Boys' Historical Uniform Headgear: Overseas Caps

Figure 1.--The Hitler Youth had a variety of caps, but the oversea cap was the one most commonly worn.

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. We are not positive when soldiers first began wearing this style, but the original inspiration appaers to be the Scottish Glengarry. Spanish soldiers wore it in the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s. We note American, British, German, and Italian soldiers wearing it in World War II during the 1940s. The Italians and Spanish Fascists wore it with a front fringe or tassle. The Itlalian Fascist Bailial adopted this cap caps with tassles, a style which other Fascist groups like the Hitler youth and Spanish fascists also adopted. It was the major cap style worn by the Hitler Youth, although there was a different winter uniform cap. American Scouts adopted it, without the tassles during 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. American soldiers wore it from the 1940s-80s. As World War II was fought by Americans overseas, it became known as an "overseas cap". American Scouts adopted, without the tassles, after World War II. It was the main cap worn by American Boy Scouts until the baseball cap was adopted in the 1980s. We note that some pipe bandwear overseas caps rather than more traditional Glengarrys.

Origin

I am not sure about the origins of the overseas cap. We believe the origin is the Gelengarry bonnet. Given the similarity to the Scottish Glengarry bonnet, that may have been the origins. We have not noted a military uniform styled like an overseas cap that pre-dates the Glengarry. The various youth groups ptobably pickled it up directly from military uniforms after World War I.

Military

The first milirtary usage I have noted is by Scottish reginments in the British army and it was called a Glengarry. The earliest large-scale use of the overseas cap I have noted it was with the U.S. Army in World War I. I am not sure if any other Army adopted it at that time, but believe the Itlaian Army did. Versions of the overseas cap, however, were worn by the U.S., British, Russian, and German Army in World War II. It was because it was worn by the U.S. Army that it was adopted by the American Boys Scouts.

The Glengarry Bonnet

Given the similarity to the Scottish Glengarry bonnet, that may have been the origins. The major difference was the check or plaid trim and the back streamers. The Glengarry bonnet is a blue woolen cap creased through the crown, like today's overseas cap. The Glengarry bonnet is a Highland Scotch cap for men and boys. It has straight almost vertical straight sides and a crease or hollow top sloping to the back, where it is parted and held together by ribbons or strings. It is normally worn with long silk streamers. It is commonly worn by Highlanders as part of military dress or pipe band uniforms. One report suggests that it first appeared in 1805 in Glengarry, Invernesshire, Scotland, but their are various accounts as to its creation. The cap has stiff sides and bound edges, finished with short ribbons hanging in back. The cap is of course associated with Scotland and worn with Highland kilt outfits. We have also noted boys in America, England, and France wearing them starting in the 19th century. Presumably they were also worn in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and other British colonies. American boys would wear them with other outfits besides kilts, but they were popular with kiltsuits. The cap was commonly worn throughout the second half of the 19th century, but in the 20th century appears to have been motly worn in Scotland or by boys in Highland garb for special occassions. The Glengarry bonnet is still worn today, primarily as part of ceremonial uniforms like pipe bands.

Terminology

This cap is jnown as the "overseas cap" in the United States because it was worn by American servicemen overseas in both World War I and even more commonly World War II. The British may call it a Glengarry, although I am not sure this is the case when it does not have Scottish detailing. A French reader tells me it is called " un calot " in France. I do not know what the Fascist youth groups in every different country called it. A reader tells me that in Austria and Gemany it is called " Eine Feldmütze " or more kindly mamed " ein Schiffchen ". The Hitler Youth apparently used the name " ein Schiffchen ". In Spanish one calls a cap " un gorro " and this military cap is calling " un gorro de cuartel ". I do not know what the Communist Young Pioneers called this cap.

Style

The overseas cap had no practical use. It did not shield the wearer from ran or sun. It was purely a ornamental addition to the uniform. As such it countervened the common argument for youth group uniforms as practical garments.

Youth Groups

Quite a few youth organizations have worn overseas caps. The style was nost popua;e during the 1930s and 40s, but was still worn by American Scouts into the 1970s. Today the only large group which continues to wear it is the Boys' Brigade. The following youth groups are known to have worn the overseas cap. It is interesting to note that this style of cap now so strongly associated with American Scouts was first widely worn by the Hitler Youth and other Facist youth groups. It's interesting to think of the two ideologically opposed youth groups wearing a very similar cap.

Figure 2.--The Boys' Brigade wore a blue overseas cap with white piping. The are New Zealand Brigaders photographed in 1992.

Boys' Brigade

The Boys' Brigade also adopted the Glengarry-style cap. A popular style was blue with white piping. I'm not sure just when they adopted the overseas cap, it presumably varied from cvountry to county. Actually as the Boys' Brigade originated in Scotland, they may have first worn actual Glengarry bonnets with plaid or check trim. Thus the Boys' Brigade may have worn this style before either the Italian Balial or the Hitler Youth, but we can not yet confirm this. The standard Boys' Brigade cap for years was the pillbox cap. We have noted the Boys' Brigade wearing many different styles of this cap.. Some like the New Zealand boys seen here had extensive white piping or trim (figure 1). The Boys Brrigade today is the only uniformed youth group that we know of that continues to wear this cap as the official headgear.

Boy Scouts

American Scouts adopted the overseas cap in the 1940s after it was was adopted by the Army and widely worn in World War II. The fact that American servicemen served overseas explained why the cap is so called in the United States. American Scouts wore it through the 1950s, 60, and 70s, before replacing it with a baseball cap in 1980. Some Asian Scouts also adopted the overseas cap, but generally the Scouts outside of the Inited States avoided this style.

French school group

A French school although not officially associated with French Scouting runs an independent Scout group. The group wears destinctive red overseas caps with blue shirts, lederhosen, and white socks worn with black boots. The caps are plain red without adornment. This is the only group that we know of that wears a brightly colored plain overseas cap. A French reader tells me it is called " un calot " in France.

Hitler Youth

The Hitler Youth also wore the overseas cap among other styles of headgaer. The NAZIs followed the example of the Italian Fascists and made their youth organization, the Hitler Youth the only permitted youth group which boys in reality had to join. I'm not sure just when the overseas cap was adopted. A reader tells me that in Austria and Gemany this cap is called " Eine Feldmütze " or more kindly mamed " ein Schiffchen ". The Hitler Youth apparently used the name " ein Schiffchen ".

Italian Balial

The first youth group that adopted the overseas cap was the Italian Fascist Balial. The Italian Army must have worn the overseas cap with front tassles. The Balial adopted this style for their uniform. The Fascist abolish Scouting and forced boys to participate in the Balial.

Spanish Fascist youth group

The Spanish Fascist youth group wore a overseas cap with tasseles, rather like the Italians. In Spanish one calls a cap " un gorro " and this military cap is calling " un gorro de cuartel ".

Young Pioneers

We have noticed Communist Young Pioneers in may countries after World War II wearing this style of cap. I do not know what they called it.