Possibly Vietnam era hat, based on date of manufacture. This hat is an example of Vietnam era military headwear. Hat, or military peak cap of olive drab fabric. Base of cap has four metal rimmed air holes at rear above band. Cap has brown leather chin strap with double band of leather across the front of visor secured by a single leather loop on each side. The chinstrap is attached to the cap at both ends, with gold buttons featuring Australian army insignia. Inside of cap has a brown leather band, attached with brown thread in a zig zag stitch; the other end of brown headband is unstitched. The cap is lined with olive green fabric which is synthetic in appearance, and covered with a clear sweat shield. A manufacturer’s label in white fabric is sewn to the centre of the inner liner. A white, rectanguar identification label is attached to the inner band.‘MADE EXPRESSLY FOR DEPARTMENT OF SUPPLY 1968-69 “EMERCO” MELBOURNE’ on inner leather band in gold. ‘M. REINER &CO.PTY LTD SIZE (BLUE ARROW LOGO DENOTING DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE) 6 5/8 VICTORIA AUSTRALIA’ on label in blue print at centre of inner cap. ‘REGIMENTAL NO.______________ NAME____________’ in black print, side of cap.emerco, military, hat, cap, headwear, peak, war, fashion, outfit, department of supply, vietnam.

Slouch hats were first worn by the Victorian Mounted Rifles in 1885. It was originally worn with the right side looped up to make it easier for marching troops to perform the “eyes right” command in parades but as more states adopted the slouch hat, it became more common to wear the left side turned up. The slouch hat was widely worn by Australian soldiers during the Boer War and it was universally adopted for the Australian Army after Federation. It was usually worn with a khaki hatband, known as a puggaree, and a Rising Sun badge on the left-hand side. The word ‘slouch’ refers to the sloping brim. The brim is made from rabbit-fur felt or wool felt and is always worn with a puggaree. The majority of the Australian Army wear the light khaki coloured puggaree, with a unit colour patch sewn on the right side, however, there are slight variations. The seven pleats in the standard puggaree represent each state and one for the Australian Territories.The slouch hat is an object strongly associated with Australian identity.Australian Army standard issue khaki fur felt slouch hat with leather chinstrap, commonly worn as part of a military uniform. Wide-brimmed with snap up latch on left-hand-side. Without Rising Sun badge or unit colour patch. 7 fold/pleat khaki cloth band puggaree around the hat. Dark brown leather sweatband, embossed with a gold stamp identifying manufacture as Akubra, date of manufacture as 1988, size 58, and a broad arrow to signify the hat is owned by the Australian Department of Defence. The slouch hat is also known as a hat KFF, or hat khaki fur felt.headdress