Colored bands on pugarees

[mandy333]

Greetings: Reviewing the slouch hats presented on this forum, I noticed all the WW2 pugarees seem to be khaki bands with insignia attached on them. My question is what does it mean if a pugaree has a complete colored band inserted between the khaki bands.I have seen two khaki pugarees where the bands are not all khaki One pugaree has a single green band in with the khaki bands and another pugaree has two colors, a blue and red side by side sandwiched between the khaki bands.Thank you in advance for any and all information supplied, it is much appreciated.All the best regards!
Zeke

[chippler]

it depends if the puggarees were of Australian, New Zealand or British origin. Australia only used the coloured puggrees (stripes and whole colours) before WW1 and during the 1930's on its militia units. During WW1 they used a couple of uniform ones (plain khaki, woollen ones and wallaby fur ones (6thLH)) and during WW2 they used khaki ones and woollen ones. After WW2 we went to a uniform khaki colour however 1RAR (Royal Australian Regiment) uses green ones.

New Zealand also used coloured puggarees to indicate the unit the wearer was a member of, just as Australia did. However they never ceased that practice and it still continues today.

I am not up on British puggarees. I have seen a British slouch hat with stripes in its puggaree but don't have a clue about them. Hopefully someone will come along and tell us.

- Chris

[mandy333]

puggarees

Thanks Chris: The information you provided helps immensley. Much appreciated.
Zeke

[Laurence Strong]

Red over Blue are the colors of the Artillery.

[Tony Farrell]

There is an extensive breakdown of pugaree colours and fold measurements in Brian L Davis's book. Whilst it concerns Wolsey and Solar helmets, I would imagine a sizable chunk of the regs got carried over to slouch hats.

[Dennis Shaday]

Hi

Regarding Australian coloured Pugarees, it is worth remembering that coloured pugarees were also used in the 1920s by the military.
Army Cadet units have been using them (in the school colours) from the earliest times and are still using them today.

To confuse things further, Australian Government organisations such as the Police and Criminal Courts, for example, used slouch hats with coloured pugarees.

All the best
Dennis

[chippler]

Dennis is correct. The idea that is could be a cadet puggaree escaped me.

Nice to see you here, Dennis.

- Chris