18) Lord Kitchener suggested that the Flash should not be worn because it was an aiming mark for the enemy. King George V overruled 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.