speagle Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 I purchased this yesterday in a local antique store. The tag said "Australian Military Dress Hat (very rare)" I am a "little" skeptical about the "very rare" description, but hoping it is authentic. Can anyone help veryfy the description and help identify the insignia on the front. Thanks in advance Ed (GORDON/MERVYN: What do you think?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul L Murphy Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 The badge is for the Signal Corps. It is not rare. I am not sure if it belongs to the cap but I am sure someone with more knowledge of Australian caps will be able to comment on this. Can we see a photo of the chin strap buttons on the cap since that will help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speagle Posted October 15, 2009 Author Share Posted October 15, 2009 The badge is for the Signal Corps. It is not rare. I am not sure if it belongs to the cap but I am sure someone with more knowledge of Australian caps will be able to comment on this. Can we see a photo of the chin strap buttons on the cap since that will help. Thanks Paul, As I said, I was a little skeptical about the "rare" part. Sorry about the quality but hope these will help. Thanks again, Ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speagle Posted October 15, 2009 Author Share Posted October 15, 2009 Thanks Paul, As I said, I was a little skeptical about the "rare" part. Sorry about the quality but hope these will help. Thanks again, Ed Here's a view of the lable inside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 Here's a view of the lable inside. Herbert Johnson is, of course, a very well known London hatter, and has provided hats / caps for military officers for years. Hugh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speagle Posted October 26, 2009 Author Share Posted October 26, 2009 The badge is for the Signal Corps. It is not rare. I am not sure if it belongs to the cap but I am sure someone with more knowledge of Australian caps will be able to comment on this. Can we see a photo of the chin strap buttons on the cap since that will help. Paul, Another question for you. Can you tell me if there is a difference in the insignia on my hat WITHOUT the banner reading "AUSTRALIA" and the one shown in the Wikipedia link here? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Australian_Corps_of_Signals Thanks, Ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leigh kitchen Posted October 26, 2009 Share Posted October 26, 2009 (edited) Looks like it's a British Royal Corps of Signals officer's cap, silver "Jimmys" mounted on gilt buttons, but possibly an Other Ranks anodised badge rather than officer's gilt & silver? The badge is current ERII pattern. Edited October 26, 2009 by leigh kitchen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speagle Posted October 27, 2009 Author Share Posted October 27, 2009 Looks like it's a British Royal Corps of Signals officer's cap, silver "Jimmys" mounted on gilt buttons, but possibly an Other Ranks anodised badge rather than officer's gilt & silver? The badge is current ERII pattern. Thanks Leigh, I did a search of the BRCS and found the cap badge so I guess we can "reidentify" this as a British Cap. One other thing; might you know of any site addresses that might display the uniforms, including hats? Thanks again, Ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leigh kitchen Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 Not that I can think of, off the top of my head. Here's a Royal Signals sidecap (this is an example from the 1970's, not that it's significant). I can't remember if sidecaps in the Royal Sigs at that time were issue or a non-optional private purchase as n some at least, other units. Anodised cap badge & buttons. I have an officer's sidecap somewhere, basically the same but with gold piping along the top, I think it has anodised buttons, & it has no badge as yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leigh kitchen Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 Royal Signals Officer's sidecap, anodised buttons as per the OR's sidecap, the badge is missng - presumably a silver & gilt 2-piece one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speagle Posted October 30, 2009 Author Share Posted October 30, 2009 Nice item. Thanks for sharing the picture and the info. Ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter monahan Posted November 1, 2009 Share Posted November 1, 2009 (edited) Never mind! Put mouth in gear before engaging brain. Edited November 1, 2009 by peter monahan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speagle Posted November 2, 2009 Author Share Posted November 2, 2009 Never mind! Put mouth in gear before engaging brain. Sorry...I don't understand your post????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter monahan Posted November 2, 2009 Share Posted November 2, 2009 Sorry...I don't understand your post????? Speagle I had written a long, involved and highly improbable theory on how this hat and these buttons (which clearly don't match the hat) had come into being as a 'set' when I realized that the hat was being advertised as "Australian" and not "AUSTRIAN". I scrapped the whole post and should have left the space blank. My apologies for the cryptic posting, meant to imply that I'd typed before I'd thought! Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mervyn Mitton Posted November 2, 2009 Share Posted November 2, 2009 Peter - it's called 'advancing age' - and I promise you it gets worse. Next time find your glasses first .... Mervyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speagle Posted November 2, 2009 Author Share Posted November 2, 2009 Speagle I had written a long, involved and highly improbable theory on how this hat and these buttons (which clearly don't match the hat) had come into being as a 'set' when I realized that the hat was being advertised as "Australian" and not "AUSTRIAN". I scrapped the whole post and should have left the space blank. My apologies for the cryptic posting, meant to imply that I'd typed before I'd thought! Peter No problem Peter. Thanks for the clarification. I was afraid I may have offended someone but didn't know how or why Anyway, thanks again. ave a GREAT week. Ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leigh kitchen Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 Speagle I had written a long, involved and highly improbable theory on how this hat and these buttons (which clearly don't match the hat) had come into being as a 'set' when I realized that the hat was being advertised as "Australian" and not "AUSTRIAN". I scrapped the whole post and should have left the space blank. My apologies for the cryptic posting, meant to imply that I'd typed before I'd thought! Peter Same here, every time I see this thread listed by title I see "Austrian" initially. I think I was conditioned by that great thread on the Austrian police cap a little while ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 This thread has been nagging at me like a sore tooth, and I can't stand it any more. I'll give you a hypothesis. I wonder if the cap itself isn't really a chauffeur's cap as often worn in the UK with a black cockade in front. I can envision a young boy having such a cap and getting hold of the Signals badge / buttons, and putting them all together for a play costume. (Just the sort of thing I'd have done as a boy). The style is very similar to a chauffeur's cap, and the cap band seems reminiscent. Comments? Best, Hugh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speagle Posted November 3, 2009 Author Share Posted November 3, 2009 This thread has been nagging at me like a sore tooth, and I can't stand it any more. I'll give you a hypothesis. I wonder if the cap itself isn't really a chauffeur's cap as often worn in the UK with a black cockade in front. I can envision a young boy having such a cap and getting hold of the Signals badge / buttons, and putting them all together for a play costume. (Just the sort of thing I'd have done as a boy). The style is very similar to a chauffeur's cap, and the cap band seems reminiscent. Comments? Best, Hugh Interesting concept Hugh. Unfortunately I haven'ta clue one way or the other (hence my posting and asking for assistance in identifying). If anyone can help by refering to the first picture I posted and comment on the wavy seam line, perhaps that may help clarify. Anyway Hugh, thanks for your observation and I hope your "nagging sore tooth feeling" gets better soon. Ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leigh kitchen Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 (edited) The "wavy" band kis as per British offcer's caps. Edited November 3, 2009 by leigh kitchen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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