Slouch hat

Slouch hats were first worn by the Victorian Mounted Rifles in 1885. It was originally worn with the right side looped up to make it easier for marching troops to perform the “eyes right” command in parades but as more states adopted the slouch hat, it became more common to wear the left side turned up.

The slouch hat was widely worn by Australian soldiers during the Boer War and it was universally adopted for the Australian Army after Federation. It was usually worn with a khaki hat band, known as a puggaree, and a Rising Sun badge on the left hand side.

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