Kangol Dark Blue Beret With Badge Grommets, Dated 1967.

[leigh kitchen]

An unusual (to me, anyway) feature of this beret is that it has metal grommets through which to affix the badge.
It has a sewn in badge stiffenef backing and has no ventilation holes and grommets on the right side.
I have no idea which unit or units it was intended to be worn by.

[54Bty]

Possibly Royal Navy.

Marc

[leigh kitchen]

Thanks - that could explain the production presumably in quantity of a beret for a badge / badges with astandardised fitting.
I think I've only seen RN beret badges fitted with sliders, not lugs?
It has a sewn in badge backing as per RN berets.
Are or were RN berets dark blue or black, I thought black?
The only time I can remember seeing RN in berets in the flesh is the RFA Hong Kong crews of Sir Gallahad, Sir Tristram etc during the 1970's.
I can't remember whether the berets they wore were dark blue or black, just that they were worn pancake style.
Would the WD "crows foot" be marked in RN / RFA berets?

[leigh kitchen]

Now I think of it - I have a RN black beret with built in badge backing but no badge grommets and a RFA beret with bullion badge, I think that one's dark blue.
The beret I've posted may be RFA?

[Marcel]

This is possibly a R.A.F. beret, since it has a R.A.F. stores code
22K/2106 in it. 22K is the group code for R.A.F. Civilian uniforms.

[leigh kitchen]

Thanks, I didn't know the significance of the code.

[JerryBB]

I think RAF headgear had holes for the badges, certainly seen it on side caps

[leigh kitchen]

Yes, I have RAF berets with the "badge grommets" but they're RAF blue, not dark blue.

[grey_green_acorn]

Could it be Royal Observer Corps??

Tim

[leigh kitchen]

Did ROC wear dark blue rather than black?
Would they have RAF or ROC specific markings in the beret?
Apologies for firing off questions - I'm thinking out loud.