The Forgotten History of the Australian Slouch Hat

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

As many- many- Australians have noted, the name of the large, soft feathered flightless ratite is pronounced eem-you rather than ee-moo.

[@QuantumRift]

Well, that settles that, then! LOL...Great video, sir, as usual.

[@manofwar577]

Great video, you had me at KFF, as a former ADF member, cheers!

[@paulryan2128]

History Guy - do you accept donations of rare, odd or exceptional military and/or civil service head gear? And if so, how does one vette and/or contact you for delivery? Asking for a friend.

[@petethebastard]

@@manofwar577 KFF, not to be confused with KFS... One is for Marching, one is for eating....

[@shawngilliland243]

One of your coolest episodes ever, History Guy!

[@alonsocushing2398]

My uncle was wearing the slouch hat when he was captured in Singapore. I wore it when I served with the Australian Army in Malaysia in 1967/68. And now my grandson wears it with the added emu plume as part of an Aussie cavalry regiment.

[@sclubbydoo6424]

Damn, an emu plume? That's like, the one war aussies didnt win This is a joke by the way, I truly do respect you for your service

[@mitchellprimmer6383]

This made my day thanks mate

[@fishingthelist4017]

Thank you to three generations. I would love to hear the story of that hat and the soldiers who wore it.

[@vectr0z526]

Crazy to think that a hat has its own story to tell.

[@arthas640]

@@vectr0z526 you say that like the Sorting Hat doesnt have a long and storied life

[@bubbacaine2870]

"Even if both sides run out of bullets... the enemy has one to fear..... It's a digger with his bayonet and a sunburned left ear."

[@KyleOfCanada]

That has a great ring to it; where's it from?

[@bubbacaine2870]

@@KyleOfCanada it's from a poem called the sunburt ear.

[@KyleOfCanada]

@@bubbacaine2870 Thanks! I'll look it up.

[@bubbacaine2870]

@@KyleOfCanada it's on you tube

Bubba you have it exactly right!

[@doonsbury9656]

Only the History Guy could deliver such a definitive history of the iconic Slouch hat in such an entertaining way. Many thanks from down under mate!

[@andrewstackpool4911]

Got that right; we can let the pedantics of language pass in the interests of historical fact and research

[@RoverIAC]

@Timothy McCaskey jokes on you Tim, we never had Jeopardy in Australia and no one here knows who Alex Trebek is.

[@RoverIAC]

@Timothy McCaskey Well you're right . It doesn't matter. But my point was that you were say that HG would be a good replacement for Trebeck to the original poster who states that they are from Down Under. We all good now? : D

[@andersonsroad5161]

My late father was a officer in the Australian army signal corp and was in Vietnam in 69. His slouchy was one thing he kept from that time and which he gave to me before he died. You're right, the slouch hat means a lot to many soldiers.

[@aussiedonaldduck2854]

My Dad was in Signal corp in WW2 in PNG & Molokai, Slouch is long gone but we still have the badge and medals

[@vinorob]

Swift and Sure, 2 Sig, Simpson Barracks Melbourne.

[@phillipasalisbury7570]

Hi Anderson's I saw your post please accept my sincere sympathies at the loss of your father.my dad was also in the (Australian) Army an just like your late father my dad was also in the sig's(regular soldier) I have that hat now and I'm so proud of it

[@trevorkohler5830]

Worn with pride.

[@indigocheetah4172]

I remember my Grandfather wearing his slouch hat, as he worked in the garden . His slouch hat had seen better days . But , my Pop, said that it kept the sun off , and the memories close. Lest we forget .

[@thedogman14]

Thank you for your history video. As a Australian Veteran there are a couple of points to always observe. The slouch hat is always pinned up on the left. The colour is pronounced "kar-kee" not "kack-ee" And you already know that the famous bird on our Coat of Arms is an "eem-you" . By the way. The hat is worn with a slant of two fingers over the left ear. The bottom buckle is always in direct line with the side of the mouth. The chin strap is always across the leading edge of the chin...not under or over. And for many years the slouch hat has been made by the iconic Australian company "Akubra". It is made out of rabbit fur.

[@motorcop505]

When you see a soldier or a veteran wearing an Aussie Slouch Hat, you know you are looking at a squared away badass. It’s like seeing a Gurkha wearing a kukri or a Scottish soldier wearing a kilt, you just know they are someone who you want right by your side in combat. A hell of a lot of blood, sweat, and heroism was spent by Aussies around the world to earn that honor. God bless our Australian brothers (and sisters0 in arms! 🇺🇸 ❤️ 🇦🇺

[@photografiq_presents]

Honour. Our guys are literate.

[@ruthannbrooks3857]

God Bless all in Jesus name Amen

[@travcollier]

Commonwealth forces have a pretty amazing history, too often overlooked. Consistently punch over their weight and reliable in a pinch. Hard not to think of their relation to the British (and Americans) in terms of siblings... You might not get along sometimes, but nobody messes with my brother.

[@pashakdescilly7517]

​@@photografiq_presents 'Honour' is the standard English spelling, but I have no objection to US people spelling it 'honor'. Actually, 'honor' is an old spelling previously the standard one in England. Just don't tell me that 'honour' is wrong

[@kimlovell7957]

Bloody well said!! You sound like the sorta bloke any one of us would be proud to call a mate. Good onya

[@petergregory5286]

I’m English but am immensely proud of the association between British and Australian forces. Regards

[@BadWebDiver]

Cheers to you as well from a West Aussie.

[@scottmcgahey6820]

3rd from South Australia

[@tomservo5007]

@Buddy Rojek didn't realize you were Aboriginal.

[@geoninja8971]

+1 Newcastle, NSW. ex-RAAF.....

[@_____7704]

And so you bloody should be. We're your best convicts.

[@jameskwaka]

Our son served with distinction in the Australian Army. I remember my heart bursting with pride as my wife and I watched him at Kapooka as he marched out. That slouch hat, worn with honour by him and all those who have worn it before and since, is a real symbol of mateship and values that all those who serve hold dear.

[@michaelverbakel7632]

That hat symbolized Australia around the world.

[@JamieTransNyc]

Compare that with the US army who is so intent upon destroying espirit-de-corps that it changes its uniform every 7-10 years.

