Slouch hat, East African pattern.

[High Wood]

I bought this slouch hat yesterday, cheaply as the leather sweat band is missing, and I wondered if the hat band is significant as to which theatre it was worn in.

Those worn in India, Burma and the Far East tend to have a Pagri rather than a woven hat band. I have seen photographs of slouch hats with narrow hat bands being worn by troops in the East African Command.

Is there an obvious distinction between slouch hats worn in East Africa and those worn in Burma, or were both types worn in both theatres?

[High Wood]

I may have the answer as this photograph shows.

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/i...ject/205205694

The troops of the King's African Rifles have a narrow woven hat band. The British officers have pagris. So both types were being worn in Ethiopia in 1941/42.

[sapper533]

For what it's worth I agree, This was worn by East African troops, I have a similar one and spent a long time trying to link it to RWAFF but kept coming back to East Africa. However I do think they wore them in Burma. As you say no pagri just a narrow band and taller than the normal pattern slouch hat in my opinion.
Cheers
Sean

[sapper533]

And here

[High Wood]

Sean,

many thanks for taking the time to upload the photographs that appear to confirm my theory. Very pleased that they were also worn in Burma by East African troops.

Simon

[Mike Jackson]

Originally Posted by sapper533

For what it's worth I agree, This was worn by East African troops, I have a similar one and spent a long time trying to link it to RWAFF but kept coming back to East Africa. However I do think they wore them in Burma. As you say no pagri just a narrow band and taller than the normal pattern slouch hat in my opinion.
Cheers
Sean

In my opinion, the image that Sean attached says it all - worth a thousand words! For the soldiers concerned it was simply a very useful hat - and a way of expressing an individual's personality. I have been told however that they were known as bush hats in the colonial African context. A little off track, but I think that John Masters noted that British troops sometime favoured an improvised pagri made up of plaited leather bootlaces - thus ensuring a ready supply of spares. Mike

[Postwarden]

Something like this?

Jon

[Mike Jackson]

Exactly! Mike

[JerryBB]

i have no idea where he served but this example is signed as a dedication to a comrade by an officer of the RAOC, and I also have his sun helmet. it is dated on the sweatband to 1942

[JerryBB]

another of uncertain attribution, though British made and from the foil lining dating to 1943/44