The British Black Beret, Introduction to WWII

[@ozdavemcgee2079]

Australian Armoured Corp wore black berets as well. They were the last to wear a beret still may do I'm not sure now

[@lib556]

The Canadian Armoured Corps followed the UK example and adopted the black beret prior to the war. I'm unsure of the precise date.

[@hughledger7835]

That would be hard since the RCAC was established in August 1940

[@lib556]

@@hughledger7835 True by official title. I believe whatever preceded the RCAC may have adopted the headgear. At least my z*pperhead friends assure me that is the case and they wouldn't lie... would they? 😁 Demands further investigation.

[@crispianbarlow5184]

Canadian army had six regiments converted "on paper" to Armoured roles, but no tanks. Also, initially they were told to wear "traditional headdress" but the Essex Regt was newly formed & had no traditions, so they bought their own berets and were the first Canadian Regt to actually wear the black berets (at their inaugral parade 20 April 1937)

[@josephinekush5056]

You're quite correct. The black beret was adopted for designated (tank) armoured units within the Canadian Militia in 1937. However, supply was an issue & if memory serves the Essex Scottish were the first to wear the Black beret. - Courtesy of George K. CD.

[@davidoneill9244]

I wore 1 during National Service (1957-1959) in the RAOC. Immediately after Basic Training we removed the lining & shrunk the beret to make it more fluid & malleable

[@9hamish9]

All Royal Australian Armoured Corp personnel and associated regiments wear the Black Beret with either corps or regimental badge. My regiment was the 4/19 Princes of Wales’s Light Horse back in the 80s. Some regiments also wore emu tufts behind their badge on the beret.

[@stephanl1983]

Infanry units converted to tanks also continued to use the terms Platoon and Company instead of Troop and Squadron like the RTR and Cavalry and Yeomanry units.

[@SimonKeyse]

My late Dad wwhom served at DDay in the 4/7 Royal Dragoon Guards told me how proud he was to wear the Black beret

[@josephinekush5056]

A number of Canadian general officers followed Bernard Montgomery's example & adopted the black beret because it looked rather impressive, General Guy Simmonds was a prime example. Likewise, several Canadian war artists took to wearing the black beret as a fashion statement. The only specific special order regarding Canadian headgear concerned the wearing of silk top hats. General Montgomery, on visiting some Canadian artillerymen in Italy, serving their guns entirely naked, due to the summer heat, noticed one particular gunner sporting a fine silk opera hat. The order subsequently came down, "No silk hats shall be worn in this division." If memory serves, it was the 5th Canadian Armoured Div. "The Mighty Maroon Machine" under General Bert Hofmeister, Canada's finest general . - Courtesy George K. UE.CD.

[@crispianbarlow5184]

The film "They Were Not Divided" involves the Guards Armoured Division with black berets and actual real footage spliced into the film kzbin.info/www/bejne/gGGneaVmj6p-d6M

[@lexi_9995]

An excellent film with RSM Brittain having a good shout.

[@DaveAinsworth-y8h]

The first Regiment to used Berets was The Royal Tank Regiment in the 1920s.

[@behindthespotlight7983]

Don’t forget Monte !!

[@davidbrennan660]

Rece Corp moved from a Khaki Beret to a Black Beret when they became part of the RAC….. . Hail Brian L Davis!

[@drno4837]

I have never seen a picture of a British tanker actually wearing a "crash helmet", I have seen the commander with a "tin hat", what did this headgear actually look like? The Americans had one and the Russians had a very famous one they still seem to wear or did till recently, have never seen the Germans wearing a helmet in their tanks either, having been in a few tanks and a great many APCs there is a considerable about of kit to bash your bonce on so it does seem like a good idea.

[@stefanschutz5166]

The Dutch army too followed the British.

[@FLASHM97]

Nice