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Headgear

 

Updated 1 March 2010

 

 

All original issue items, unless noted. Over the past 30 years I have been buying uniforms and kit directly from special forces soldiers, mainly ex-Rhodesians and South African Recces. In many cases I have bought duplicate items and am now getting rid of some of them in order to trade or buy new items.

 

The reference numbers after the item descriptions refer to the Reference Books on the home page of the website.

 

Information and photos of many of the South African headgear can be found at Roans Collectors Site, a most useful identification guide, at http://roangouws.tripod.com/index.htm

 

Austria

  1. Police cap, grey with red piping, gold cap strap buttons and cord, gilt metal cap badge over red backing, small gilt metal grenade over red backing in the left hand side of cap, and gold bullion wire cockade above with red and white enameled roundel in the middle, size 59, made by LITTO KAPPE WIEN VIII LANGE GASSE 13, name written inside, VGC. $ 45.00

 

Belgium

  1. Dispatch rider/motorcyclist helmet, WWII, army green, leather covered, with metal Lion head badge mounted on the front, on the left hand side is a large emblem embossed onto the leather, difficult to make out but has a 3 on top of what looks like a winged wheel or an eagle sitting on top of a wheel within a shield, stamped inside with A.B.L. (Armee Belge Leger) and 54, and has a LE LEVIOR label sewn inside, leather extended liner to cover ears, chin strap with strap and buckle and three press-studs, scarce, VGC. See Army Uniforms of World War 2 by A.Mollo and M.McGregor, illustration number 34. Levior has been making helmets since 1904 and confirmed these helmets were made between 1935 and 1940. $ 475.00

 

Canada

  1. Logistics Regiment dark green beret with embroidered beret badge, worn by the Parachute Maintenance Depot, size 6 3/4, liner removed, otherwise VGC. Similar to CAI CB55. $ 10.00
  2. Logistics Regiment dark green beret with gilt metal and enamel beret badge, worn by the Parachute Maintenance Depot, size 6 3/4 January 1991, near mint. CAI CB55. $ 15.00
  3. Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry green beret with bi-metal Q/C beret badge, 1973, size 7 1/2, VGC. $ 20.00

 

Czechoslovakia

1.      Czech Republic National Counter-Terrorist Unit maroon beret with their cloth paratrooper beret badge sewn on, size 56, no label inside, near mint. $ 35.00

 

Denmark

  1. Army side cap, size 59, 1969, mint. $ 10.00
  2. Army side cap, size 59, mint. $ 10.00

 

England

  1. 29th Commando Artillery green beret with blackened anodised metal beret badge, worn by Major Smith, name tape sewn inside, VGC. $ 35.00
  2. 29th Commando Artillery green beret with gold bullion wire beret badge, worn by Major Smith, size 57, Compton Webb, large moth hole to left of badge and another smaller one on the side, otherwise good. $ 35.00
  3. Army camo bush hat, with two brass air vents on each side, orange material air recognition panel sewn inside, parachute cord chin strap, name written on label, size 55, VGC. $ 10.00
  4. Athol bonnet, black with red, white and black diced band, red toori and black silk ribbons, no badge, lots of mothing, appears to be quite old. $ 5.00
  5. Commando doctors green beret with gilt and silver metal Royal Navy beret badge, Q/C, liner removed, otherwise VGC. $ 50.00

 

France

  1. Colonial Paratrooper red beret with beret badge, bimetal winged arm holding a dagger over an anchor, size 57, 1979, made by Z.BEIGHAU OLORON, near mint. $ 30.00

 

Israel

  1. Black Training Command female beret, badge removed, 1986, VGC. $ 15.00
  2. Light Green female beret, mint. $ 20.00
  3. Paratrooper maroon female beret, bit dusty, otherwise mint. $ 20.00
  4. Red beret with bronze Infantry beret badge, size 59, bit moth eaten otherwise VGC. $ 25.00
  5. Red beret, size 58, mint in plastic bag. $ 20.00

 

Italy

  1. Camo base ball type cap, size 56cm, no label inside, three small holes and a bit dirty, otherwise VGC. $ 20.00

 

Rhodesia

Many berets are found with the material or plastic liner removed. This was done because it tended to make the soldiers perspire a lot under the beret and to help shape the beret. Some soldiers have told me that as they were issued with the berets their instructors told them to cut out the liner because it trapped heat inside the beret.

