British Berets

[sailorbear]

Further to my last post, More berets that I have worn

No1 & 2 Infantry/Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment beret issued 1993 - Leather sweat band.

No 3 & 4 Adjutant Generals Corps - Military Provost Guard Service beret issued 2001 - Leather sweat band.

No 5 & 6 Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service Ratings beret, issued 2004 Nylon sweat band.

Tony

[Hussar100]

Originally Posted by Mike_2817

The 70's to early 90's British Forces Beret had a Polyester Cotton Weave Headband (Sweatband)
Why? Becouse it was cheaper than Leather at the time.

Officers either wore an OR's Beret with Leather Headband if they could get one, or purchased a Beret with Leather Headband with Silk Liner (never a Silk Headband)

In my 22 plus years in the Army I never cut out the 'cotton' liner, but did remove the plastic diamond shaped liner, not becouse some 'old sweat' told me it would make me bald, but becouse it made my head sweat! and it helped to shape the beret - simples.

I shaped my beret by soaking it in hot (not boiling) water, cooled it, wrung it out and wore it to shape, then took it off to dry.

Badge above by left eye (erm veering to over the nose at times) with suplus pulled over my right ear and back! The way I still wear in in the RBL, not pulled forward like Andy Cap (each to thier own)

Some berets did have a silk band however - one at least. QRIH.

[REMEVMBEA1]

Originally Posted by Mike_2817

The 70's to early 90's British Forces Beret had a Polyester Cotton Weave Headband (Sweatband)
Why? Becouse it was cheaper than Leather at the time.

Officers either wore an OR's Beret with Leather Headband if they could get one, or purchased a Beret with Leather Headband with Silk Liner (never a Silk Headband)

In my 22 plus years in the Army I never cut out the 'cotton' liner, but did remove the plastic diamond shaped liner, not becouse some 'old sweat' told me it would make me bald, but becouse it made my head sweat! and it helped to shape the beret - simples.

I shaped my beret by soaking it in hot (not boiling) water, cooled it, wrung it out and wore it to shape, then took it off to dry.

Badge above by left eye (erm veering to over the nose at times) with suplus pulled over my right ear and back! The way I still wear in in the RBL, not pulled forward like Andy Cap (each to thier own)

58 to 73 I wore my berets exactly like that except for a short time with the 32 Scottish Sig Regt when I wore a glengarry. I seem to recall the first beret I had was one with a leather headband.

[Loski]

Originally Posted by sailorbear

Hi just out of interest I thought I'd post some pictures of the various berets that I have worn over the years.

No1 & 2 Royal Naval Reserve Beret issued 1993 with nylon fabric sweat band. (Blackened cap badge as I was serving with a Port Defence Party in the Seaward Defence Branch)

No3 & 4 Royal Navy Beret issued 1995 with leather sweat band.

No 5 & 6 Sea Cadet Corps Adult Petty Officer Instructor Beret issued 2012.

No 7 Detail of new type cap badge and eyelets on SCC beret.

The eyelets for the badge are the same as RAF berets I have a compton and webb RAF beret with badge eyelets

[Loski]

As a 15 year old in 1980 I joined the Army Cadets in Aldershot and I was issued a navy blue Kangol beret that I wore with a Para cap badge with a maroon diamond behind the badge,
when I joined the regular army in 1985 i was issued the same type of Kangol navy blue Beret and a Royal Hampshire badge.