[@michaelohman4980]

Beautifully presented! As a proud Aussie with ancestors that served wearing the slouch hat in both world wars, I feel indebted to the fallen and also the diggers who made it home. The Avenues of honour which grace rural towns throughout regional Victoria bear stark testimony to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. Lest we forget.

[@CheckYourLeaderTV]

As an Australian Veteran and RSM I’m surprised how accurate your video is. Well done! I’m impressed 😉

[@pyrobrewer]

"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them."

[@BadWebDiver]

The classic historical ceremonial requiem.

[@tintin5428]

Lest We forget

[@jamesonjabiru]

Lest we forget

[@wolfoffroad]

Lest we forget.

[@rodmills4071]

Lest we forget

[@markvines7308]

Proud Aussie here, have you looked at the "battle of Broken Hill"..... it's history that deserves to be remembered.

[@markkover8040]

Another great story! Australian soldiers throughout the North African campaign wore the slouch hat also, where they proved themselves to be more than a match for Rommel's best at Tobruk and El Alamein. In the jungles of the South Pacific, the hat was perfect headgear for the hard fighting 'diggers.' Thank you for this excellent article about a famous piece of military headgear.

[@WaynePeake-lm5sg]

Excellent post history guy, and well researched. Bravo. We Aussies are very protective of the slouch hat but as you point out it goes back further than our adoption of it. When I was a small boy in the 1960s there were little gummy-bear style lollies called 'Aussie hats'. Two for a cent.

[@blacksmith67]

I am happy to hear you call yourself a steward and not ‘the owner.’ We are only brief custodians of artifacts and they should go on to other stewards after our time on Earth has passed.

[@ronfullerton3162]

I agree! An owner just possesses an item with no more idea than "It's mine". A steward is maintaining and preserving to pass it on through the future.

[@CieJe.Alexander]

"We do not inherit the land from our ancestors. We borrow it from our descendants. _Wise Old Native American saying. No one truly owns anything we are merely have stewardship over things in our world, in our time. Even in the story of Adam in the Garden of Eden. Adam's command was as caretaker of all that was. So you could well say Stewardship is the oldest profession. And I cringe to think of humanity's job-performance-review thus far.

[@speccwolf]

I absolutely cant stand that pretentious crap, its shuffled atoms with a brief history and he owns it at the time.

[@deadfreightwest5956]

Jay Leno also says this frequently of his vast collection of rare cars. He's the steward or custodian, until the next one comes along.

[@blacksmith67]

Dean Jacobs To say that everything is merely shuffled atoms is caving into an almost nihilistic view of everything. Yes, in 2 billion years our sun will swallow the inner planets, removing every trace of civilization on Earth. But in the span of human history, what we do and how we act is important, to us if nothing else. You are entitled to your view, but you won’t find much agreement from the majority of us who hold that history is important, and we don’t view responsibility as pretentious. If anything, we see _laissez faire_ / who gives a crap attitude as being the pretentious position.

[@BelloBudo007]

As an Australian I have of course seen our military wearing the slouch hat but never knew that much about it. So many facts and details about a piece of kit that my Father and Grandfather wore when serving in WW2 and Korea. Thank you, or perhaps I should say 'hats off to you'.

[@dtfrancis8888]

Love this video. I'm a US Army veteran of Iraq & Afghanistan. A mild correction, the black Stetson is worn as a traditional headgear in Cavalry units, both air and ground (i.e. light, Stryker and heavy cavalry). The U.S. Dragoons prior to the Civil War also wore the Hardee hats as a standard headgear, differentiating them from the Cavalry and Mounted Rifles regiments. Overall, love your videos. These are great.

[@LoserDonaldC]

My father wore one in British 14th army in Burma. He served under Orde Wingate in a chindit unit.

[@michaelwebber9036]

Your father is a tough dude, I hope he is still with us.

[@LoserDonaldC]

@@michaelwebber9036 No he passed away at 80 he would be 96 now. But truly one of the toughest people I ever knew.

[@shankill178]

Don Connor My great uncle was also a Chindit.

[@nhmooytis7058]

Don Connor no one wants to mess with gurkhas.

[@paulsouth4794]

My uncle Sid Jennings served under Wingate. In Burma... that was a nasty bit oh work there

[@ltpowell]

As one of three reenactors of 2nd AIF in Russia - i owe one Akubra slouch hat, and I LOVE IT!

[@micko11154]

Ooo!! An Akubra!!! Nice m8! Thats quality headwear!!!

[@pbeccas]

Much respect to you

[@mikhailv67tv]

I'd never thought reenactors in Russia would do Aussie troops from WW2. Well done

[@JohnJ469]

We are honoured by your choice Sir.

[@GeorgeSemel]

Gee's Russians marching to Waltzing Matilda, I would like to see that. Right now "Hurrah, Our Horse-Grenadier Regiment is what I listen to a lot for some reason. And with me taking Russian Language Lessons it's a good fit. On the other hand my Polish heritage it's also Kurwa!!!

[@perentee77]

As an Aussie I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to this one. Good on ya bloke👍👍

[@jaewok5G]

what's the deal w the corks on strings?

[@andrewallen9993]

@@jaewok5G An attempt to keep the vast numbers of flies that infest in Australia away from Australians eyes and faces.

[@graemesydney38]

@greenmean1 He's a kiwi - so go right ahead (but I hope ya can run fast)

[@graemesydney38]

@greenmean1 A Kiwi is someone born in KiwiLand (a.k.a. En Zed or New Zealand).

[@cjryan88]

perentee77 it’s mate

[@rosscollingwood5189]

My father wore his slouch hat proudly during his service in World War 2, and his grandson - my nephew - still does as a Chinook pilot in the Australian Army Aviation Regiment. Both would have enjoyed your presentation greatly!

[@Dallas-Nyberg]

It certainty is the most lauded military dress item in Australia. If you look closely at the rising sun badge on the hat, you will notice that the sun rays are actually bayonets, which are symbolically protecting the crown at the center.