 

I just bought in a small collection of Rhodesian caps, berets and stable belts that were donated to a pub in Rhodesia and have been in storage since 1980.

  1. 6th Rhodesia Regiment dark green beret with silver anodized metal badge (CO 2991), 56cm, plastic liner cover torn, otherwise near mint. $ 75.00
  2. Camo bush flap cap, 60cm, has name and number written inside, 9080 GAVIN, also stamped with COMMAND MAP STORE RHODESIAN AIR FORCE NEW SARUM 8 JAN 1979 date stamp, button flap, near mint. $ 265.00
  3. Dark blue beret worn by Corps units, Signals, Army Service Corps, Medical Corps, etc, size 7 ¼ inch/59cm, Herbert Johnson made, mint condition, never had a badge mounted. $ 55.00
  4. Greys Scouts grey beret with silver anodized metal badge (CO 3163) mounted over maroon tombstone, 56cm, S.A.BERET MANFRS, maroon tombstone and badge have been taken of the front and mounted over the top of the beret for hanging on the wall of a pub in Rhodesia, bit faded and crack in sweatband, otherwise VGC and very scarce. $ 175.00
  5. Rhodesian Army Pay Corps dark blue beret with bi-metal badge (CO 3275), 51cm, VGC. $ 65.00
  6. Rhodesian Army Service Corps dark blue beret with gilt anodized metal badge (CO 3132), 57cm, liner removed, both grommets missing, and some stitching comes loose around the sweatband, otherwise VGC. $ 55.00
  7. Rhodesian Corps of Signals dark blue beret with bi-metal badge (CO 3334), 58cm, plastic lining cover torn, otherwise near mint. $ 75.00
  8. Rhodesian/South African Army helmet, steel with inner plastic training helmet, some minor dents, good. MAW1 C2. $ 25.00

 

Russia

1.      Air Force officers service cap, khaki cloth and light blue wool band and piping, with gilt metal wreath and red enamelled star in the middle and gilt metal air force star over wings badge above, gilt metal star buttons and gold cords, size 57, leather manufacturers label sewn inside, VGC. $ 55.00

  1. Navy other ranks round cap, removable white cover, red enameled star in middle of gilt anodized metal wreath, black ribbon at the back of cap with gold anchor on it, edge worn through in places, good. $ 25.00

 

South Africa

S.A. Air Force

  1. Beret, blue, with gilt metal cap badge (CO 1490), size 54, worn with work dress, mainly by technical staff, obsolete, scarce, 1970, couple of dirty marks and name written inside on label, otherwise VGC. $ 15.00
  2. Beret, blue, with gilt metal cap badge (CO 1490), size 56, worn with work dress, mainly by technical staff, obsolete, scarce, 1968, plastic liner perished, otherwise VGC. $ 15.00
  3. Beret, blue, with gilt metal cap badge (CO 1490), size 56, worn with work dress, mainly by technical staff, obsolete, scarce, 1969, plastic liner removed, otherwise VGC. $ 15.00
  4. Beret, blue, with gilt metal cap badge (CO 1490), size 57, worn with work dress, mainly by technical staff, obsolete, scarce, VGC. $ 15.00
  5. Bullion wire embroidered Protea flower and wreath cut off peak of officers cap, can be mounted with SAAF collection, VGC. $ 5.00

6.      Cap band, black with three horizontal air force blue stripes, worn by recruits undergoing basic training on the peaked cap at the Air Force Gymnasium from 1953, the year after it was formed, until late 1960s, scarce, little faded, otherwise VGC. $ 20.00

7.      Dress Uniform cap, with brass eagle badge, obsolete, size 55, bit dirty, otherwise VGC. $ 20.00

8.      Garrison/Side cap, brass badge, leather liner, VGC. (9 in stock) $ 10.00 each

 

