Lt. Colonel Johnny Thompson of the Scots Guards and Handsome Men In Kilts **Appreciation Thread

[RomeGirl]

I'd like to ask RomeGirl is the red sash Jonny is wearing in photos above to denote he passed out as an Officer at Sandhurst? Whereas the King and William wear a blue sash to show they trained in the RAF.

Sashes.... Well we are in danger of going off topic here, but I will take the risk of getting my wrist smacked as I am answering a question.

Now, sashes are a real can of worms. For Army use, there is much disagreement as to the historical origin, wearing different colours, what shoulder it is worn on, or indeed if it is worn on the shoulder or around the waist, and even more controversy about who can wear one. To go into all of that would take pages, so I will deal generally with just Jonny, and members of the Royal Family.

The colour of the sashes have nothing to do with Sandhurst etc.

For our purposes, some of the Infantry Regiments wear a Crimson or Red sash. The Royal Regiment of Scotland is one of those Infantry regiments, and their Officers, WO and SNCO wear a sash. Officers wear the crimson silk sash, and WO and SNCO wear red (probably polyester), sashes.

The RAF do wear a turquoise blue sash, but this is only with RAF uniform which is not often worn by the Royal Family except for William, Prince of Wales.

Instead the sashes you most often see the RF wearing with their various uniforms are indicators of the highest honour they hold. Most frequently this is the blue sash of the Order of the Garter - the highest of the honours.

However there is a quirky rule that on Collar Days (look it up!!!), they wear the collar insignia for the Order of that specific day. When wearing collar insignia, the sash they wear can not be the same honour. Therefore when wearing the collar insignia of a particular Order, they must wear the sash colour for the next highest honour they hold in the list in precedence.

In order of precedence:
Blue for Order of the Garter which is worn most frequently.
Green for the Order of the Thistle
Red for the Order of the Bath
and the sash of the RVO - which has a narrow red and white stripe edge with wider royal blue in the centre.

Lots of pics now showing the variations...

I 'think' (!!) we are quite familiar with Jonny in his RRS Crimson officer's sash, this is the King in RRS uniform with Crimson officer's sash


The King in Order of the Garter sash


The late Duke of Edinburgh in Order of the Garter sash- two pics from same day showing how the colour can appear different according to lighting, processing etc.


The King and the late Queen - the King in Order of the Thistle


The King in Order of the Thistle again, and Jonny (at the rear) in Crimson sash


William, Prince of Wales in RAF uniform and sash


Catherine , Princess of Wales in RVO sash



Hope that helps.

edited because I am silly and forgot to mention the colour has nothing to do with Sandhurst!

 

[lizle]

RomeGirl

Thank you for taking lovely time to help us again. You and your knowledge are so very much appreciated!

 

[VickyBa]

I'd like to ask RomeGirl is the red sash Jonny is wearing in photos above to denote he passed out as an Officer at Sandhurst? Whereas the King and William wear a blue sash to show they trained in the RAF.

The blue sash worn by the King at Sandhurst and by William is the sash of the Order of the Garter and not related to the armed services. I don't know how to post photos but you will see that when they are in uniform the Princess Royal, Duke of Edinburgh and Duke of Gloucester wear the same sash even though none of them went to any of the armed forces colleges.

William of course is a Sandhurst graduate like Jonny. The Duke of Kent, also a Sandhurst graduate, wears the blue sash of the Order of the Garter.

I'll also add that on occasion the King, William and Princess Royal will wear a green sash rather than blue, particularly in Scotland, because they are wearing the sash of the Order of the Thistle.

I'm not sure of the history of the RRS uniform so I'll leave it to RomeGirl to fill us in on where the red sash on the officer's uniform comes from

 

[jessie32]

Sashes.... Well we are in danger of going off topic here, but I will take the risk of getting my wrist smacked as I am answering a question.

Now, sashes are a real can of worms. For Army use, there is much disagreement as to the historical origin, wearing different colours, what shoulder it is worn on, or indeed if it is worn on the shoulder or around the waist, and even more controversy about who can wear one. To go into all of that would take pages, so I will deal generally with just Jonny, and members of the Royal Family.

The colour of the sashes have nothing to do with Sandhurst etc.

For our purposes, some of the Infantry Regiments wear a Crimson or Red sash. The Royal Regiment of Scotland is one of those Infantry regiments, and their Officers, WO and SNCO wear a sash. Officers wear the crimson silk sash, and WO and SNCO wear red (probably polyester), sashes.

The RAF do wear a turquoise blue sash, but this is only with RAF uniform which is not often worn by the Royal Family except for William, Prince of Wales.

Instead the sashes you most often see the RF wearing with their various uniforms are indicators of the highest honour they hold. Most frequently this is the blue sash of the Order of the Garter - the highest of the honours.

