Ordnance Insignia of the British Army

Hose Tops & Garter Flashes

RAOC Red/Blue Garter Flash

Until around 1955 the RAOC wore the standard ribbed, thick wool, Khaki Hosetops.   These were held up with RAOC garter flashes.   In 1955, new Hosetops were introduced for various Corps and Regiments in the Army. For the the RAOC the new Hosetops were all wool Khaki ribbed, with the top three inches being equal horizontal bands of Red/Blue/Red, Garter Flashes were not worn with these Hosetops.   The new 3 coloured Hosetops were not popular, RAOC soldiers thought they looked more like a football team.  By 1959, soldiers were again wearing the old type Khaki Hosetops with coloured Garter Flashes.   Personnel who wore shoes, (officers, clerks etc.) wore knee length Khaki Stockings with Garter Flashes. Garter Flashes were locally manufactured and consisted of two separate pieces, each piece was half Red half Blue, both sewn on to a white cotton tape, each piece of the flash finished in two points.  The Flash was about 4 inches long so it showed about one inch below the foldover of the Hosetop/Stocking.  Khaki Hosetop with the Red/Blue/Red rings on the turnover was replaced about 1963 by a all Dark Blue one.  In the beginning this was achieved by dyeing the Khaki ones but later they were issued in Dark Blue. Hosetops/Stockings became obsolete about 1973 when shorts were discontinued as part of overseas uniform.

M Comerford - August 2003 - HTML Revision 1