S.A. Army Caps and Berets

  1. 1 S.A. Infantry green beret with obsolete metal 1 SAI badge (CO 2425) on red plastic backing and green/yellow/black metal beret flash, 1983, VGC. $ 50.00
  2. 32 Battalion baseball type black cap with the their badge in silver lurex wire on the front, one size fits all, Velcro adjustable, VGC. $ 65.00
  3. 32 Battalion camo beret, size 49cm, has never had a badge mounted, mint. $ 85.00
  4. 32 Battalion camo beret, size 61cm, has never had a badge mounted, mint. $ 95.00
  5. 44 Parachute Brigade maroon baseball cap, one size fits all, mint. $ 40.00
  6. 5 S.A. Infantry green beret with obsolete cloth 5 SAI badge (DW1 pg.13 #11) and green/yellow/black metal beret flash, 1982/83, scarce, VGC. $ 55.00
  7. Army Dress Uniform peak cap brown leather chin strap, VGC. $ 5.00
  8. Army Dress Uniform peak cap, with brown leather chin strap and South African springbuck General Service buttons, 1960s-70s, SAPHI made, size 58, no badge mounted but holes where a badge was previously worn, VGC. $ 25.00
  9. Army peak cap with neck flap, worn in the 1960s, large air vents on each side and brass Springbuck buttons, peak slightly damaged, scarce cap, size 6 3/4, good. $ 15.00
  10. Army Service Corps officers peak Dress Uniform cap with chromed metal and enamel cap badge (CO 1060), interesting in that it has two bronze UK general service coat of arms buttons, must have been imported by the army from the UK, leather head band has some sweat marks, otherwise near mint. $ 35.00
  11. Beige beret, used by Signals, 1968, size 53, no badge ever fitted, mint. $ 15.00
  12. Beige beret, used by Signals, 1987/88, size 57, no badge ever fitted, mint. $ 10.00
  13. Beige beret, used by Signals, 1987/88, size 58, badges removed, VGC. $ 5.00
  14. Beige beret, used by Signals, liner and badges removed, size 58, good. $ 5.00
  15. Beige beret, used by Signals, size 57, no badge ever fitted, some mothing, good. $ 5.00
  16. Black beret, used by Armoured Cars/Tank Corps/Intelligence Corps, 1972/73, badge removed, about size 56, VGC. $ 10.00
  17. Black beret, used by Armoured Cars/Tank Corps/Intelligence Corps, 1973/74, badge removed, about size 56, VGC. $ 10.00
  18. Black beret, used by Armoured Cars/Tank Corps/Intelligence Corps, 1983, no badge ever fitted, size 58, near mint. $ 15.00
  19. Black beret, used by Armoured Cars/Tank Corps/Intelligence Corps, 1988/89, badge removed, size 57, near mint. $ 15.00
  20. Black beret, used by Armoured Cars/Tank Corps/Intelligence Corps, size 57, never had a badge mounted, made without liners, mint. $ 10.00
  21. Blue beret, used by Army Service Corps and Ordinance Service Corps, bit darker blue than later Service Corps berets, size 60, 1968, never had a badge mounted, liners a bit dirty through age, otherwise mint. (3 in stock) $ 10.00 each
  22. Cape Corps green Infantry beret with their badge (similar to CO 1321, but with KAAPSE KORPS and mounted over a red plastic backing), used, VGC. $ 25.00
  23. Cape Corps grey beret with bi-metal badge (CO 1338), 1976/77, size 56, beret bit dirty and plastic liner perished, otherwise VGC. $ 25.00
  24. Cape Corps grey beret with bi-metal badge (CO 1338), no label on liner, about size 56, beret bit dirty otherwise good. $ 20.00
