1915 ISSUE SERVICE CAP

[LONGSHANKS]

Thought I'd post this out of interest for the forum. An original 1915 issue service cap. issued to my Great Grandfather.

Cheers

Simon.

Originally Posted by LONGSHANKS

Thought I'd post this out of interest for the forum. An original 1915 issue service cap. issued to my Great Grandfather.

Cheers

Simon.

Great to see this, Simon. Thanks for posting it.

Is that your g/grandfather's original badge too?

Peter

[LONGSHANKS]

Hi Peter

Thanks.

Unfortunately not. It said on his personal effects that it was returned; but lost in the family history.

I might shoot some other pics with other 1915 issued badges. Give's them some setting to look at,

Cheers

And happy New year

Regards
Simon.

[wardog]

You mention personal effects Simon- did your grandfather serve on after the Great War or was he a caualty? This style of other ranks cap and chin strap are thought to have come into use in the 1920s. I mean no offence by pointing this out. Regards, Paul.

[LONGSHANKS]

Hi Paul, understood. But it does have date inside of WD 15 , along with I think 6 and 3/4 hat size also. So maybe having been "thought to have come into use in the 20's, may be a misnomer.

Simon.

[wardog]

Joe Sweeney is the expert on British Great War kit- he may venture an opinion. Your cap does though look to be of the 1921 type-and the chinstrap is not the thin Great War type. Regards, Paul.
Sorry Simon- I was trying to be tactfull. I did not want to be as blunt as to say known to be a post war type.

[LONGSHANKS]

I'll post a pic of the date in side tomorrow

Cheers Paul.

[chief_chum]

Hi Simon,
It's definitely a post-war cap.
As Paul says, this style dates from 1921.
The WD 15 isn't the date.
With best wishes,
Taff

[LONGSHANKS]

Well I stand corrected chaps. Thanks. It was just sent to me from the UK after the final clear out of my Grandmothers house. I said to them that it was odd, as he was killed in action in 1918, and nothing other than personal effects and his cap badge were returned. I didn't imagine he would be allowed on the one occasion he got time home to be able to leave anything that he would have needed like uniform.

Well thanks for the info all.

Cheers

Simon.

[Mike_2817]

Unusal for any uniform item to be returned to NOK with personnel effects.

Looks like a pre-war 1902 Pattern SD Cap to me, replaced with the 1915 Pattern 'Floppy Hat', and again in 1921 with a thiner chin starp and stiffening again.

[LONGSHANKS]

Well Mike, a mixed bag of origins. I'd like to know what the WD 15 (I'll take a pic) refers to myself. Is that a pattern number. I always understood it to be the date of manufacture. But seems I was wrong. As I said, for me I thought it was odd to have his hat sent back.

Simon

[LONGSHANKS]

here you go. As I said, I always understood this to be the year. If not, then what does it represent.

Cheers

Simon.

[wardog]

This type of mark is post war-though 'possibly' as early as 1918- the number is inspection related. During the war- mid 1915 onwards- the marking was number over arrow over letter. If before mid 1915 the full year-ie 1914 etc. was used as a marking. The likes of Joe and Taff know their stuff much more then me and I learn from the likes of them on the Great War Forum. I only have one 1905 type cap myself. The type you show Simon is often confused with being a Great War cap- and indeed has sold for high prices when it has been misdescribed on ebay. Regards, Paul.
Simon-now you need to find if you had a relative who served after The Great War.

[orasot]

Here's mine as a comparison for you Simon,
Wilf.

[wardog]

Hello Wilf. Nice markings on your Soft Service Dress Cap. I've read that this type came into use in 1916 but most around now are 1917 ones. I've only seen 1 1916 one. Do you think the chinstrap is a later one? Regards, Paul.