King's slouch hat

[High Wood]

I woke up this morning still grumpy as I had been outbid on a King's Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment tropical shoulder title, undoubtedly owned by a Chindit. I hadn't realised that on Robin McGregor's auction site that you couldn't increase your bid until you had been outbid, by which time it was too late.

But I digress, this morning I toddled off to a well known Flea market and at about 7.45 on the third stall that I went to I found this. I have never seen one for sale before and I never thought that I would ever own one. It needs a gentle brushing, some slight reshaping and perhaps something on the chin strap to preserve the leather.

The seller said that he has owned it for about 20 years and that it came from a house clearance in Altrincham in Cheshire.

The original owner, being a King's-man, would almost certainly taken part in either the first or the second Chindit Expedition.