[@andrewstackpool4911]

You are correct Dallas. Though the pattern has changed they are actually the WW1 Pattern 1917 bayonet, which originally came with a hooked quillon. The reason the hat was worn left side up from at least 1914 was the carriage of the No1 Mk3 SMLE rifle at the slope although in the field it was worn with the side down. The Light Horse wore the emu plumes as well, as the Turks were quick to notice at Beersheba. The hat is made of Australian rabbit fur and the chin strap was worn with the brass fitting piece in line with the left side of the mouth (at least when I wore one). The hat is shaped by 'bashing' in cold water, shaping with the hand and then sewing the crown until it dried; Heaven help you if you got it wrong. One slight error. the hat was worn in all theatres of WW1 and WW2 along with tin helmets. The services since then have had a range of headgear including berets but the Australian slouch hat - heavily desired by allied soldiers and occasionally presented to VIP - remains a true icon and I thank The History Guy for an excellent presentation/careful; research and his pride of stewardship; that marks the true historian.

[@moishepipick1]

Actually, Dallas, the rays are alternating swords and bayonets.

[@andrewstackpool4911]

@@daviddou1408 David, a fair question. I think it in part comes down firstly to tradition of the and military AIF post Federation. Cost of alteration/new hats I suspect most likely may have been another issue versus hats in stock and an argument I guess could be made that left side up with the Rising Sun instantly stood the Digger out from the rest (remember others still wore right side up). Another point is that the SLR with the shorter bayonet was still below hat level so there was no issue at Shoulder Arms. And of course the hat was by the 1960s becoming more a service/ceremonial dress item as the giggle hat replaced it in the J so no issue with firing SLR, Owen/F1 etc. Another point. I wonder if the opinion of the lads was sought. A funny one there with the USN.

[@bonnypop5764]

All I need to do is kill enough people and their families.... And I will be the crown? That's how it works yeah?

[@daviddempsey8721]

Bonny Pop, you’re in the wrong place. Safely in the wrong place because enough courageous people stopped authoritarian dictators from winning.

[@rustykilt]

As an Aussie ex-serviceman, I am proud to have worn the Slouch Hat, as my father did. I have to thank you for the interesting history of this headgear, and enjoy your other videos.

[@StuSaville]

9:34 Harry "Breaker" Morant He's played superbly by Edward Woodward in an Australian film called Breaker Morant which is well worth watching.

[@nhmooytis7058]

Stu Saville excellent film, love Woodward!

[@greybone777]

I concur

[@normdunbar2943]

@@nhmooytis7058 His loss was deeply felt in Britain as he was a truly iconic actor.

[@nhmooytis7058]

Norm Dunbar so many fine Brit actors getting older or dying, and we’re stuck with talent free young losers.

[@GaryNumeroUno]

The story about the Aussies in the Boer war has opened another can of worms for you HG. The story of Australian officer Lieutenant Harry Morant being made a scapegoat deserves to be remembered as well. Thanks for the informative story.

[@harryflashman9495]

Scapegoat really?

[@joebombero1]

A friend of mine had a collection of his poetry.

[@Scott2148]

A great video, very informative - My dad served in Korea, Malaya and Vietnam with the Australian Army. He also wore a pith helmet when he was in the Honour guard for Queen Elizabeth II. We are all stewards for the past and as always you are respectful and informative.

[@cybergazza2140]

Sir, once again a fantastic display of history and Australian history at that. As an ex infantry member, my slouches, we have one for ceremonial and one for service dress, I could not be any happier with your depiction of our history. So very happy to see a man such as yourself as the steward of one of our pride and joys.

[@carrenpalmer3453]

thanks for the interesting episode, my sis has a large framed photograph of our grandfather in his AIF slouch hat & uniform - 48th Battalion, WWI, light-horse brigade. On last visit back to OZ, was able to get all wartime records from his signing up papers to medical records, shot twice in France * making sure my American born & raised kids & their expanding families know their Aussie family background.

[@starrider529]

Please do a video of the similar hats worn by the Boers during the Anglo Boer wars. It is quite striking to see the similarities, not only in the hats, but also the similar lifestyles and attitudes between South Africans and the Aussies. Southern brothers...us Saffas, the Aussies, and the Kiwis!

[@PhilipLeitch]

A quick thanks from an Australian! Great content as always.

[@PhilipLeitch]

I'm third! I get the hatrick!

[@prvoke3833]

Bloody too right.

[@BearGryllzUnRated]

@greenmean1 my vehicle/kangaroo is trained to fight Russel Crowe but he never shows up..

[@Savage_Viking]

Picked one up from my Aussie friends while serving with them during an exercise in Brizzy. Still hangs in my living room and brings great memories of my time spent there. They are great soldiers.

[@Sean_Coyne]

I'm an Aussie, born here in Tasmania, but my English grandfather fought in the second Boer War as part of the Lincolnshire Regiment (one of two British regiments that had the distinctive Sphinx cap badge). I have a photograph of him taken on the return ship home to England and he and other men from his regiment are wearing slouch hats (pinned on the left) while his sergeant major and two other men are wearing solar topees.

[@Dbikgiizis]

"The Steward of the Hats"- an appropriate title for you, sir

[@rosscollingwood5189]

Indeed, and I trust you will steward that Australian slouch hat with care - as you rightly point out it is a symbol of great meaning to we who owe our freedom to the men who once wore it, and to those who still do.

[@guydives1246]

@@rosscollingwood5189 unfortunately the freedom they fought and died for is all but gone at this point,

[@rosscollingwood5189]

@@guydives1246 I fear that you are right, which is all the more reason to cherish and preserve what we have left.

[@brettcoster4781]

My great-grandfather was a Sgt Major in the first Victorian Contingent to the Boer War, in 1899. He was in the Victorian Mounted Rifles, raised by Col. Tom Price, so thank you very much for the mention. Australia hadn't yet federated so it was the individual colonies that provided the first troops, but by the time the war ended in 1902 Australia was a new nation. He remained in the Australian Army afterwards, retiring in 1927 at age 65, by then as a Lieutenant in the Australian Light Horse. I've got some of his diaries and plenty of photos of VMR and ALH units taken in the early pre-war years. During the First World War he was a riding instructor and also a machine gun instructor but, much to his chagrin, he wasn't sent overseas due to his age.

