7th Gurkha Rifles felt hat - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

High Wood · #1 09-06-18, 02:05 PM

I bought this Gurkha felt hat this morning and I think that it might have been worn by a Rifleman of the 7th Gurkha Rifles. The badge backing seems to be the right tartan but the original badge is missing. The hat band is definitely post war and the original owners service number and his faded name are just visible.

is there anyway of dating the hat and identifying the original owner?

JerryBB · #2 09-06-18, 09:51 PM

the sweatband looks very artificial fake leather so probably no older than the 60's and perhaps much newer.

A Gurkha expert might be able to date the block number allocation but unless he did something famous you are unlikely to get much info on him IMO.

High Wood · #3 10-06-18, 05:33 AM

Jerry,

many thanks. It is definitely a faux leather modern sweat band. I would like to know which would be the correct badge for a 7th Gurkha Rifles hat of this period. I suspect that it might be the O.R.'s version of this one.

Simon

JerryBB · #4 10-06-18, 06:51 AM

The one I have, a similar date to yours Jon.

High Wood · #5 10-06-18, 08:30 AM

According to Kelly's badges your tartan is Hunting Stewart worn by the 10th (P.M.O.) Gurkha Rifles, whilst mine is Cameron of Erracht worn by the 7th Gurkha Rifles.

gurkharifles · #6 10-06-18, 06:24 PM

The Cameron of Erracht tartan was authorised for the 7th GR in March 1973 - to mark the affiliation of the Regt with the Queens Own Highlanders ( Seaforth and Camerons) - ( the original affiliation had been with the Cameronians ) and was worn from then until 1994. The Hunting Stewart Tartan was worn by the 10th GR and is still worn by the Royal Gurkha Rifles to this day. Tim

leigh kitchen · #7 11-06-18, 06:24 PM

A senior moment - edited, checking to see if I have photos of 2 RGR Companies (and their tartan badge backings) attached to 1RS & 2 Para that I had dealings with in Bosnia, c1999/2000.

rhodesianmilitaria · #8 16-06-18, 07:46 AM

I'm wondering if what appears to be two layers of felt stitched together was to give the brim stiffness?

I wore felt hats for 30 years in snow, rain, dust and mud. Rabbit felt (Akubra) doesn't seem to withstand the elements as good as beaver felt, especially a higher standard say 10x and above.
But what does give the brim stiffness that will last for years is spraying the hat with women's hair spray. If you do that once a week for a few months it will last for years and is totally impervious to the elements.