The History of the Australian Slouch Hat

The true origin of the Slouch Hat or Hat Khaki Fur Felt is hard to find, but according to what is known, the Slouch Felt Hat goes back to 1885 to the Victorian Mounted Rifles. The Commanding Officer, Colonel Tom Price, had his soldiers turn up the right-hand side of the hat so that his troops, when marching past on ceremonial parades, could 'look the inspecting officer in the eye'. The style was picked up by the remainder of the Australian colonial armies in the 1890's. In time the way the hat was worn changed with the brim being turned up on the left to assist in small arms drill. The hats appear to be of a style of felt hat first worn by the South African Police. It became general issue as a result of a shortage of helmets during the South African War. 'Akubra' made the Slouch Hat's for the Australian Services during World War One and Two. Today the famous "Slouch Hat" is still worn by Australian soldiers, sailors and airmen.

The Puggaree takes its name from the Hindu `pagre', meaning a turban or thin scarf of muslin. It has in its time been worn on the Slouch Hat in many forms but during the First World War a plain khaki cloth band was worn and this style continued until 1929. In 1930 new puggarees were introduced with different coloured folds denoting Arms or Services. During the Second World War a flat puggaree was issued to the Second AIF. The troops serving in the middle east introduced a folded puggaree as a distinguishing mark of active service and in time this style has become the puggaree of today.

The Rising Sun Badge

The design of the Rising Sun Badge worn by Australian soldiers was inspired by a brace of bayonets mounted on a plaque on the office wall of General Sir Edward Hutton. Major Hutton designed the trophy as a "meaningful symbol of Defence". He often referred to it as the "rising sun". The trophy was actually made by Commander William Creswell, Commandant of the Naval Forces of South Australia. In 1900, Hutton was appointed Commander in Chief of Australian Forces and was faced with the problem of designating a badge for Australian forces in South Africa - part of the problem was that the British troops wore slouch hats also, and something was needed to make it distinctively Australian. While studying sketches for the badge he pointed to the bayonet trophy of arms which was fastened to the wall over his office door and remarked, "Why not something like that". Thus the Rising Sun Badge became the familiar symbol of the Australian Forces. The badge has gone many changes over the decades, but has still retained it's distinction as the the symbol of the Australian Armed Forces.

ATKINS Eric St. Ledger


AUSTIN Frederick


AUSTIN George Alexander


BENTLEY Albert James


BENTLEY Albert David James


BENTLEY Alfred George


BENTLEY Alma May


BLOTT Eric Raymond


BOULTER Harold George


COOK Alfred Sydney James


ELDRIDGE Arthur Lomas


GRAY Francis Gordon


Gray James Joseph


KEED Alfred Edward


KERBY Gilbert Thomas


MADDOCK Samuel Thomas


MADDOCK Samuel Thomas Gladson


MATICH George


MENZIES George William Thomas


NAYLOR Arthur James


NAYLOR John Henry


NAYLOR George


SELWAY Cornelous Joseph


SMITH Alec

Australian National Anthem

Australians all let us rejoice, For we are young and free; We've golden soil and wealth for toil, Our home is girt by sea; Our land abounds in Nature's gifts Of beauty rich and rare; In history's page, let every stage Advance Australia fair! In joyful strains then let us sing, "Advance Australia fair!"

When gallant Cook from Albion sail'd, To trace wide oceans o'er, True British courage bore him on, Till he landed on our shore. Then here he raised Old England's flag, The standard of the brave; With all her faults we love her still, "Brittannia rules the wave!" In joyful strains then let us sing "Advance Australia fair!"

Beneath our radiant southern Cross, We'll toil with hearts and hands; To make this Commonwealth of ours Renowned of all the lands; For those who've come across the seas We've boundless plains to share; With courage let us all combine To advance Australia fair. In joyful strains then let us sing "Advance Australia fair!"

While other nations of the globe Behold us from afar, We'll rise to high renown and shine Like our glorious southern star; From England, Scotia, Erin's Isle, Who come our lot to share, Let all combine with heart and hand To advance Australia fair! In joyful strains then let us sing "Advance Australia fair!"

Shou'd foreign foe e'er sight our coast, Or dare a foot to land, We'll rouse to arms like sires of yore To guard our native strand; Brittannia then shall surely know, Beyond wide ocean's roll, Her sons in fair Australia's land Still keep a British soul. In joyful strains then let us sing "Advance Australia fair!"

Sounding the "Last Post"

The Last Post is one of a number of bugle calls in military tradition which mark the phases of the day. Where "Reveille" signalled the start of a soldier's day, the "Last Post" signalled its end. It is believed originally to have been part of a more elaborate routine, known in the British Army as "tattoo", that had its origins in the 17th century. During the evening, a duty officer had to do the rounds of his unit's position, checking that the sentry posts were manned and rounding up the off-duty soldiers and packing them off to their beds or billets. He would be accompanied by one or more musicians. The "first post" was sounded when the duty officer started his rounds and, as the party proceeded from post to post, a drum was played. The drum beats told off-duty soldiers it was time to rest - if the soldiers were billeted in a town, the beats told them it was time to quit the pubs. "Tattoo" is a derivation of doe den tap toe, Dutch for "turn off the taps", a call which is said to have followed the drum beats in many a Dutch pub while English armies were campaigning through Holland and Flanders in the 1690s. (It is also from this routine that American practice of "taps" or "drum taps" originated.) Another bugle call was sounded when the party completed their rounds, when they reached the "last post": this signaled the night sentries were alert at their posts and gave one last warning to any soldiers still at large that it was time to retire for the evening. "Last Post" was incorporated into funeral and memorial services as a final farewell and symbolises that the duty of the dead is over and that they can rest in peace.