[@cavman7]

As a former long serving member of the ADF your description and history was spot on. The only thing I would like to correct is your pronunciation of emu. We say eem-you not ee-moo. There has been many variations of the placement of badges and colour patches over the years. Colour patches disappeared after WWII, and the emu plumes also disappeared after WWI. As a former cavalryman I celebrated the return of the patch and the plumes. I have my slouch hat in the cupboard and a magnificent set of plumes for it as well. The "Bash" has also modified a bit after WWII but has remained consistent since then with the introduction of bash blocks to form them and keep them in shape. Over time the wearing of the hat has changed. In the late 70's and into the 80's the correct angle was 3,2,1. With the hat on the head the space was measured as three fingers between the top of the left ear wear it joined the head and the bottom of the hat, two fingers over the left eyebrow and one finger off the right ear. The chin strap was set so the first buckle was in line with the left ear where it joined the head and the second buckle in line with the left side of the mouth. Having both sides down for non-ceremonial duty came in in the early 1990's. The return of the rising sun badge to the side came in around the same time. For a period there between the 1960's and 1990's the corp badge went on the side and there was no Rising Sun badge at all.

[@calendarpage]

I swear, I have wonder about this hat for years. Even though I've known a few Aussies in my day, it never occurred to me to ask about the hat. Glad to see a show about it. Thanks!

[@ryanmurphy2711]

Thank you for sharing this video. As an Australian I am very proud of the women and men who have served, fought and paid the ultimate price for our nation.

[@xgford94]

Once again you have done Australia proud, thanks sir you are a true gentleman.

[@geraldtrudeau3223]

Back in the late 70s and early 80s I worked as a bus driver for the Milwaukee County Transit System in Wisconsin. Some years earlier my in-laws emigrated to Australia, and on a visit home they brought me a slouch hat from Australia, also known as a Digger hat. I liked that hat so much that I ended up wearing it as part of my bus driver uniform since the colors were the same. I wore it for over 9 years, and got numerous comments about it. The one I had was the Australian military Style just like the one you showed, complete with a cockade badge on the side. I ended up putting several different pins on the turned upside, that represented things near and dear to me. My favorite was a pin that my wife had made for me about an inch long of 2 seagulls flying in unison, made of silver. To me it represented the two of us going through life together. To this day I have a soft spot for that hat.

[@Pointman-yf6or]

These hats were really a big hit with us gi’s in Vietnam. Of course we couldn’t wear them in the field, only the remf’s could. We had to wear our steel pots. I bitched about it, but one day a spent round hit me on the right side about 3 inches above my ear. Knocked me on my butt, and a dent 1/2 inch deep in the pot. Never bitched again about it!

[@OldFellaDave]

Funnily enough, we didn't wear the KFF in the bush in Vietnam either ... nor did we wear a US steel helmet either. We wore (and still wear in day today in garrison, training and non-combat situations) the good old cloth Bush Hat ;)

[@Pointman-yf6or]

David read, we also could wear our ball caps while in the rear at base camp. When I got hit in the helmet I did have the medics check me out, and I was ok but my ears were ringing for a while. I guess that’s where the saying “getting your bell rung” comes from.

[@daneaxe6465]

A former co-worker didn't like to wear his helmet or flak vest in Vietnam. Being from Montana he was hot so he wore a slouch hat and liked to go shirtless if he could. That all changed one day when his area took a whole bunch of rockets. He had a photo of himself sitting on a bulldozer in the shade of the canopy about 30 seconds before the rockets came in. He got scared s---------s and never complained about wearing a helmet and flak vest ever again. :) He also had a strange nervous "tik" when his mind was not occupied. Weirdly enough he lost the "tik" when flying and later went on to be a pilot.

[@billd.iniowa2263]

With great respect, thank you so much for serving Pointman. I grew up in the American Legion hall here in this small town. We remember you guys. We'll never forget you.

[@justingill8057]

Thoroughly well researched and riveting piece of history, thank you. From a veteran in Australia!

[@adamroodog1718]

"for the first time in the war we are fighting men who used our own tactics against us. They were Australian volunteers and although small in number we could not take their position. They were the only troops who could scout our lines at night and kill our sentries while killing or capturing our scouts. Our men admitted that the Australians were more formidable opponents and far more dangerous than any other British troops" Koos de la ray 2nd boer war

[@kiwifruitpoo]

High praise indeed from General De La Ray.

[@katymcdonald5481]

@Jamie haha exactly and George W refused to send peace keeping forces when they were requested in East Timor, it was the only time we asked anything of the USA.

[@andrewparrott7260]

As an Australian army veteran, I take pride in knowing the history of the headwear that was upon my head. You can't get anything more distint than a bronzed Aussie with a slouch hat on. A fantastic piece of headwear. The angle of the slouch got really weird during and after WW2 and was not rectified till the 1960's. There were 7 different designs of the rising sun badge before settling on the current design which says the The Australian Army with the queens crown in the middle.

[@1stpogo]

I don't think telling an Aussie infantryman that he's wearing a Unicorn would be good for your health :)

[@walterkersting1362]

Where are you from, womanland?

[@rayg9069]

Certainly not in the military of yore, but now in the modern military it's equal rights for gay whales and the more letters in your gender identity the better. Diversity and all.

[@bettyh3747]

Lol

[@nommadd5758]

"monocorn"?

[@petethebastard]

He'd laugh! "Good onya!" …(Piss off, idiot.)

[@DavidThomas-ke7ih]

As a formal Australian infantry solider who wore one of those a fair bit and still have mine that i was issued back on 8th June 1988, i must say you are very well informed and have great knowledge of our iconic hat. Prior to the unit badge being worn on the front it was worn on the side were the rising sun badge is now located and i think that come into play about 1990-91 not to sure as i served from 1988 to 1995 and wore my infantry badge on the side till regulations changed and had it worn were it is worn today. While the majority of the Australian Army wear the light khaki coloured puggaree, there are slight variations for members of the 1st Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, and the Corps of Staff Cadets. Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, wear jungle green puggaree. The dark green puggaree was introduced during the Battalion’s service in Malaya over the period 1959-61. Unable to get puggarees from Australia for an official parade; the task of producing them was given to the Battalion tailor, Mr. Mohavved Beseek. Mr Beseek used ‘bush shirts’ (common issue British field uniform at the time) to make the puggarees as he was unable to obtain the khaki material locally or from Australia. Thanks for a great vid and getting it right Thumbs upto you

[@mflashhist500]

Thank you again History Guy, it is always gratifying to see some snippets of Australian history on the world stage. In Australia we learn all about world history and are very aware of US history, but I find visitors to the Great Southern Land generally do not know of our contribution to world history.

