Original WW2 era Australian Militia slouch hat puggaree, scarce

The puggaree has been worn on the Australian slouch hat since it was adopted in 1903. For many years a coloured fold in the puggaree was used to designate units however, this was abandoned shortly after the Second World War. While clothing regulations state the puggaree was to have seven folds, puggarees with less than this were made and issued. The puggarees used by colonial military forces prior to Federation varied in the number of their folds.

Prior to the outbreak of war the Australian Army was split into the small full-time Permanent Military Forces (PMF) and the larger part-time Militia. Following the outbreak of war, on 14 September 1939 Prime Minister Robert Menzies announced that 40,000 members of the Militia would be called up for training and a 20,000-strong expeditionary force, designated the Second Australian Imperial Force (Second AIF), would be formed for overseas service. Meanwhile, conscription was introduced in October 1939 to keep the Militia at strength as its members volunteered for the AIF.

Size 6 5/8 marked to the inside. Some unfortunate moth damage, but would make your old WW2 slouch hat look totally authentic. The hat on which it is displayed is not for sale with this puggaree. The puggaree band only is for sale here.

Code: 58025