Australian Vietnam Headress

[billy]

Hi all need a bit of advice, a friend has acquired an Australian Headress from the Vietnam War but missing the badge, could someone post a picture of what is actually required?

Am thinking the Australian Rising Sun with a Queens Crown, but would this be correct?
In Staybright or another metal type?
Also was other badges in use in this Theatre?

If anyone has a soare which is available to make this complete I would be happy to hear from you, many thanks Billy

[Home Guard]

Billy,

Maybe you can find what you're looking for here. It looks ot me as if they wore a boonie hat with no badge in the field. The movie "Danger Close" also reflects that.

https://www.google.com/search?q=unif...w=1903&bih=937

Terry

[slick_mick]

Originally Posted by billy

Hi all need a bit of advice, a friend has acquired an Australian Headress from the Vietnam War but missing the badge, could someone post a picture of what is actually required?

Am thinking the Australian Rising Sun with a Queens Crown, but would this be correct?
In Staybright or another metal type?
Also was other badges in use in this Theatre?

If anyone has a soare which is available to make this complete I would be happy to hear from you, many thanks Billy

Are referring to a slouch hat or a jungle green bush hat that was worn on ops?

If slouch hat, the badge would depend on what corps the soldier was in.

Mick

[billy]

Thanks lads Slouch Hat, not the Booney! Now to find out ifvhe knows?

[slick_mick]

Originally Posted by billy

Thanks lads Slouch Hat, not the Booney! Now to find out ifvhe knows?

Booney hat isn't an Aussie term

Mick

[Home Guard]

I know Mick, that's my American coming trough. What do you all call them?

Terry

[slick_mick]

Originally Posted by Home Guard

I know Mick, that's my American coming trough. What do you all call them?

Terry

Bush hats is what I call them.

Mick

[billy]

I only know them as Bush Hats - Olive Green, and with no badges.

Have contacted Edge and he is sending me a picture to see if I can discern any imprint a badge has left or any shading which may lead to a shape of the badge?

Will post it up if I see anything, though might be best to post as someone may see something I miss?

Thanks, billy

[Rednek]

Back then, they were referred to as "giggle hats".
And, no badges (metal or cloth) were worn on them.
Maybe some person added a badge to one of these at some stage, but, certainly not on field operations, and not official.
Occasionally, a length of "fourby / forby" (slang for four x two, rifle barrel cleaning cloth) was worn woven through the loops. Seen on the cover of one unit history.
But, not a smart move, as it defeats camouflage - stands out as regular and not a nature colour (against some of the 5 "S").

[Chipper]

Originally Posted by slick_mick

Bush hats is what I call them.

Mick

Just a side note, when I was a lad, not long after the war ended, they were called "Giggle Hats" not sure why, but as kids we'd buy them from disposal stores in Sydney to wear camping.

Cheers, Tim

[leigh kitchen]

"Giggle hats" - so named because the wearer looked silly and people laughed at them, from what I remember from working with Aussis.

[Home Guard]

Thank you for enlightening me. In referring to Australians wearing said hat I will henceforth call it a bush hat.

People may have thought they looked silly wearing them, but I suspect the soldiers in the jungle appreciated them - light and breathable.

Terry

[leigh kitchen]

They were issued in light blue with the UN arm badge sewn on the front to Aussie UN Police years ago, I don't think they were worn by many.
They seemed to get passed on to Interpretors, I was offered one of the hats but declined the offer, I should've accepted it, along with a kevlar helmet, three of which were found to contain rats nests.
I was offered one with only slightly chewed lining but again declined the offer, should've accepted it despite the minor damage and residue of eau de rat urine and excrement.

[billy]

O/K here is the Slouch Hat, and I can see a little Aussie man lying down! No seriously, you can see the top and bottom hole for lugs I guess? and look to the upper one to the left you can notice an indentation like a foot and then leg angled upwards - once you see that the rest of the indentation looks like a man lying down!

The Indentation must match up with a badge but I wouldn't know, so if anyone can discern a pattern for a badge that would be great! Many thanks in advance Billy

[Drummajor]

Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. (My guess)

Phil.