Slouch Hat 3; more photos of our famous hat

Earlier pages have described the origins of the "Digger Hat" or Australian slouch hat or Hat khaki fur felt as it is officially described. This page is merely to show some of the different ways it has been worn.

The most often worn variation of the Digger hat is the flat brim, badge to front as shown here. It was a Monash idea and first his Brigade and his Division both wore it that way.

c. 1916.374 Private James Allan (written as Allen on the photograph), 36th Battalion. Pte Allan was KIA at Messines on 1917-07-07, aged 26.


Major Walter Tunbridge, CO of the 3rd Contingent Queensland Mounted Infantry, was a hero of the Siege of Elands River Post, August 1900	South Africa, c. 1901. Four Australian soldiers wearing slouch hats standing beside a maxim one-pound pom-pom gun. The troops' tents are at rear. (donor: s. Hine)	Private Charles Edwin Williams was killed at Rensburg on 12 February 1900. His sacrifice is commemorated on a memorial in Violet Town, Victoria. He is pictured in the uniform of the Victorian Mounted Rifle Regiment.

For many of the thousands of Papuan or New Guinean porters who worked for the Australian Army in PNG during the war the cast off slouch hats were a thing to be treasured.

This bloke is at a "parade" where they are being addressed by a senior Australian Army Officer

2002. The Slouch Hat as worn by RSM Army, WO B.T. Boughton, OAM.

When I was a young Digger the rule was that the buckle on the chinstrap had to (HAD TO) be in line with the corner of the mouth. I am pleased to see that the RSM A still wears his that way. However very few official photos of other soldiers, especially Officers, are seen showing the same respect for detail.

This photo when enlarged clearly shows the more modern fastener for the turn up. The old press-stud arrangement was replaced by a small clip that puts less strain on the fabric of the hat.

	Left This young WW1 Digger is wearing his slouch hat in the "recruit fashion". That is with no bash, high crowned and fully to regulation. Later the hat would become personalised. Note the plain woollen hat band in vogue at that time. Right This digger is wearing his slouch hat in the 3rd Division AIF style; flat brim, badge to front, woollen hat band.
Photo right is of John Henry Crompton, 42nd Bn AIF who was KIA in France. Photo left is either the same soldier OR perhaps a relative, Leslie Crompton Blackman, of the 5th Battalion, who died at "Plugstreet" in 1916.

This is how the Aussie slouch hat or Digger hat was used in propaganda posters in the North African Campaign of 1941/42 to indicate to the locals that we were "good guys" not nasties.

note the metal Unit number on the front of the hat

Collingwood, Vic. c 1912. Compulsory Cadet (14 to 18 years old) of the 63rd Infantry Regiment. This unit has retained the old Victorian high domed style slouch hat. (Donor P Burness)


	Examples of the brass numerals that were worn on the front of the slouch hat by battalions in the Militia before & during the Great War. They were worn (sometimes) 13mm (½ inch) above the hatband. At that stage there were 93 battalions around Australia.

A soldier of the 79th Battalion AIR, pre WW1, showing the plain hat band, the use of the brass numerals on the front of the hat and the old 1908 Pattern webbing.

Gabei River, New Guinea. 1944-05-27. Members of the 35th Australian Infantry Battalion pause to drink from their slouch hats during their advance along the coast towards Wewak. Identified personnel are:- NX142058 Pte Millis (1); Pte R. Findlay (2); Pte F.J. Lane (3).

Burma. c. 1945. Under the slouch hats the faces are all smiles because the mail has just been handed out for personnel serving with RAF Squadrons at a forward airstrip. A number of RAAF aircrew are serving with the squadrons at this location.

Note the high domed, no bash, no turn up style. Possibly these hats are just issued.


Australian slouch hat. Dated 1942. Size 7. There is one brass badge (Rising Sun) and one cloth badge (colour patch) on it. The cloth badge is Army Service Corps. There is also red piping on the hat. Inside the hat is stamped: V.553 7 1942. Note the absence of a brim edging. Note the press stud for the turn-up.

Australian Slouch Hats as seen by Egyptian postcard artists, 1915