  25. Commandos navy blue beret with yellow flash and gilt metal beret badge (CO 810), worn in the 1960s before they changed over to the green beret, mint. (3 in stock) $ 25.00 each
  26. Dark blue beret, used by Artillery and Engineers, no badge, size 56, 1977/78, near mint condition. $ 10.00
  27. Dark blue beret, used by Artillery and Engineers, size 60, never had a badge mounted, made without liners, mint. $ 10.00
  28. Dark blue beret, used by Artillery and Engineers, used, no badge, old, poor condition. $ 1.00
  29. Engineers dark blue beret with bi-metal 2 Field Engineer Regiment badge (CO 2421) and maroon/blue/maroon metal beret flash, 1986/87, VGC. $ 30.00
  30. Engineers dark blue beret with bi-metal Engineers badge (CO 1221) and red/blue/red metal beret flash, size 59, 1992, beret a bit dirty and slightly faded around the edge, and badges have a bit of verdigris on them, otherwise VGC. $ 25.00
  31. Finance Corps light blue beret with chromed metal badge (CO 701) and yellow/black/yellow beret flash, liner removed and a bit dusty, otherwise VGC. $ 25.00
  32. Grey beret, Cape Corps, badge removed, 1977/78, about size 58, beret bit faded otherwise good. $ 5.00
  33. Kaffrarian Rifles dark green beret with red and green felt badge flash, no beret badge, nice early beret with leather sweatband, size 7, 59cm, number and name in a name tape inside, R.CHAMBERS B.14790, VGC. $ 45.00
  34. Light blue beret, used by Army Service Corps and Ordinance Service Corps, badges removed, size 60, 1994, bit dirty, otherwise VGC. $ 5.00
  35. Medical Corps/Services ladies peak cap, brown leather cap strap, gilt metal cap strap buttons, SAPHI PRETORIA, size 56, never had a badge fitted, mint. $ 30.00
  36. Orange-brown beret, used by Personnel Service Corps, badge removed, 1977/78, 57cm, bit faded and worn. $ 4.00
  37. Orange-brown beret, used by Personnel Service Corps, badge removed, 1978/79, 55cm, bit dirty and worn. $ 4.00
  38. Ordinance Service Corps light blue beret with metal and enamel beret badge (CO 712) and blue/yellow/red metal beret flash, 1976/77, beret faded in places otherwise good. $ 20.00
  39. Ordinance Service Corps light blue beret with metal and enamel beret badge (CO 712) and blue/yellow/red metal beret flash, beret faded in places and some verdigris on beret flash, otherwise good. $ 20.00
  40. Ordinance Service Corps light blue beret with white metal and enamel badge (CO 712) and blue/white/red beret flash, size 56, 1984/85, VGC. $ 15.00
  41. Ordinance Service Corps, attached to Signals, on old Signals Corps beige beret, metal and enamel beret badge (CO 712) and blue/yellow/red metal beret flash, 1984/85, beret bit dirty, otherwise VGC. $ 15.00
  42. Purple Chaplains beret with bullion wire Colonel/Brigadier beret badge (CO C23) sewn on the front, liner removed, VGC. $ 45.00
  43. Regiment North Transvaal green beret with badge (CO 971) over red plastic backing, size 55, faded, good. $ 25.00
  44. Service dress cap, dark brown leather cap strap, UK general service coat of arms buttons, South African general service Springbuck badge (CO 1457), made by Thomas Stone, lots of mothing, good. $ 25.00
  45. Signals beige beret with bi-metal badge (CO 1242) polished and cracked, and green/light blue/dark blue metal beret flash, pins broken off and glued to beret, beret bit dirty, otherwise good. $ 20.00

