Description
Physical description
hat
Wide-brimmed hat made of khaki felt with a red/purple cockade and brass Prince of Wales/ 'I.Y.' badge and black leather hackle attached to the upturned (left) brim.
Label
The khaki felt slouch hat (sometimes referred to as the Bush Hat) had its origins in the Second Anglo-Boer War of 1899-1902, when the British Army learned from the Boers that their chosen civilian headgear had more practical advantages on campaign in both hot and wet climates over the foreign service helmet. By the conclusion of the war virtually all British and Empire troops were issued with the slouch hat as a standard headdress. Comfortable, the hat's wide brim shielded the eyes in bright sunlight and gave adequate protection in even the worst downpours and could be stowed easily, not suffering the consequences of being crushed. A cloth pugaree adorned the base of the hat, and when moistened with water this would cool the brow of the wearer in the hottest climate. The hat featured a metal press-stud to the left side, permitting the brim to be turned up and fastened and in that way wearable when carrying arms at the left shoulder on formal occasions.
Slouch hats were still worn by the Regular Army on manoeuvres in the United Kingdom as late as 1905 and by many Rifle Volunteers until much later, being re-issued again on campaign in Salonika during the First World War. The Australians maintained the hat (and still do) whereas New Zealanders later modified it during the First World War adopting their own characteristic 'Lemon Squeezer' hat.
History note
The khaki felt slouch hat (sometimes referred to as the Bush Hat) had its origins in the Second Anglo-Boer War of 1899-1902, when the British Army learned from the Boers that their chosen civilian headgear had more practical advantages on campaign in both hot and wet climates over the foreign service helmet. By the conclusion of the war virtually all British and Empire troops were issued with the slouch hat as a standard headdress. Comfortable, the hat's wide brim shielded the eyes in bright sunlight and gave adequate protection in even the worst downpours and could be stowed easily, not suffering the consequences of being crushed. A cloth pugaree adorned the base of the hat, and when moistened with water this would cool the brow of the wearer in the hottest climate. The hat featured a metal press-stud to the left side, permitting the brim to be turned up and fastened and in that way wearable when carrying arms at the left shoulder on formal occasions.
Slouch hats were still worn by the Regular Army on manoeuvres in the United Kingdom as late as 1905 and by many Rifle Volunteers until much later, being re-issued again on campaign in Salonika during the First World War. The Australians maintained the hat (and still do) whereas New Zealanders later modified it during the First World War adopting their own characteristic 'Lemon Squeezer' hat.
Printed (in gold inside headband)
Special MADE ABROAD
Printed (in silver inside)
Nulli Secundus MADE ABROAD