TW54015 – Private, 11th Bn Australian Imperial Force, Gallipoli 1915

[Chrisr]

The hat should be the colour of the uniform as painted, but the uniform should be the colour of the hat! In WW I British & Commonwealth/Empire forces' uniforms were khaki drill (anything from fawn to red brown)

Mike

No Mike. Tony is correct. The AIF uniform was a dark greenish Khaki, and not tan or fawn. Very clearly seen in the displays at the Australian War Memorial. The hat is too fawn - see the hat in my initial post which is Great War vintage.

Cheers
Chris

 

[MCPWilk]

For headgear, see:- http://www.awm.gov.au/blog/2014/07/17/australian-imperial-force-aif-headwear-1914-1918/
As regards uniform colour I stand corrected. I suspect uniform colours changed with use and resupply (http://www.grantsmilitaria.com/militariaphotos/militaria_images.asp?key=13), but they did indeed wear green to start with:- http://armymuseumwa.com.au/wp-content/gallery/ww1/ww1-2.jpg

Mike

 

[tonydawe]

Mike, both Chrisr and myself have worn the slouch hat while serving in the Australian Army. I think you can trust that we know what we're talking about and that we are simply trying to encourage accuracy in the colours chosen for this figure. Neither of us are infallible, but in regards to Australiam military history and uniforms, we know our stuff.

 

[Chrisr]

Hi Mike,

Compare this from your initial AWM link "However, some soldiers wore pleated cotton puggarees, some from their pre-war militia service."​

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to this from my AWM link in my second post: "Plain khaki hat bands were adopted, along with the Commonwealth Pattern ("rising sun") Badge, first introduced in 1904. This badge was worn by all soldiers except those serving with siege artillery units; as members of the permanent artillery, they were allowed to retain their own design. ... Although the white-striped folded puggaree worn by militia light horse units had been replaced by the plain khaki band, AIF light horse units were later allowed to wear the original; evidence of its use can be seen in period photographs. Approval was later rescinded; directions for AIF units to adopt a plain khaki puggaree soon followed."​

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Rather confusing, but I guess the real evidence lies in contemporary photos, and I have yet to see a photograph of a 1st AIF digger with a pleated pugaree, only the woollen hatband. ​

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The pic from Grants military link looks to be a cotton reproduction, rather than the real woollen jacket - never seen it before. ​

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Cheers​

Chris​

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[MCPWilk]

I'm always ready to stand corrected. My late father's RAAF uniform was certainly a different hue and cut to the RAF uniforms, although rank and assorted badges were the same. As regards hat bands and puggarees, these appear to warrant a study of their own. It is interesting that although the slouch hat was worn by elements of all Imperial troops in the Boer and both world wars, they have been adopted as a current standard Anzac (i.e. Aussie and Kiwi) headdress.

Mike

 

[Chrisr]

My late father's RAAF uniform was certainly a different hue and cut to the RAF uniforms,

Mike

That's true Mike, different hues, and of course weathering in the sun would fade them, however I have yet to see a fawn to red brown Great War AIF uniform. They all seem to have that greenish khaki hue.

Cheers
Chris