WW2 SAS WHITE BERET

[HamandJam]

I have heard once the white SAS berets were actually black RTR berets but bleached in petrol, interesting theory.

Another headwear worn by SAS are the dark blue side caps worn by some L detachment members in the early days.

http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...ad.php?t=26304

Cheers,
JB

[Alan O]

Try putting petrol on a dark beret and it may go a slightly different shade but it's not going to bleach it!

[sketchley kid]

We used to regularly clean our 'tank' berets with petrol or 'carbon tetra cloride(spelling!!)'(fire extinguisher !!)never bleached the beret!

[Mike_2817]

Used to use Carbon Tetrachloride as a degreaser and Bromochlorodifluoromethane (BCF) extinguishers to clean vehicles. Our Pet Ops used to wade in Petrol in the days before 'Elf & Softey' and it never bleached anything.
[made a few sterile I am told]

The white berets were more than likley produced in felt by local hat makers, which would also explain thier large crown.



A good old CarbonTet Fire Extinguisher

[silverwash]

I was reliably informed many years ago by a dealer that once upon a time in the desert, the boys accidently shot a camel. the irate owner was suitably compensated , the camel ended up in the cookhouse and its fur utilised to make the early pattern of white beret. there are white camels you know. sounds pretty plausible to me !

[Luc]

Originally Posted by HamandJam

black RTR berets but bleached in petrol

I do not believe that petrol, or other oil based fluids, have significant alkaline properties and are thus unsuitable for bleeching.

[Old Smelly]

Originally Posted by tynesideirish

Just a couple of points re Beret colour. The Army Commando and later Royal Marine Commando wore the green beret a long time before the Airborne forces 'adopted' the Maroon beret.

What are the approx dates for the introduction of the green/maroon berets?

Lee

[21Damocles]

Closest one I have seen is this! Not sure though?
Mike

[HamandJam]

Lee,

The official date appears 13 October 1942 as per this regulation.http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/...4+_1_.JPG.html




Mountbatten had asked permission for the green beret to the under secretaryof the state for war on May 1st 1942

http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/...Beret.jpg.html

The first contract to produce the green beret dates from June 27, 1942.

The beret appears to have worn already as from July 1942 in Achnacarry.

Cheers,
JB

Originally Posted by Old Smelly

What are the approx dates for the introduction of the green/maroon berets?

Lee

[HamandJam]

Mike

Unless i am colour blind this is beige/sand not white.

JB

Originally Posted by 21Damocles

Closest one I have seen is this! Not sure though?
Mike

[johanwiegman]

Friends,

I would say the colour of that beret is 'camel'...

Doesn't that sound appropriate, thinking of the story about the shot camel?

Frankly, to me that is a very tall story indeed. Next, we need to judge berets by "look and feel and smell!"

I have seen white camels in the Middle East, but they are hardly snow white. The early berets of the SAS were very white, modelled after a French beret I believe.

I have never ever seen one in the flesh, unlike white camels...

Sorry for being a little corny...

Cheers,

Johan

[silverwash]

my tongue was firmly in cheek when I typed the reply. one of the many pearls of wisdom supplied by SF dealers when peddling their wares. don't know about tall, more stratospheric.

[johanwiegman]

Originally Posted by silverwash

my tongue was firmly in cheek when I typed the reply. one of the many pearls of wisdom supplied by SF dealers when peddling their wares. don't know about tall, more stratospheric.

Ha, ha, good story, mate!

[ARTE ET MARTE]

Hi,
I was surprised to see this thread again, I had forgotten I had started it !!
Still no further on then, still I am sure an example of the white SAS beret will surface one day.
I read on another forum re the theory of sand coloured berets washed in petrol. At that time I did not believe about uniform being washed in petrol, however, after reading most/all of the WW2 accounts by 'tankies' in the desert, yes, uniform was washed in petrol, no doubt about it, but it does not answer the beret question.
So here is another question.
The maroon beret was worn by the SAS until 1957.
I have an example of a 1950 dated sand/beige beret, sand not khaki ,with a black not brown leather band,made by Supak so not a private purchase, as far as I know no other regiment wore this colour of beret.
Johan has seen a picture of it.
Your views, thanks, Liam.

[Unknownsoldier]

The Chasseur Alpin, wear a white cover to their beret,

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showt...-Anyone/page51

Is it possible they trained with the SAS for mountain work or the tradition was copied or something?

Tom