 

S.A. Army Helmets

1.        Paratrooper/Infantry Fritz style Kevlar helmet with nutria brown cover, black vinyl and web lining, black leather chin cup, label inside reads - Helmet No. 10-433, Size: Medium, Date: 1987, chin strap plastic retainer broken, otherwise VGC. Similar to SASF plate A2. $ 75.00

2.        S.A./Rhodesian Army Otan style steel helmet green net cover, for camouflage, 1970s, mint. $ 8.00

3.        S.A./Rhodesian Army Otan style steel helmet khaki net cover, for camouflage, 1960s, mint. $ 10.00

4.        S.A./Rhodesian Army Otan style steel helmet khaki net cover, with camouflage strips tied to it, 1960s, VGC. $ 10.00

5.        S.A./Rhodesian Army Otan style steel helmet, with plastic inner training helmet, obsolete, 1960s to 70s, VGC. Contact pg.63. $ 25.00

6.        S.A./Rhodesian Army Otan style steel helmet, with plastic inner training helmet and camo net, obsolete, 1960s to 70s, chin strap missing, otherwise VGC. Contact pg.63. $ 25.00

7.        S.A./Rhodesian Army Otan style steel helmet, with plastic inner training helmet and mint camo net, obsolete, 1960s to 70s, VGC. Contact pg.63. $ 30.00

8.        S.A./Rhodesian Army Otan style steel helmet, with plastic inner training helmet and camo net over khaki coloured hessian covering, obsolete, 1960s to 70s, chin strap missing and one liner retainer inside training helmet missing, otherwise VGC. Contact pg.63. $ 25.00

9.        S.A./Rhodesian Army Otan style steel helmet, with plastic inner training helmet and camo net, obsolete, 1960s to 70s, chin strap missing and one liner retainer inside training helmet missing, otherwise VGC. Contact pg.63. $ 25.00

10.    S.A./Rhodesian Army Otan style steel helmet, with plastic inner training helmet, obsolete, 1960s to 70s, some minor dents, good. MAW1 C2. $ 20.00

 

S.A. Navy

  1. S.A. Navy beret, black, medium, liner removed, VGC. $ 5.00
  2. S.A. Navy Cadet beret, black with chromed Cadet beret badge (CO 2968), VGC. $ 15.00
  3. S.A. Navy Officers black beret with bullion wire badge, worn but VGC, badge toned from sea air, otherwise VGC. (2 in stock) $ 30.00 each
  4. S.A. Navy peak cap with red Petty Officers cloth badge, cap dated 1969, worn but VGC. $ 25.00
  5. S.A. Navy peak cap, Officers, with bullion wire badge, size 58, 1969, white plastic section dirty but can be cleaned, otherwise VGC. $ 35.00
  6. S.A. Navy peak cap, Officers, with bullion wire badge, worn but VGC, badge toned from sea air, otherwise VGC. (2 in stock) $ 30.00 each
  7. S.A. Navy peak cap, Seaman to Petty Officer, with bullion wire badge, no label inside, used but VGC. $ 15.00
  8. S.A.S. Wingfield baseball type navy blue cap with the ships badge printed on the front in colour, Large, Velcro adjustable, VGC. $ 15.00

 

S.A. Police and Railway Police

  1. Blue baseball type cap, obsolete gold cotton badge embroidered on front, button-up neck flap and ear protection, size 57, Specifico, little dirty, otherwise near mint. $ 30.00
  2. Blue baseball type cap, obsolete gold cotton badge embroidered on front, button-up neck flap and ear protection, ear protection sewn up inside pouch, easy to undo the sewing, about a size 56/57, bit faded, otherwise VGC. $ 20.00
  3. Blue baseball type cap, obsolete gold cotton badge embroidered on front, button-up neck flap and ear protection, ear protection sewn up inside pouch, easy to undo the sewing, about a size 57/58, VGC. $ 30.00
  4. Camo beret, no badge, with warm lining, adjustable laces, 54cm, but can be made a bit larger, VGC. $ 35.00
  5. Dress Uniform peak cap with gilt cap badge and cap strap buttons, name inside, bit dirty, otherwise VGC. $ 35.00
  6. Dress Uniform peak cap with gilt cap badge and cap strap buttons, size 56, near mint. $ 45.00
  7. Dress Uniform peak cap with Officers gilt metal and enamel cap badge (CO 1916) and Majors gold bullion wire Aloe and leaves on the peak, gilt metal cap strap buttons, size label missing, but about a size 58 when I measure it, near mint. $ 65.00
  8. Hat, Female, dark blue with gilt metal S.A. Police Service badge on the front, Medium, made by Kangol, mint. $ 40.00