[@williamsteele4275]

You can say that again, Mate

[@frankmoore3433]

Thanks for such an interesting and accurate history of the Aussie Slouch Hat. I served for 28 years in the Army Reserves and still have the hat issued to me in 1960. Your video showed an (unidentified at 9:34) picture of "Breaker" Morant. A man whose story might be suitable for one of your future videos.

[@geoffreyreeks2422]

Thank you. You are right. We do hold it in great respect, here in Australia because it reminds us of the sacrifice that our soldiers have made for our freedom. Regards, Geoff. Reeks

[@moishepipick1]

I wore a slouch hat in the school cadets and later in the CMF (Citizens' Military Forces) renamed the Army Reserve. I wore it with pride being aware of some of its history. But the History Guy has certainly expanded that knowledge for me. Thank you. The Kiwis also wore a slouch with a different "bash" from ours. We called it a lemon squeezer. :-)

[@georgesmith4509]

The service badge often called (incorrectly ) the rising sun is also called the shield of swords, or the bouquet of bayonets. If you look closely you can see the 'sun beams "are actually swords. In my time in the Australian infantry it was close to a punishment-able offense to call it a rising sun. And ALWAYS got the response "We are not Japanese" A really great doco thanks

[@richardcostello360]

Haha I thought it was just RAME guys that got punishment for referring to it as Rising Sun 😂 They were about the only service members that were dumb enough to openly say that and the Bayonet Bouquet on the front of the old Holsworthy gate was gleaming from their polishing

[@georgesmith4509]

@@richardcostello360 In the 45th infantry regiment it was the WO1's number 11 in where would hurt most.

[@adriang6259]

Great video. We have a Tom Price town in WA. And of course the hat is immortalised in the song "I was only 19" "...And there's me, in me slouch hat with me SLR and greens"

[@ashd592]

Hey History Guy, one of the photos you had in this episode is of a very noteworthy Aussie. "Breaker Morant" He was executed after a court martial for following orders in the Boer war. Great topic for an episode.

[@michaelarmstrong8563]

I appreciate your practice of amplifying the word cavalry. I am retired Army and grew tired of hearing Calvary used often in ceremonies. Reading is apparently difficult for many.

[@richardpomerantz9096]

It's amazing how he makes a subject, such as hats, so interesting. Another great video.

[@SamO-ik2cm]

Close. It started during the shearers strike of 1891. The Queensland mounted infantry started the traditional by chasing down emus and plucking a feather.

[@lynnhathaway3755]

He did the same thing with his segment on screwdrivers.

[@goldenchild4835]

There is a great Australian tradition of "bashing the hat"; wetting the felt and 'blocking' the hat to retain its uniform shape - it's a serious business. Australians describe the colour as car-key (khaki) and a smaller service badge was also worn on the lapel (though left to dull in combat service, so it wouldn't reflect light). During WW2, Australian jungle troops often took great care to wear their dulled service badges when operating in areas adjacent to Gurkha troops. It was often said that Australian night sentries only knew when Gurkha were present when a Gurkha hand came over the shoulder, searching for the Australian rising sun. Great channel, thanks. In late 1942 , while visiting Australian units stationed at Tel el Eisa ridge near Alamein, Montgomery was gifted an Australian slouch hat which he wore through parts of the North African campaign.

[@markmayger166]

My grandfather served on the Western front in World War 1. He was wounded with Mustard gas and returned to Australia in 1919. He would have worn the famous slouch hat. Thanks for your kind words about this Australian icon.

[@pshehan1]

My great uncle served at Gallipoli and the western front, where he too was gassed. returned to Australia but his lungs were never the same and he died relatively young in his sixties. Great grandfather also served on the Western font. Awarded the MM. Grandfather was an air force officer in WWII but don't think he wore the slouch hat.

[@brendanmccreanor1191]

Good one digger, Thankyou 👌. Loved my slouch very proud to had warn it. . I knew the history but very pleased you shared the story. Great job. Australian Soldiers are very proud of their Slouch Hat.

[@HarryP457]

At least in my experience, the first thing you did on receiving you slouch hat was "bash" it. Out of the box the crown of the hat is domed and needs to be soaked in water and set over a "bash" block to fix it into its proper shape. The chin strap will also need to be adjusted as, when worn correctly, the buckle of the chin strap should line up with the left hand corner of the mouth. The ends of the strap have a small keyhole shaped cutout that fits over a metal toggle, once the correct length has been worked out to have the buckle sit where it should, you simply cut a new slot in the strap end so the fit will always be perfect. Our "other" hat is a cloth boonie hat. Locally this is more commonly know as a "giggle" hat or in military parlance, the "hat, flop, ridiculous".

[@alonsocushing2398]

Ah, the memories.

[@spagoz2136]

There were many different personalized bashes that didn't exactly look regulation, but in the field it was generally overlooked by officers, because some of them even had their own idea of a bash. One thing I hated was using Brasso on that small buckle. Not so bad with the badge though. Didn't particularly like using blanco on the webbing as well, but a wipe over with some bees wax at least stopped it from being too dusty.

[@cavman7]

Fill a bucket with hot water to just short of the rim, turn hat upside down and lower the crown into it until brim rests on the rim of the bucket and let it soak. A decent handful of sugar dropped into the hat and stir until dissolved. Soaks some more then remove and place on bash block. Push and shape accordingly. remove carefully and place on flat surface to dry. I lost count of how many hats I helped bash for recruits. You can resurrect any old floppy bush slouch hat back to parade ground stiffness like this.

[@007JHS]

I cheated... I placed mine over a steaming kettle... bashing was achieved in moments and the hat dried quickly.

[@007JHS]

Still have it... though lost... or rather misplaced my pugaree and chinstrap.

[@james.black981]

@History Guy, the individual pictured at 9:38 is called "Breaker" Morant. Definitely an individual worthy of a seperate episode. Court Martialled during the Boer war and executed, an amazing movie was made in Australia about the "Breaker" and really sad tale about following orders and betrayal at the end of it all.

