red tab, noun phrase

Origin:
See quotation 1946.
historical, Military
Usually in the plural : The distinguishing flashes worn during World War II by one who had volunteered for service beyond South Africa’s borders; transferred sense, the servicemen or servicewomen wearing these flashes. See also red oath.
1940 [see red oath].
1941 Star 1 Feb.No self-respecting and honest man should put up red tabs until passed medically fit for active service anywhere in Africa and only after having completed all domestic arrangements for such service.
1941 C. Birkby Springbok Victory 111Now men with red tabs on their shoulders had got to the country that had been their goal for six months.
1946 T. Macdonald Ouma Smuts 86The Springboks and the women in the South African Army and Air Force Services wore red tabs, or the orange flash as it was called..indicating that they had taken the oath to serve anywhere in Africa...When the war ended in Africa..the red tabs had to go to Italy, and they went. Ouma used to call the troops the ‘anywhere boys’.
1951 O. Walker Shapeless Flame 217A soldier with the red tabs of the South African Army.
1975 S. Roberts Outside Life’s Feast 8She picked out Dad among the line of soldiers walking from the plane.., all of them in khaki and wearing red tabs on their shoulders.
[1976 J. McClure Rogue Eagle 39Volunteering went into a second stage, with those willing to fight beyond their borders wearing a red flash on the shoulder...The red flashes made them a prime target for the Ossewabrandwag.]
1983 F.G. Butler Bursting World 163In terms of the oath they had taken they could be required to serve anywhere in Africa...On the 26th January Parliament passed legislation authorising a new oath for service anywhere in the world. All who took it wore red tabs on their epaulettes. This drew visual attention to those who refused to take it and caused much bitterness.
1983 F.G. Butler Bursting World 220They..took the goose along as a mascot and named him Egbert...He’d been given red tabs to his wings.
1992 Weekend Post 14 Aug. 9Taillard had refused to take the ‘red tab’ and had taken his discharge from the force.
Usually in the plural :The distinguishing flashes worn during World War II by one who had volunteered for service beyond South Africa’s borders; transferred sense, the servicemen or servicewomen wearing these flashes.
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historical
red oath, noun phrasen. phr.red ticket, noun phrasen. phr.
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