However there is a quirky rule that on Collar Days (look it up!!!), they wear the collar insignia for the Order of that specific day. When wearing collar insignia, the sash they wear can not be the same honour. Therefore when wearing the collar insignia of a particular Order, they must wear the sash colour for the next highest honour they hold in the list in precedence.

In order of precedence:
Blue for Order of the Garter which is worn most frequently.
Green for the Order of the Thistle
Red for the Order of the Bath
and the sash of the RVO - which has a narrow red and white stripe edge with wider royal blue in the centre.

Lots of pics now showing the variations...

I 'think' (!!) we are quite familiar with Jonny in his RRS Crimson officer's sash, this is the King in RRS uniform with Crimson officer's sash
View attachment 5871214

The King in Order of the Garter sash
View attachment 5871213

The late Duke of Edinburgh in Order of the Garter sash- two pics from same day showing how the colour can appear different according to lighting, processing etc.
View attachment 5871216

The King and the late Queen - the King in Order of the Thistle
View attachment 5871218

The King in Order of the Thistle again, and Jonny (at the rear) in Crimson sash
View attachment 5871224

William, Prince of Wales in RAF uniform and sash
View attachment 5871219

Catherine , Princess of Wales in RVO sash
View attachment 5871215


Hope that helps.

edited because I am silly and forgot to mention the colour has nothing to do with Sandhurst!

Thank you it all sounds very complicated. On another subject did you ever find out why Jonny didn’t wear the feather in his Glengarry when in France? Thanks

 

[La Rhumba]

Sashes.... Well we are in danger of going off topic here, but I will take the risk of getting my wrist smacked as I am answering a question.

Now, sashes are a real can of worms. For Army use, there is much disagreement as to the historical origin, wearing different colours, what shoulder it is worn on, or indeed if it is worn on the shoulder or around the waist, and even more controversy about who can wear one. To go into all of that would take pages, so I will deal generally with just Jonny, and members of the Royal Family.

The colour of the sashes have nothing to do with Sandhurst etc.

For our purposes, some of the Infantry Regiments wear a Crimson or Red sash. The Royal Regiment of Scotland is one of those Infantry regiments, and their Officers, WO and SNCO wear a sash. Officers wear the crimson silk sash, and WO and SNCO wear red (probably polyester), sashes.

The RAF do wear a turquoise blue sash, but this is only with RAF uniform which is not often worn by the Royal Family except for William, Prince of Wales.

Instead the sashes you most often see the RF wearing with their various uniforms are indicators of the highest honour they hold. Most frequently this is the blue sash of the Order of the Garter - the highest of the honours.

However there is a quirky rule that on Collar Days (look it up!!!), they wear the collar insignia for the Order of that specific day. When wearing collar insignia, the sash they wear can not be the same honour. Therefore when wearing the collar insignia of a particular Order, they must wear the sash colour for the next highest honour they hold in the list in precedence.

In order of precedence:
Blue for Order of the Garter which is worn most frequently.
Green for the Order of the Thistle
Red for the Order of the Bath
and the sash of the RVO - which has a narrow red and white stripe edge with wider royal blue in the centre.

Lots of pics now showing the variations...

I 'think' (!!) we are quite familiar with Jonny in his RRS Crimson officer's sash, this is the King in RRS uniform with Crimson officer's sash
View attachment 5871214

The King in Order of the Garter sash
View attachment 5871213

The late Duke of Edinburgh in Order of the Garter sash- two pics from same day showing how the colour can appear different according to lighting, processing etc.
View attachment 5871216

The King and the late Queen - the King in Order of the Thistle
View attachment 5871218

The King in Order of the Thistle again, and Jonny (at the rear) in Crimson sash
View attachment 5871224

William, Prince of Wales in RAF uniform and sash
View attachment 5871219

Catherine , Princess of Wales in RVO sash
View attachment 5871215


Hope that helps.

edited because I am silly and forgot to mention the colour has nothing to do with Sandhurst!

It truly does help hugely! And you always illustrate with photos. Extremely grateful, RomeGirl, many thanks, and what's more you always explain complicated rules in a way that is understandable. Bless you for being on hand. I've learnt such alot about the Military and Ceremonial attire.



If Jonny wants to set a written test, I think I'm ready!

 

[La Rhumba]

The blue sash worn by the King at Sandhurst and by William is the sash of the Order of the Garter and not related to the armed services. I don't know how to post photos but you will see that when they are in uniform the Princess Royal, Duke of Edinburgh and Duke of Gloucester wear the same sash even though none of them went to any of the armed forces colleges.

William of course is a Sandhurst graduate like Jonny. The Duke of Kent, also a Sandhurst graduate, wears the blue sash of the Order of the Garter.

