Jungle hat
 

I am not sure of the correct terminology for this kind of headwear so I will call it a camoflauged jungle hat. It came with a battledress and trousers and an Indian K.D. jacket that belonged to a Major in the Royal Engineers. That said, there may be no connection with the Major but they came from the same house clearance.

I do not know why a slidered L.R.B. cap badge has been sewn on to the hat, but it has clearly been there for some time.

Does anyone recognise the hat as being an issued item, and the period that it was in use? I am thinking post WW2. There are no markings apart from the number 8 or letter S, which I presume is the size.

I am not able to shed any light on this other than to say that over here that type of hat is called a Boonie Hat. My first recollection of them is the Vietnam War. Also, in the excellent movie "Danger Close" the Australians are shown wearing it, but in a solid jungle green color.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIUk4bA9tjM

Terry

Simon,

Interesting, not a camo pattern I recognize. Have found this site which has a number of similar styles used by the British Army which may assist in a positive identification.

https://camopedia.org/index.php/United_Kingdom

All the best Mate, Simon.

Has a 60'70's look, especially the green band in the inside, reminds me of UK DPM smocks of that period though I don't recognize the camo as UK DPM. Lots of similar camo around in that period, from Vietnam, us & arvn as well as Rhodesia etc.

It’s a Bush Hat, usually issued in warm/tropical climates with appropriate dpm shirts etc in Hong Kong, Kenya, Belize and Brunei, sometimes found with unit adornments.
Paul

Many thanks for all your replies.

On closer examination, there appears to have once been a white label, about two and a half inches wide, sewn under the green inside band. It looks to have been cut off close to the band leaving just a small edge showing. It is a shame that it has been removed as it would have revealed the origin of the hat.

Could it be African of some sort?

Terry

The pattern looks similar to the early French camo. However that does not work with S for small.

Marc

It's a bush hat or boonie hat. Many wore them, including British, French, Rhodesians, Australians and Americans. Probably made more famous by Aussies in Vietnam, although FFL elements wore them at Dien Bien Phu.

For what it's worth, my "jungle green" example issued to me new in Singapore in 1964 is dated 1945 (made by J COLLETT LTD (?)) and factory (?) stamped RC 5410.

Thank you Mike, Is all that information on a white label sewn into the sweat band? There is evidence that my hat once had a white label.

No, I have one from the same era and also cWW2 vintage which is stamped.

No - all printed in black ink directly onto the OG fabric. No evidence of any other labelling. Mike

Which is why I asked if the hat was military as it wasn't marked about from the letter S. It looks like the sort of hat that was sold in Milletts in the 1970's. I am thinking that it is not British and was probably bought in an army surplus store many years ago.

I have no idea why there is a Great War period London Rifle Brigade cap badge attached to it, but to be honest, I bought it for the badge.

I do not recognize the camo either. Suffice to say it is not British, but likely one of the many camo types originating out of parts of Asia or Africa in 60s or 70s.
The badge was probably added as civilian adornment.

CB