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Slouch Hat​

Nothing says Aussie pride quite like the iconic slouch hat. From dusty drills to ceremonial parades, it's been part of the military identity for over a century. That badge? It’s not just for show—those bayonets forming the ‘Rising Sun’ design symbolise protection of the Crown and duty to serve.

Credit: Australia Remember When / Facebook

Did you or someone in your family wear one of these? We’d love your stories here!

 

[Kman]

My younger sister joined the Army Reserve in the mid 80's as her husband was a Reservist.

I joined the Army Reserve in 1979 while still in High School. March 1980 enlisted in The Australian Regular Army. 37 years of service.

 

[Clareenau]

I have ttwo nephews who served and they are doing the Kokoda Trek in New Guinea at the moment. They were both really pleased to know that they would be doing this trek on Anzac Day.

 

[SSCElderberry]

In the late 60s & early 70s I was a member of my High Schools cadet unit. On Parade days I would travel to school via train wearing full uniform carrying my school case and a .303 rifle!! (No bolt) Not sure how that would be viewed these days!

 

[Veggiepatch]

My Dad was in the Royal Australian Airforce as a 17 year old trainee armourer on the tarmac when the Japanese bombed Darwin Airport. Another of many who lied about their age to serve for their country.

I don't think he wore a slouch hat though.

 

[Kman]

My Dad was in the Royal Australian Airforce as a 17 year old trainee armourer on the tarmac when the Japanese bombed Darwin Airport. Another of many who lied about their age to serve for their country.

I don't think he wore a slouch hat though.

RAAF and Navy do wear Slouch Hats, however, it is traditionally Army.

• Tradition:
  The slouch hat is a traditional part of the Australian Army's uniform, but it's also worn by the RAAF and the Royal Australian Navy, as well as the Australian Army.
• Raff's Use:
  The RAAF uses the slouch hat with a dark blue puggaree as a non-ceremonial head dress.
• Other Services:
  The Royal Australian Navy also wears the slouch hat with a puggaree when wearing camouflage and other uniforms.

 

[Veggiepatch]

RAAF and Navy do wear Slouch Hats, however, it is traditionally Army.

• Tradition:
  The slouch hat is a traditional part of the Australian Army's uniform, but it's also worn by the RAAF and the Royal Australian Navy, as well as the Australian Army.
• Raff's Use:
  The RAAF uses the slouch hat with a dark blue puggaree as a non-ceremonial head dress.
• Other Services:
  The Royal Australian Navy also wears the slouch hat with a puggaree when wearing camouflage and other uniforms.

Thank you for the information! Much appreciated!

 

[gordon1940]

I am pretty sure that the Left side of the Hat rim was turned upwards to enable the Bayonet to be affixed for ceremonial Duties.

 

[EllieN]

I am pretty sure that the Left side of the Hat rim was turned upwards to enable the Bayonet to be affixed for ceremonial Duties.

Correct.

 

[SSCElderberry]

I am pretty sure that the Left side of the Hat rim was turned upwards to enable the Bayonet to be affixed for ceremonial Duties.

Plus originally when marching or on parade the rifle rested on the shoulder - " left shoulder arms", hat cleared it. Later the rifle was carried at the side and lower - supported by finger(s) in the trigger guard. Order arms(?)

 

[EllieN]

My dad enlisted in the CMF in 1942. He then transferred to the AIF 12 months later in 1943. This was the trick to enlist earlier as you could join the CMF 12 months earlier thus allowing you to go away to war. He was overseas from mid 1943 to May 1945. He predominantly wore a cap, (like an officers cap) as a driver for an Intelligence Unit. He also wore a slouch hat.
I was in the CMF and then Army Reserve for 34 years, from when I was 17 (1966) until end of 1999. I was in a Transport Unit and wore a Beret predominately, but wore a slouch hat as well.

 

[Leenie]

My dads brothers ,he was still at school , and my grandmothers brothers all fought in First World War ,one of my dads brothers had shrapnel embedded in his head and they weren’t able to do surgery to remove it as it was in a bad position ,and other family members were in 2 nd world war , I was able to get their information from the Australian War Memorial, all history from the date they signed up ,where they were fighting , ships they came home on etc it’s very interesting reading.

 

[Leenie]

What a disgrace at the Anzac ceremony in Melbourne where welcome to country was performed, an insult to our veterans, and the neo nazis disrupting the service ,ENOUGH is ENOUGH? What would our dead and living vets think ? Not to mention the government’s that allowed this behaviour to go ahead.

 

[Kman]

What a disgrace at the Anzac ceremony in Melbourne where welcome to country was performed, an insult to our veterans, and the neo nazis disrupting the service ,ENOUGH is ENOUGH? What would our dead and living vets think ? Not to mention the government’s that allowed this behaviour to go ahead.

The living Vets are totally pissed off. The welcome to country ceremony is a scam invented by Ernie Dingo and some other person in 1976. A welcome ceremony was something the indigenous only used for other indigenous mobs.

 

[RieTreesSilver]

RAAF and Navy do wear Slouch Hats, however, it is traditionally Army.

• Tradition:
  The slouch hat is a traditional part of the Australian Army's uniform, but it's also worn by the RAAF and the Royal Australian Navy, as well as the Australian Army.
• Raff's Use:
  The RAAF uses the slouch hat with a dark blue puggaree as a non-ceremonial head dress.
• Other Services:
  The Royal Australian Navy also wears the slouch hat with a puggaree when wearing camouflage and other uniforms.

The Slouch Hat is worn by all Services in the North of Australia and tropics with the brim down all round mainly due to the high skin cancer rates of soldiers following service in Vietnam, Malaya and Singapore.

 

[RieTreesSilver]

Sunday afternoon, Brasso came out to polish the Rising Sun" and all the buckles and fittings on tropical dress. Shoes were always well polished. Even after leaving home I would occasional ask my father to polish my dress boots for me for special occasions.

As the eldest child of a soldier I learnt how to iron in my teens and eventually graduated to ironing uniforms shirts. "Greens" (original version of Camos, without the polyester) were strictly off limits when it came to ironing. Thank good for modern fabrics!


The Rising Sun emblem has jokingly been referred to as our Family Crest as My grandfather served in WWII and continued as a career soldier until the 60"s, my father served as a career solider including time in Vietnam, 2 brothers served at different time over the past 20 years and my great grandfather served in the British Army in WWI, so I proudly attend Anzac day services where ever I can.

 

[Leenie]

Can anyone verify that the victory medals were made from Russian guns captured at Sevastopol during the Crimean War 1850? Looking through my family war history I see they were awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal, when World War1 ended .

 

[RieTreesSilver]

Leenie the Original "Victoria Cross Medals" for Extreme Valour were made from guns captured during the Crimean war which included the battle of Sevastopol. The medals you refer to would not have been made from this material.

 

[Leenie]

Leenie the Original "Victoria Cross Medals" for Extreme Valour were made from guns captured during the Crimean war which included the battle of Sevastopol. The medals you refer to would not have been made from this material.

Thank you for that information, I had read it when doing our family tree over 30 years ago and put a query next to it . Good to get the facts thank you .

 

[EllieN]

Thank you for that information, I had read it when doing our family tree over 30 years ago and put a query next to it . Good to get the facts thank you .

Correct info.