 

S.A. Prisons/Correctional Service

  1. Bush hat, size 55, VGC. (2 in stock) $ 10.00 each
  2. Bush hat, size 56, bit faded, otherwise VGC. $ 10.00

 

S.A. Cadets

1.      Brown beret with chromed metal leaping Springbuck beret badge, VGC. $ 10.00

2.      Brown beret with chromed metal leaping Springbuck beret badge, sweat band cracked, otherwise VGC. $ 8.00

 

S.A. Miscellaneous

  1. Fireman helmet, yellow, with large silver and red decal on the front for WCRSC FIRE AND RESCUE, leather chin strap, helmet slightly damaged on top ridge point, otherwise VGC. $ 40.00

 

South West Africa

  1. 101 Battalion beret, grey/green with metal rhino badge (CO 2685), used, size 57, VGC. $ 75.00
  2. 101 Battalion side cap/garrison cap, nutria brown with black edging, Reaction Force lion beret badge (CO 2667), about size 56, cap bit faded, otherwise VGC. $ 85.00
  3. 911 Battalion side cap/garrison cap, nutria brown with black edging, about a size 59, little dirty and badge (CO C900) scratched at the top, otherwise VGC. $ 85.00
  4. S.W.A. Reaction Force beret, grey/green with metal lion badge (CO 2667), worn by a member of 101 Battalion, used, a bit faded and liner removed, otherwise good. $ 85.00
  5. S.W.A. Reaction Force beret, grey/green with metal lion badge (CO 2667) and SWATF Infantry beret flash, worn by a member of 101 Battalion, VGC. $ 95.00

 

Sweden

1.      Swedish helmet model M21-18 with raised 3 crown shield badge on front and two 3 crown decals on sides, grey-green matt painted over blue-grey base paint, liner complete with cushions, leather draw string and chin strap, very good overall condition. $ 85.00

 

Switzerland

1.      Swiss fireman helmet, 1920 to 1930s, black painted sheet metal with a brass comb, Swiss cross badge in front and rim, green inside, brown leather liner and chin strap, some wear to the black paint and a couple of minor dents, otherwise in excellent condition for its age. $ 130.00

 

Unidentified

  1. Beret, lime green, with high reinforced section where the badge is mounted on, bit faded and dusty, otherwise near mint. $ 2.00
  2. Beret, black, with leather diamond shape sewn to liner, no badge, VGC. $ 2.00

 

United Nations

1.      Blue cap with U.N. badge sewn onto the front, 55cm, UNTAG souvenir from a Koevoet officer, bit dirty, otherwise VGC. $ 25.00

2.      United Nations blue beret with enamel and gold metal badge, 6 3/4, label reads United Nations Property MARCK, issued to a South African soldier who served in Burundi, near mint. $ 35.00

 

United States of America

1.      Artillery overseas cap, WWII, label removed, army brown colour with red piping, near mint. $ 5.00

2.      Duck hunter camo beret, as worn by U.S. Navy SEALs and P.R.U. units in Vietnam, appears to be tailor made with brown leather rim, no liner, about a size 56 when measured with a tape measure, cannot see that there has ever been a badge mounted, small ink spot and rim cracked in a couple of places, otherwise VGC and scarce. $ 120.00

  1. Field cap, hot weather, size 6 7/8, 55cm, olive green, base ball type cap, VGC. $ 10.00
  2. Field cap, hot weather, size 7, 55cm, olive green, base ball type cap, VGC. (3 in stock) $ 10.00 each
  3. Service visor cap, wool serge, 1960s, size 6 7/8, Propper International Inc, grey/blue, appears to be an officers issue with an Other Ranks two-piece gilt metal badge on the front, gilt metal cap strap buttons, black leather cap strap and peak, mint. $ 25.00

 

West Germany

1.      West German helmet captured from a terrorist in Rhodesia, name David 77370 Banda written on leather liner inside, has a fine camo netting over the helmet with some nylon strips tied to it, net torn in places, helmet VGC. $ 55.00

 

 

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