WW2 Australian slouch hats and uniforms

OK, there is a distinct lack of Australian militaria in this section so I thought I would share my collection with you all. I have collected WW2 Australian slouch hats and uniforms for around four years. I had a bigger collection than this but sold a lot for a house deposit. Big mistake. Anyway I hope you enjoy my collection.

First up is a 1941 dated 2/1st Independent company slouch hat. These were Australia's first commandos and unfortunately they were sent to defend New Britain from the Japanese and they were decimated. They are know as the 2/1st Independent company or the 1st Independent company depending upon which source you look at.

 

here's a 1942 dated anti-aircraft battery slouch hat named to VX35017 Lieutenant G.A Ruddock. A bit moth eaten but still a very nice hat. The second picture is of the hat and Lt. Ruddocks tailor made desert tunic.

 

Here's a favourite of mine... a 1945 dated 9th division HQ slouch hat. I sourced this one from America and it's in great condition. Unfortunately it's not named but still I really like this one. The 9th division found glory in the siege of Tobruk.

 

here's a 1942 dated 2/12th field regiment slouch hat. This unit fought in the siege of Tobruk hence the "T" shaped 9th division colour patch.

 

Nice Pics Chippo !

Cheers for sharing them
Andy

 

here's a 1941 dated 1st corps guard batallion slouch hat.

Hey Andy thanks for the reply. I still have a few more to show!

 

Keep em coming Digger !

 

Here's a 1944 dated Australian and Electrical Mechanical Engineers (AEME) slouch hat associated with VX92122 Craftsman H.E Mills. He served in the 2nd cavalry division signals before the war. The second picture is of his uniform. I have his pants and puttees but no full bodied mannequin to put them on. This tunic is nice in that it has everything. The main patches (AEME,) the mini patches (2nd cav. sigs,) lanyard, articifer badge, overseas stripes (two years) and "V for Victory" pin. I suspect this was a victory day parade tunic.

 

here's a 1942 dated anti-aircraft battery slouch hat named to VX135751 Sergeant Kenneth Martin. He joined up in 1942 and I have his whole uniform set he was given on that day... hat, two tunics and greatcoat.

 

Here's a 1943 dated Northern Territory L of C motor transport unit slouch hat.

 

Here's a 1942 dated 7th division Australian engineers slouch hat named to VX69069 Sapper J.R Matters. I actually managed to track down his daughter and she sent me some pictures of him. They're back in Melbourne so I will get them soon.

 

Here's a 1942 dated Volunteer defence corps slouch hat. The VDC were Australia's equivalent of Britains home guard. This hat has the hard to find woollen puggaree.

 

Here's a peak cap and tunic named to TX6048 Lieutenant R.C Skinner. He was in the 2/12th infantry battalion however was injured in the back and was then seconded back to Tasmania and posted to the Brighton Prisoner of war camp. The camp at Brighton held Italians and most of them came from the Cowra camp. Notice his mini 2/12th infantry patches and his larger Tasmania L of C patches.

 

Here's a 1942 dated slouch hat named to named to SX19628 K.F Wilson. Also pictured is his tunic. I have his slouch hat, tunic, pants, dogtags, gun-cleaning kit and puttees.

 

Here's a nice 1939 dated Tasmania L of C slouch hat.

 

This one is my favourite. It's a 1943 dated 2/9th infantry battalion slouch hat named to QX3751 Corporal C.S Baxter. He joined in 1939, fought at Tobruk and unfortunately got shell-shock. He transferred to the 7th division carrier company but still went on to serve in Papua New Guinea as well.

 

Here's a Tasmania L of C signals tunic named to T445 Captain James Daniel Brickhill. He was posted up at Darwin. Not a particularly thrilling tunic but it's patched to a Tasmania company plus it's named to a Tasmanian... and Tasmanian things are scarce.

 

thanks for the reply, Owen. Yes, I reckon the slouch hats look awesome as well. They're quite unique (the Brits did also wear them but not to the extent we did) and nothing typifies the Aussie digger more than the slouch hat

I have a couple of recent additions to add to this but will do so in the next few days.

Til then I hope you enjoy looking through my collection.

- Chris

 

There is a good colour photo around somewhere hwever I am unable to locate it!



Twenty badges of formations operating under Montgomery's command in the Eighth Army are pinned around the crown of the hat. These badges include:

• Royal Horse Artillery,
• Royal Armoured Corps,
• Royal Tank Regiment,
• King's Royal Rifle Corps,
• Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey),
• Queen's Own Highlanders
  (Seaforth and Camerons),

[*]Royal Warwickshire Regiment,
[*]The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment),
[*]Sherwood Foresters

• (Nottinghamshire/ Derbyshire Regiment),

[*]Staffordshire Yeomanry

• (Queen's Own Royal Regiment),

• Essex Regiment,
• Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment,
• Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry,
• Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry,
• Edmonton Regiment (Canada),
• Saskatoon Regiment (Canada),
• New Zealand forces, and
• South African forces.
• The unidentified badges are possibly those of Polish units.