I'll also add that on occasion the King, William and Princess Royal will wear a green sash rather than blue, particularly in Scotland, because they are wearing the sash of the Order of the Thistle.

I'm not sure of the history of the RRS uniform so I'll leave it to RomeGirl to fill us in on where the red sash on the officer's uniform comes from

Thank you VickyBa. To post photos, click on either Attach Files below the reply box, or the square icon in black and white above and then click on My Files to choose your photos.

 

[lizle]

Thank you it all sounds very complicated. On another subject did you ever find out why Jonny didn’t wear the feather in his Glengarry when in France? Thanks

I think I remember RomeGirl telling us that MrRomeGirl said it was probably because Jonny was traveling in a car rather than a larger vehicle so the feathers might have been in the way. Rather than risk damaging them, easier to just remove them for that particular trip.

 

[La Rhumba]

I think I remember RomeGirl telling us that MrRomeGirl said it was probably because Jonny was traveling in a car rather than a larger vehicle so the feathers might have been in the way. Rather than risk damaging them, easier to just remove them for that particular trip.

Indeed. Think Princess Beatrice with her Phillip Treacy Pretzel hat at William & Catherine's wedding!

 

[Francie123]

Thank you it all sounds very complicated. On another subject did you ever find out why Jonny didn’t wear the feather in his Glengarry when in France? Thanks

 

[Francie123]

One thing I find confusing. Princess of Wales wears the RVO sash. Her sash is worn from her right shoulder. All the others are Left shoulder. Is there a reason for this? Thank you kindly.

 

[RomeGirl]

Yesterday the King opened a new bridge in our area. The new bridge will replace vehicular traffic on the old Gairnshiel bridge that dates back to the mid 1700s. The old bridge will now be used only for pedestrians and cyclists.

Pictured are the King with the plaque on the new bridge, the Lonach Pipe Band and Highlanders .... AND....

Oh yes! A certain rather distinctive Equerry was there in his RRS uniform.

The eagle-eyed among you might notice the plaque being unveiled has the worng date on it, indicating it was opened today rather than yesterday. A last minute diary change (not our boy's fault I should add!) meant it is a day out, but due to cost it won't be replaced.

 

[jessie32]

Yesterday the King opened a new bridge in our area. The new bridge will replace vehicular traffic on the old Gairnshiel bridge that dates back to the mid 1700s. The old bridge will now be used only for pedestrians and cyclists.

Pictured are the King with the plaque on the new bridge, the Lonach Pipe Band and Highlanders .... AND....

Oh yes! A certain rather distinctive Equerry in his RRS uniform.

The eagle-eyed among you might notice the plaque being unveiled has the worng date on it, indicating it was opened today rather than yesterday. A last minute diary change (not our boy's fault I should add!) meant it is a day out, but due to cost it won't be replaced.

View attachment 5871560

View attachment 5871561

View attachment 5871562

I’m so pleased he was there, I’m sure it means a lot to him especially as His Majesty is also a Lonach Highlander.

 

[RomeGirl]

The blue sash worn by the King at Sandhurst and by William is the sash of the Order of the Garter and not related to the armed services. I don't know how to post photos but you will see that when they are in uniform the Princess Royal, Duke of Edinburgh and Duke of Gloucester wear the same sash even though none of them went to any of the armed forces colleges.

William of course is a Sandhurst graduate like Jonny. The Duke of Kent, also a Sandhurst graduate, wears the blue sash of the Order of the Garter.

I'll also add that on occasion the King, William and Princess Royal will wear a green sash rather than blue, particularly in Scotland, because they are wearing the sash of the Order of the Thistle.

I'm not sure of the history of the RRS uniform so I'll leave it to RomeGirl to fill us in on where the red sash on the officer's uniform comes from

The reasons the Infantry regiments and RRS wear a Crimson/Red sash is disputed and lost in history. Because of this I doubt we will ever know for sure.

Some say it dates back to the time when pikes were used and the pikemen used to wipe their weapons that were slippery with blood on their sashes which turned red, leading to them deciding to choose red as the sash colour.

There is also a theory that the red colour was used by the sergeants and those who carried the colours to make them more visible. Others insist the sash was used to help carry the injured from the battlefield.

Some of the other regiments wear different coloured sashes, but the Crimson/Red is definitely the most distinctive.

 

[lizle]

RomeGirl ... Thank you for such delightful information. You are helping us so much ... to continue to learn and grown. Everything you do is so very much appreciated! Thank you for such lovely photos.

Edit: Added words

 

[RomeGirl]

One thing I find confusing. Princess of Wales wears the RVO sash. Her sash is worn from her right shoulder. All the others are Left shoulder. Is there a reason for this? Thank you kindly.

One of those rules. Order of the Garter and the Thistle are worn on the left shoulder. Order of the Bath and RVO are worn on the right.

Why? No idea!