Indian Parachute Regiment / Chindit Slouch Hat

[P.Manoel]

Hello,
I thought I would share a few pictures of a unique slouch hat that is really showing its age, but is a sensational piece of memorabilia. As the photos show the slouch hat has a Indian Parachute Regiment patch on the right side of the pugaree (hat band) and a Chindit patch and scroll above it. The hat has definitely seen better days, but I have never seen anything like it. It is my favourite piece and I am currently trying to research the man behind the hat as his name is inside the brim. I hope you enjoyed the photos and hopefully other collectors will display their Chindit items.
Thanks
Paul

[P.Manoel]

Chindit Patch and Scroll

[P.Manoel]

Indian Parachute Regiment Patch

[P.Manoel]

Under the hat.

[britpc]

Slouch hat

Hi Paul,
What a great hat
I was given a couple of Chindit patches with some medals and a pay book from a guy who servived with them. I'd love a hat like yours!
Well done
Irv

[P.Manoel]

Thanks Irv

Thanks for the comments Irv. Chindit insignia and medals are bloody hard to come by so I always count my lucky stars when I look at the slouc hat. You have done well yourself with some Chindit medals etc so thanks again for the comments and good collecting.
Regards
Paul

[Adam H]

That's a very interesting hat! Never seen one like it before...how did you come by it? (not trying to be nosey just curious!) Thanks for sharing!

Cheers,

Adam

[P.Manoel]

G'day Adam,

Yes the hat is unique. I had to come up with a very large trade with another collector here in Australia to obtain this hat. I have spent a lot of time cleaning it up as it was in a terrible state when I got it as the hat was initially found at a rubbish dump! The things people throw out, but I have heard worse stories.

Regards
Paul

[Adrian Stevenson]

Sadly I have no Chindit items in my collection.

Very nice cap. Thanks for showing it to us Paul


Cheers, Ade.

[WW1wingman]

i love it !!

a really terrific item...seems unmessed with wonderful !! this i would love to own.Thanks for sharing it with us all...
Steve WW1wingman

[DJT]

Looks 100%, very nice

[ROBB]

That is a beauty ,I have the patches (except for the scroll) but not the hat .Thank goodness it was saved from destruction ,whoever found it gets a slab of VB on me .Rob.

[ROBB]

I wonder if the Chindits been on it forever and the Pegasus was taken of his uniform and put on the hat post war by the old soldier ,just a thought.Rob

[SHEARING-CROSS]

I wonder if the Chindits been on it forever and the Pegasus was taken of his uniform and put on the hat post war by the old soldier ,just a thought.Rob

Hiya , very ,very nice hat ,
I.M.O I reckon the original owner served with the chindits then after the last operation , joined the Indian Airborne div , as many survivors did that were still fit enough , the airborne flash i would take a wild guess at was added at a much later date than the chindit cloth ,near the wars end and did not get much `wear ,n tear ` as the other cloth badges.
i think its in the book `A CHINDIT STORY ` JESSIE SHAW ( not sure with out checking )

He tells of , whilst on the troop ship home at the wars end , all manner of cloth badges were made up and stitched on , it was a great moment for the guys to arrive back at Liverpool docks wearing the bush hat ,it marked them out as one of the `forgotten army ` when most of the UK news papers were only interested in covering D/DAY and the advance in to germany ,
if any on can locate a photo of both sets off insignia being worn i would love to see it ,please pretty please !!
many thanks for showing / Michael

[yellow]

Super hat!!!!

My own territorial regiment (40th Field Regiment) wore the 36th Infantry Division badge on their side hats. They were chindits.



Steve.