[@ronhites4629]

When I think of the Australian Slouch Hat, I think of ‘Breaker Morant’ who looked totally dashing wearing it! I totally fell in love with that kind of hat, and ordered one for myself from a great Australian company called ‘Everything Australian’! I also by the way, spent some time in Queensland back in 2001 to where I got to go into the Outback, and also do some deep-sea fishing while I was there! From my experience, no matter how short in Australia, I definitely learned that you need a good hat to protect yourself from the sun. In my opinion, Australia is one of the most beautiful places on earth, and the people are amazingly friendly!

[@hertogvandamme]

I'm Aussie and this is epic

[@j.d.8075]

Am also an Aussie

[@DrBunnyMedicinal]

'Nother Aussie here, and once again, The History Guy has done well covering some of our history and icons. I would expect no less from him and his team. Except in his painful pronunciation of Emu. (It's pronounced EE-mew, not e-MOO) *twitches*

[@JasonLambek]

I am NOT an Aussie. I only wish I was.

[@SGTDuckButter]

I figure you Aussie’s are the luckiest people on earth, and I’ve only been to Sydney.

[@TheLoxxxton]

I hear that all ozzies are taught from birth to always check your hat before putting it on for every type of wild animal that wants to sting you bite you lay it's eggs in you or just rip your face clean off! Or is that boots? Or maybe it's toilet seats! 😳

[@haukepowers-l3i]

I was given an IDF Slouch hat as an gift during a Scouting event...it gets compliments whenever I wear it...I attached a large 2-inch First Class metal badge on the front of the crown...I have been offered SERIOUS money for the hat and pin...I kindly refuse all offers...Bless you for this awesome video !!

[@docw1819]

Simply wonderful presentation. And a subject that not too many people would be aware of. Thanks again THG.

[@hotcootaful]

The battalion sitting on the side of the pyramid was the 11 Battalion. Raised in West Australia. My great grandfather, Herbert E Tuite, originally from Sydney, joined this battalion under the name Edward Hanlon. He was killed at the Battle of Lone Pine Gallipoli in the August of 1915. Interestingly on a recent trip to Perth, I visited the war memorial in Kings Park overlooking the the city, a magnificent site with a terrific view. At the Australian War Memorial (AWM) in Canberra (a must visit for any war history buff who visits this country) he is listed in the Hall of Remembrance under the name Tuite, but at the Kings Park Memorial in WA he is listed under Hanlon. If you walk down stairs to the Colonial section at the AWM you will see a large silver tea service tray given to Michael Tuite, the RSM of the first NSW Contingent to the Sudan in 1888, awarded to him by the mayor of Sydney on his return for being the 'most efficient man in the service'. An Irishman, he was the father of Tuite/Hanlon. Also fought in the Maori wars in NZ in the 1860's. I remember my mother's family (my mother was a Tuite) talking about how RSM Tuite went to Harvard University. On researching his history i found that this wasn't the case, but he is in fact buried in Hartford, Connecticut. Sorry family, we're still just plebs.

[@ozzmanzz]

Thanks for another great video! The slouch hat means so much to those of us who have earned it. If my house ever caught fire it would be the first thing I would grab.

[@scottlampe70]

that was very good. ex digger here and I enjoyed your video very much. I could tell it was an old hat by the bash (shape of the dome), and the fact that the rising sun was made of metal (all plastic now a days). I used to be cool to find an old one to put on your hat. I will add that they are only worn pinned up for parades and such now, the new rifles barrel doesnt interfere with the brim anymore as it is much shorter than the old one.

[@chairde]

I remember these hats on Aussie soldiers when I was in Vietnam. Thank you for this wonderful lesson.

[@OldFellaDave]

Great video and I really enjoyed your presentation - but if I could offer one slight correction :) The 'Kangaroo Feathers' (old joke) were actually from the Shearer Strike of 1890's when a contingent of Queensland Mounted Infantry (QMI), under the command of a younger Harry Chauvel (Later Lt General in WW1), were sent to the Gympie area keep an eye on the Shearers during the strike. Legend has it the young (and not so young) soldiers would 'prove their riding skills' by chasing down the fast and erratic Emu's and pluck a single plume from them. They would then wear them as a badge of honour in the upturned brim of their slouch hats. The Queensland Government made it an official part of their uniform after the strike. When WW1 was declared the Light Horse was considered the most 'Elite' of our combat troops due to their fame and reputation from the Boer War. Infantry was less desirable to many - especially blokes from the Bush. When the Light Horse Regiments were assembled in Australia in August/September 1914 the Qld State Government lobbied the Federal Government hard, and successfully, for the 2nd Light Horse Regiment, formed in Queensland, to be allowed to wear their coveted Emu Plumes. Other LH Regiments began to wear the Emu Plumes and Chauval (now in Command of the 1st Light Horse Brigade - composed of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd LH Regiments) and the Queenslanders objected to the practice as they considered it a Queensland Tradition/Honour. There was even official inquiries during the war regarding who could and couldn't wear the Emu Plume and eventually all Light Horse Regiments were awarded the honour of wearing the Emu Plume, but some (other state based units) chose not to during the war. As a joke, the Light Horsemen would tell British Soldiers and local 'Gyppos' that they were 'Kangaroo Feathers'. Today, all 'Light Horse' regiments are mechanised and 2/14 Light Horse (QMI) and other Light Horse and Armoured Corps units still wear their Emu Plumes with pride.

[@jaewok5G]

"hat day" is like the best professional version of "show-and-tell"

[@jordanmiles7712]

Spent some time in the Australian army, I can say that a lot of effort is put into making sure that there is no slouch in the brim of your slouch hat on ANZAC day! Really enjoyed learning more about it's history, Thanks History Guy keep it up 🇦🇺🤠

[@Michael-oy3pz]

Very well presented and explained as usual, I still have my slouch hat issued in 1978 which only makes an appearance on ANZAC day. Well done mate 👍🇦🇺

[@reallyseriously7020]

This man can make any topic fascinating! A rare gift indeed. Please demonstrate how to sling a rifle without knocking off your hat for those of us who can't figure out how it goes.

