First pattern DPCU wide brim hat

This is the first issue 1993 DPCU wide brim hat. It is made of a thick canvas material and is shaped similar to a hat KFF (slouch hat). They are quite a rare item, since only a limited number were made. Unfortunately this one I found is missing the chin stap.





Here are some photos of it in use in Somalia 1993:

This is indeed a *very* rare item. Issued only for the 1 RAR deployment to Somalia in 1993, a mate of mine who was in that push said that a lot of them were traded to French Foreign Legionnaires who admired its similarity to the 'chapeau de brousse' their forebears wore in Indo-china & Algeria.

this is very freaking cool....I really like the look of the hat!

so what kind of DPCU hat they use before 1993 ?

and does there have any documentary about Aussie in Modern war ? it seems you have that kind of video and capture the picture from it ?

Martin, that REALLY is a beauty!!!!!
Well done securing it.

peace_benny5405 wrote:so what kind of DPCU hat they use before 1993 ?

and does there have any documentary about Aussie in Modern war ? it seems you have that kind of video and capture the picture from it ?

Before 1993, there were:

1. 1982 trial DPCU issue bush hat (I've only ever seen this in pictures in army manuals from 1982)
2. Short brim DPCU issue bush hat issued with standard DPCU uniform, earliest date I've seen for standard DPCU is 1988.
3. Trial DPCU kepi cap - issued around 1989 I think.
4. DPCU Kepi cap, a few various cuts, from around 1990 or later.

The images not from any video, they are all from original 35mm negatives held in the Australian War Memorial.

Regards,
Martin.

Martin wrote:
Before 1993, there were:
1. 1982 trial DPCU issue bush hat (I've only ever seen this in pictures in army manuals from 1982)
2. Short brim DPCU issue bush hat issued with standard DPCU uniform, earliest date I've seen for standard DPCU is 1988.
3. Trial DPCU kepi cap - issued around 1989 I think.
4. DPCU Kepi cap, a few various cuts, from around 1990 or later.

The images not from any video, they are all from original 35mm negatives held in the Australian War Memorial.

There was, in fact, a trial kepi issued with the 1982 trial Auscams. I have personally seen them twice, first time during a firepower demo in 1984. They had a shorter bill than the kepis issued later and looked similar to US 'Ranger' caps.

As for some 'Somalia' images - looks like some of them may be taken from Newsreel footage.

The only publication I'm aware dealing comprehensively with Australians in Somalia is, 'Through Aussie Eyes: Photographs of the Australian Defence Force in Somalia 1993' by Gary Ramage and Bob Breen, published by Defence Public Relations 1994. Unfortunately all pictures are in 'artsy' black & white.

The monthly magazine 'Contact' has had several articles on the deployment done from both the cavalry and infantry aspect.

http://www.contactairlandandsea.com/

filupe wrote:

There was, in fact, a trial kepi issued with the 1982 trial Auscams. I have personally seen them twice, first time during a firepower demo in 1984. They had a shorter bill than the kepis issued later and looked similar to US 'Ranger' caps.

Nice, I think I might have one of these but it's packed away somewhere, The tag is unreadable and I saw one once about 1989, exactly the same as the one I have - so that's why I assumed it was issued around 1989. It could be the trial one - I'll have to have a good look at it when I dig it out one day.

I also have one recent issue one, with the towel lining just like in the gay wide brim hats. Seen some RAAC guy wearing it once. I think it's the most recent issue one but I could be wrong. I'll try post some pics of it later.

filupe wrote:
As for some 'Somalia' images - looks like some of them may be taken from Newsreel footage.

I'm pretty sure they're all from original 35mmm negatives. AWM site and search collections for "Somalia".

Nice pics and info on the hats. I've been wondering about their history for a while now, as I have quite a few trials uniforms. Thanks for the info!

Steve

filupe wrote:

There was, in fact, a trial kepi issued with the 1982 trial Auscams. I have personally seen them twice, first time during a firepower demo in 1984. They had a shorter bill than the kepis issued later and looked similar to US 'Ranger' caps.

As for some 'Somalia' images - looks like some of them may be taken from Newsreel footage.

The only publication I'm aware dealing comprehensively with Australians in Somalia is, 'Through Aussie Eyes: Photographs of the Australian Defence Force in Somalia 1993' by Gary Ramage and Bob Breen, published by Defence Public Relations 1994. Unfortunately all pictures are in 'artsy' black & white.

The monthly magazine 'Contact' has had several articles on the deployment done from both the cavalry and infantry aspect.

http://www.contactairlandandsea.com/

Here is a picture of the trial kepi that I have, it is the same as this one:



Is this the same one you are talking about from 1984 Filupe?

1982 trial DPCU bush hat: