Boys' Historical Uniform Garments: Specific Headwear Styles

Figure 1.--The beret was a largely French headwear style. It was, however, adopted by youth groups in msny other countries. Here Germn Scouts in the 1960s wear berets.

We have noted quite a range of different headwear types being worn by youth groups around the world. Virtually every type of hat has been worn by uniformed groups. Pillbox caps were worn by early Boys' Brigade units. The Scouts of course adopted the famed Smokey Bear hats. The Itlalian Fascist Baillal adopted campaign caps with tassles, a style which American Scouts adopted, without the tassles, after World War II. French Scouts wore berets, a style which was eventually adopted by English Scouts and even some American Scouts. The American Scouts introduced baseball caps in the 1980s. Other headwear garments are worn such as turbans in India and Pakistan. A wide variety of of caps and hats have been worn by uniformed groups. Most have been military in origin. Prominant exceptions are the Cub cap and the American baseball cap. Some of these styles are specifically adopted by certain countries or groups of countries--such as the baseball cap ot turban. Other styles oriniginated in certain countries, but became very widely adopted.

Baseball Caps

While Americans boys increasingly turned away from caps beginning in the 1950s, one style remamined popular--the baseball cap. For this reasonm the American Scouts introduced baseball caps in the 1980s for both Scouts and Cubs. Many Scout groups had begun wearing baseball caps unofficially in the 1980s. Individual Scouts would also wear them instead of the official cap. A few other country's Scout groups have also adopted the baseball cap, but it is still not a widely worn cap style for youth groups around the world. The baseball cap is one of the few non-military styles to be adopted by youth groups. Some other scouts have also adopted the baseball cap, despite the fact that baseball is not played in their country.

Berets

Some French Scouts almost from the begining of the movement wore berets. Initially only French Scouts wore them, and not even all French Scouts, many of whom preferred the popular lemon-squeezer Scout hat of the day. Boys in some countries, especially America, saw the beret as a little boys' cap, or worse still for girls. World War II changed the image of the beret. The beret was eventually adopted by English Scouts and even some American Scouts. The beret is now the most commonly worn headgear by Scout groups around the world. Interestingly they are worn in many countries that boys would not still not normally even considering wearing a beret. Interestingly, French boys, except Scouts, would not even considerin wearin a beret.

Campaign Hats

The Scouts of course adopted the famed campaign or Smokey Bear hats as they are called in the United States. Probably no single type of headwear is more associated with a youth group than the Smokey Bear hat is associated with Scouting. Like most of the headgear adopted by youth groups, it was originally a military style. It was worn by the U.S. Army at the turn of the century in the Spanish American War. I'm not sure why Baden Powell adopted it for British Scouts. I believe it was a British army style for scouts, but this requires further research. It was the most widely worn Scout headgear until World War II.

Fatigue

Some America Scouts in the 1950s wore a kind of fatigue cap based on a U.S. Army fatigue uniform cap.

Fez

Some Middle Eastern Scouts wore the Fez, but it declined in popularity after Kemal Attaturk in Turkey outlawed it as part of his modernizing effort.

Overseas Caps

The Itlalian Fascist Baillal adopted this destinctive cap with tassles, a style which other Fascist groups like the Hitler youth and Spanish fascists also adopted. I'm not sure what they called it, but it was adapted from military uniforms. American Scouts adopted it, without the tasslesduring World War II, primarily because it was worn by the U.S. Army and Marine Corps during World War II and thus had a patriotic image. As World War II was fought by Americans overseas, it became known as an "overseas cap".

Peaked School Cap

The peaked school cap was adopted by the flegling British Wolf Cub movement in 1916. Virtually every other national Cub group also adopted it, including U.S. Cubs in 1930. Usually Cub groups retained the green color with yellow piping as used by the British wolf cubs. In a few instances the color varied. .Blue with yellow piping was chosen for American cubs. Many Cub groups have now adopted different caps, but a few countries retain the traditiojal English peaked caps.

Peaked Caps--Military

Hitler Youth groups over time had a variety of uniforms, some included military caps woth peaks or bills. Polish Scouts had a destinctive peaked cap based on Polish Army uniforms. Peaked caps were not a common style for youth groups. Perhaps one factor was that it was a more expensive cap than other styles. Another factor map have been was that it was better suited for a dress uniform than active outdoor activities.

Pillbox Caps

Pillbox caps were worn by early Boys' Brigade units. This was not one of the most commonly worn styles. The Boys' Brigade was the only group that I know which used pillbox cap. This was in part because the Boys' Brigade was one of the few active groups at the time that this cap was stylish. It is today most associated will hotel bellcaps, but in the late 19th century was part if the British dress Army uniform, I think for enlisted men.

Turbans

The turban is a head dress of primarily Mohammedan origin. In consists of a scarfof solk, cooton, or other material. It is usually wound directly around the head, but some times a cap. It is most associated with India, even though the predominate religion is Hindu. This is because the rulers of many Indian principalities were Islamic even though their people were predomantely Hindu. Scouts in India, Pakistan and several other countries have worn turbans. Sijks are perhaps best known for wearing turbans.

Sailor Caps

The naval divisions of youth groups in different countries have worn a variety of sailor caps. For the most part style on the caps worn by the enlisted sailors in the navies of each country. The best known group is the Boy Scouts' Sea Scouts, but other youth groups like the Hitler Youth also had naval divisions.

Winter Caps

Various styles of winter caps have been worn by youth groups. They often have various styles of ear flaps. The Hitler Youth had a kinf of winter cap also worn by the Whermact. The Boys Scouts in America had a kind of red winter cap, looking somewhat like a baseball cap.