MILITARY HEADGEAR.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7027, 11 June 1901, Page 4

MILITARY HEADGEAR.

A day or two before the last English mail left Home two infantry men attended at Marlborough House in order that the King, with whom was Lord Roberts, might inspect the proposed new head-dress for the troops. One of the men wore the ordinary dress helmet of black material with' bright metal' acings, and the other the proposed new covering. The latter was a, kharki-coloured slouch hat, with a wide brim resembling those used in South Africa. The puggaree, however, was replaced by a wide dark blue band, and the brim of the hat was caught up by studs at three points, one on each side of the wearer's forehead and the third at the hack. A stiff red aigrette somewhat similar to that worn by Royal equerries, but a little shorter, was fixed to the front part of the crown. The suggestion is that the hat should be worn in this fashion for dress purposes, and that for undress purposes the ornamentation should be removed, two of the studs discarded, and the bri looped up at the side only, just as is now done in the case of the South African troops. It is . understood His' Majesty disapproved of the innovation, or, at all events, preferred the ordinary helmet for dress purposes. In these circumstances it may be found that vhe authorities will propose a slouch hat for undress purposes, but suggest retention of the helmet for dress.