[@randomoldbloke]

They are not a bad hat get about 5 to 7 years out of them before they wear out , been wearing them everyday from about 1977 . Keep the rain sun and snow off , knock the bash out of it and your head keeps cooler . They even make a passable water bag . Have never kept the side up as there is no sun protection when it is up . You should do something on the light horse in the boer and krimean wars that alone deserves a mention . Cheers from Australia

[@randallisaeff1876]

As a hat collector, I found this episode absolutely fascinating. Great work!

[@fastmonaro05]

I'm a former Light Horse member in Australia. I wear one during ANZAC day and know why we wear the Emu feathers. It is to do with the shearers strike in the late 1890s and the Army was called in. When bored horsemen used to chase down emus to prove horsemanship. They would reach over and grab the belly feathers if good enough and then place these in their hats to prove they could catch them. Thus why light horse wears emu feathers in their slouch hat. Also, the brim is turned up so when in a parade you could salute to officers during these parades. Non light horse don't have the feathers.

[@aaronbinns220]

Thnk you They History Guy for this fantastic video on the slouch hat. As an Aussie, it is certainly a significant part of our visual history which still remains important to us today.

[@maverickfoxbmsn]

I give my respects to my fellow 🇦🇺 brothers & sisters for continuing the Slouch Hat tradition y'all have my thanks from 🇺🇲

[@mattjdunn68]

As an Aussie whos grand dad wore this when he hit Galipoli on day 2..Thankyou Love your work mate.

[@rodevans602]

Terrific story, thank you. I learned a lot about slouch hats, although in my youth I wore one in my time in the ‘Weekend Warriors”. Just a small nitpick; the Rising Sun badge of your hat is placed a little high. It certainly shouldn’t overlap the braid on the brim of the hat. Incidentally; the story of the variation in the design of badge was most interesting and new to me... (And here’s a real nitpicker’s nitpick; an Emu is an eemyou not an eemoo!) Cheers....

[@rowanw66]

That's Harry "Breaker" Morant of the Bush Veldt Carbineers pictured at 9:33. Morant was infamously court-martialed & executed by the British, along with Peter Handcock, as depicted in the Kit Denton book The Breaker, and the Bruce Beresford film Breaker Morant.

[@therickson100]

I am gratified to see that others have picked up on your use of the term "steward''. It is very appropriate.

[@racang]

A wonderful presentation of an iconic part of Australia’s history. Thank you for doing this justice and imparting not only a proud history but also your great knowledge.

[@JasonLambek]

It is continuously amazing to me what subject matter I find interesting on this channel. Surprise, everything is!

[@andrewhallett-patterson9778]

Thank you for displaying deep honest respect for the Australian slouch hat. I am the guardian of my great great grandfathers, my great grandfathers, my fathers, my brothers and my own slouch hats. Having recently commissioned the restoration of all but my own, I feel extremely privileged to be associated with such extensive courageous history the slouch hat stands for. 👍👍🇭🇲

[@j.d.8075]

So many generations... almost sounds as if it should be in a war memorial, as what it means to be Australian [no offence to the neighbouring Kiwis here].

[@andrewhallett-patterson9778]

@@j.d.8075 Once restoration is completed, guardianship will be transferred to the Australian War Memorial. Their history, the stories behind them, and both family and national values are too significant to be hidden. 👍👍🇭🇲

[@j.d.8075]

@@andrewhallett-patterson9778 I am the current custodian of the logbooks of my Grandfather and one of his brothers, I couldn't find the 3rd brother's book. I also look after their medals and badges. They had served in WWII in the Airforce... my cousin served in the army [not sure of the details there], so I understand somewhat, the sense of responsibility.

[@michaelscott8567]

The picture at @10:11 shows the waste of the ww1. 90% of the men in that picture were killed within the first days of Gallipoli. In the picture @10:16 you can see four men holding linked hands.They were a father and his three sons. They were killed on the first day. In the top right there is a 15 yr old, who also died on the first day. In the top left there is a soldier who died a day before the photo was taken. His mates took his body so it could be included in the photo. The photo was only suppose to be of the officers sitting at the front. But the enlisted men all "photo bombed" it so it ended up being a "group photo" Our local RSL has a huge framed picture of that photo with the stories included.

[@aloysiusjones3985]

michael scott, I was looking through to see if anybody knew this. Absolutely spot on.

[@noahcount7132]

Your tribute to the slouch hat is so compelling that I slouched while watching/enjoying it.

[@bighoonk]

At ~9:34, I believe that's a photo of controversial figure, *_Harry "Breaker" Morant,_* who was accused of war crimes during the Boer War and executed by firing squad in 1902. There's a pretty good 1980, Australian film on this. The excellent actor, *_Edward Woodward(The Wicker Man, The Equalizer, Aladdin and Hot Fuzz)_* portrays _"Breaker"._

[@brasschick4214]

I thought it was Bryan Brown playing Breaker.

[@DrBunnyMedicinal]

Now I'd love to see THG do a video on Breaker Morant and the somewhat dodgy events culminating in his (and other's) executions. Extremely poor form on Kitchener's part, making sure he was unreachable.

[@smelly_elvis]

You are correct sir!

[@peterk2455]

@@brasschick4214 Bryan Brown played Peter Handcock I believe

[@baobo67]

Thankyou. Excellent as usual. Would be nice to see more content about us Aussies. Cheers.

[@drunkenblacklocustbushcraf2857]

As soon as this video is over I'm watching Redgum's "I was only 19"

[@j.d.8075]

😭😭😭😭 That one gets me every time, along with "Smiley". ...to be somewhat pedantic, the proper title is, "I was only 19 (a walk in the light green)". The bit in the brackets is actually the most disturbing... it was the colour on the map, that denoted the least cover, so the choppers could easily drop off, so you were an open target.

[@Cadcare]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/g6KvqICBj6-LgMU

[@distantscot945]

Another moving Vietnam war era song which I still listen to from time to time, is “Rachel’s coming home”, by the great Russell Morris.

[@Rusty_Gold85]

And watch The Lighthorseman

[@allancarey2604]

There’s an interview with the singer about how the song was writing + listen one of the hill top hoods talk about singing at a soldiers funeral (who was a massive fan), the guy said it was a massive privilege & the most difficult performance he’s ever done (worrying about doing it right)

[@jase4452]

Still have mine. Preciously stored in the back of my cupboard sitting next to my Grandfather’s. Now my son proudly wears his KFF while he serves.

[@bspilcker]

No hat collection is complete without the iconic Aussie slouch hat. Great episode. Someone should send you an emu feather!

[@ronfullerton3162]

Great idea. Who can supply the History Guy with a feather for his hat?

[@jemfly1062]

@@ronfullerton3162 A kangaroo can, Ron! ;) (The Light Horsemen called them 'kangaroo feathers' ... ! )

[@ronfullerton3162]

@@jemfly1062 The History Guy's channel just keeps giving more and more information! Thank you for the comeback about the kangaroo feathers. Some more background color of the area.

[@stevencrawford]

Was very proud to wear my slouch hat when I served. My grandfather's (WW2 Kokoda) photo on the wall in his is why I joined the same regiment as him the 2nd 25th RQR as a 17-year-old. Black over blue. It sits on the wall next to my father's in his house. He served with 17th Construction Squadron in Vietnam. Thanks for the video I learnt a great deal.

[@calvins4940]

Your use of the term "Steward" was very appropriate.

[@rayg9069]

And very respectful, that sort of detail and respect is noticed and appreciated.

[@Thermalions]

@@rayg9069 Indeed.

[@MissBunny850]

its about as stupid as corps referring to their workers as colleagues and such instead of employees its fluff that makes the person spouting it look better nuff said

[@calvins4940]

@@MissBunny850 Ooooooookay then.

[@MissBunny850]

@@calvins4940 i could ramble on more but it seems everyone is doing it who gets some success complain about how they have to get paid when before they did fine and made the same quality vids its textbook and not what the platform was built on

[@ianrobinson8974]

Thank you History Guy. As an ex soldier from 2/14 LH (being mounted in M113s we wore a beret) it was nice to hear history of our headgear which I wore as an Army Reservist Infanteer in Norforce, Darwin during the 1980's. PS we called it's colour "car kee" which was the same colour as our "formal uniform".

[@juliusschwencke142]

...picked up a slouch hat from Enoggera, while on exchange with 2/ 14 LHR (QMI), in the 90s. I was with Queen Alexandra's Mounted Rifles, based in Waiouru New Zealand. I had the idea of converting the slouch hat (albeit a cheaper version, and not an Akubra) into a New Zealand Mounted Rifles hat. My wife sewed an appropriate 3 pleated NZMR pugaree modelled on the Australian one (the Army Museum refusing to allow me to use an original as a sample), and I wore it on exercises in the field after receiving permission from one of the Squadron OCs to do so. The CO and others would ask to borrow it for parades, and the RQMS also asked to borrow it. Unbeknowns to me, the RQMS had decided to present a case to the NZ Army dress Committee for its re-introduction to NZMR descendants. The hat was subsequently approved, but looked nothing the my slouch hat that used as an example. Other members of the regiment were also disappointed at the final product. I was disappointed that I was not involved in the approval process, but that's the way it is with some people in the army. I still have the original hat, although it now features the badge and colour flashes of the Auckland Mounted Rifles (disbanded in 1944). I also have my NZMR hat, which I kept when I retired. I would get comments from others when I wore it while serving, I bashed it so that it looked like a hat worth wearing. So that's a bit of NZ Army history for you. Unofficial, but it's true. Cheers mate.

[@beckster181]

As a side note the difference between mounted infantry and mounted rifles in the Boar and World war 1 era was that mounted infantry were infantry that was taught to ride where mounted rifles were made up of people that were usually already excellent riders like stockmen (cowboys) and used to long hard riding that if not already good shots were soon taught how to shoot and also how to act as dismounted infantry when the need arose. Infact Australia had forces overseas in the Boar war before it became a country in 1901. Some of the real Military History of Australia was written by units that are now Reserve units such as 4/19 Prince of Wales Light Horse in Victoria which can trace its roots back to the earlier Victorian Mounted Rifles and is the reason they kept a squadron called VMR Squadron, on becoming the only armored Regiment in Victoria in the reserves. When i joined the reserves in Victoria i was in what was then 8/13 VMR and it was an amalgam of the 8th 13th and 20th regiments of the VMR and was prior to the forming of 4/10 PWLH the only Armored regiment in Victoria as Part of the reserves and during the Vietnam war was the only reserve tank regiment which was helping train the service men going to Vietnam with the Squadrons of the regular army tank regiment.

[@jotabill]

Very interesting as always. I didn’t realise that the upturned brim had been used by so many other militaries. Strange that it has become an Australian icon, so much so that I was told the sign (for sign language) for Australian is the hand placed on the side of the head, fingers pointing up reflecting the upturned brim.

[@bruceparr1678]

When I was growing up in th 50's those hats were everywhere. My uncles and my Dad always wore them when labouring even when it was too hot to wear a shirt. All leftover from WW2.

[@johnwilson2338]

Thanks for sharing this piece of history. I had, until now, been curious as to Why there were these iconicly Australian hats and how they came to be. And now, you sir, have enlightened me. Thank you for that.

[@davidcoleman8275]

Christopher George wore a slouch hat in the 1968 World War II series "The Rat Patrol"

[@bassmangotdbluz3547]

... and wasn't he completely badass?

[@davidharris6581]

Isn't that funny? One of the first things I thought of too. Loved that show. Especially the opening.

[@charlescomly1]

As a kid growing up in the 60's I was addicted to that tv show, I still think of it from time to time.

[@rutabagasteu]

@@davidharris6581 I have seen some episodes on KZbin. No idea if they are still up.

[@PaulA-bv1rt]

He wore that hat in the series as his personal salute to the Aussies that fought the Italians and the Afrika Korp in the North African campaign.Even Monty wore one for a while. Since posting this , I got it wrong.A nod to the Aussies in Greece with his Greek heritage.The part I did get right was the troops fought in Nth Africa first. Thanks Aaron.

[@mirimar69]

A great snippet of info particularly that of the puggery. My son's uniform hat sits pride and place on my wardrobe. I was examining the folds only a couple of weeks ago and I wondered about its significance. My son has taken an indefinite leave from the reserves as he studies for his Masters. I said I would look after it for him as he is transient. His great grandfather and many great uncles served WW1 WW2. The Australian pride continues. Many thanks for your persistent endeavour in reigniting the importance of history.