
The Austrian Army's hat, also known as the slouch hat, is a trademark of the army. The hat was introduced into Australia around 1885, although its military use dates back to Austrian skirmishers. The modern slouch hat is derived from the black Corsican hat (Korsehut), which was historically used in the Austrian army during the Napoleonic Wars. The slouch hat is also worn by the Royal Australian Air Force and the Royal Australian Navy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Austria |
| Military Use | Austrian skirmishers during the Napoleonic Wars |
| Other Names | Corsican Hat, Slouch Hat, Terai Hat, Bush Hat |
| Features | Upturned Brim, Leather Chinstrap, Feather Plume |
| Users | Australian Military, Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Australian Navy, Gurkha Regiments of the British and Indian Army |
| Variants | Jungle Green, Dark Blue or "Air Force Blue", Khaki-Green-Khaki |
| Similar Hats | Shako, Stovepipe, Bearskin, Top Hat, Round Hat, Belgic, Waterloo, Regency, Home Service Helmet, Spiked Helmet, Forage Cap, Felt Hat, Bell-Top, Kilmarnock Cap |
| Related Hats | Tyrolean Hat, Homburg, Bavarian Hat, Alpine Hat |
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What You'll Learn
- The Austrian army's hat is known as the slouch hat or bush hat
- The slouch hat was first used by Austrian skirmishers during the Napoleonic Wars
- The hat was derived from the black Corsican hat (Korsehut)
- The slouch hat is now a national symbol in Australia
- The hat is also worn by the Gurkha regiments of the British and Indian Army

The Austrian army's hat is known as the slouch hat or bush hat
The Austrian army's hat, known as the "Corsican hat" or "Korsehut", was historically used during the Napoleonic Wars. The hat was primarily used by 15 battalions of Austrian Jägers (skirmishers) and featured an upturned brim, a leather chinstrap, and a feather plume. The modern slouch hat, also known as the bush hat, can be traced back to this Austrian military headgear.
The slouch hat became associated with the Australian military around the end of the 19th century and has been manufactured in Australia for the Australian Army since World War I. It is considered a national symbol in Australia and is still worn by military personnel today. The Australian slouch hat is sometimes called the "Australian bush hat" or "digger hat" and is characterised by one side of the brim being turned up or pinned to the side, often with a Rising Sun Badge. This design feature allows a rifle to be slung over the soldier's shoulder.
The slouch hat has also been associated with the British Army, particularly the Chindits and other units of Field Marshal William Slim's British Fourteenth Army during World War II. In the British military context, the slouch hat is often referred to as the bush hat. It was also used by various colonial units of the British Empire, including the Royal West African Frontier Force, the Canadian Yukon Field Force, and the Kenya Regiment, among others.
The slouch hat has been worn by military personnel from many other countries, including the United States, India, New Zealand, Southern Rhodesia, France, Germany, and more. In the United States, the slouch hat was common among officers during the Civil War and was later adopted by female drill sergeants in the 1970s. In India, a few state police forces, such as the Kerala Police and the Karnataka Police, have included the slouch hat as part of their uniform.
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The slouch hat was first used by Austrian skirmishers during the Napoleonic Wars
The slouch hat, also known as the "bush hat" or "digger hat", has been worn by military forces for hundreds of years. It was first used by the Austrian army during the Napoleonic Wars, specifically by 15 battalions of Austrian skirmishers (Jägers). The hat was black and was called the "Corsican hat" (Korsehut). It featured an upturned brim, a leather chinstrap, and a feather plume.
The slouch hat was introduced to Australia around 1885, although it had been used by military forces for centuries before that. The Victorian Mounted Rifles adopted the hat as part of their uniform, after their commanding officer, Thomas Price, had seen them worn by police in Burma. The slouch hat became standard issue headdress in 1903 and its brim position was mostly standardised. It became a famous symbol of the Australian fighting man during World War One and continued to be worn throughout World War Two.
The Australian slouch hat has one side of the brim turned up or pinned to the side with a Rising Sun Badge, allowing a rifle to be slung over the soldier's shoulder. It is considered a national symbol in Australia and is still worn by the Australian military with a Unit Colour Patch to identify their unit.
The slouch hat is also associated with the Koninklijk Nederlands Indisch Leger (Dutch East Indies Army) and is worn by Gurkha regiments of the British and Indian armies, although no longer on active service. It was also used by colonial units of the British Empire, including the Royal West African Frontier Force, the Canadian Yukon Field Force, and the Kenya Regiment, among others.
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The hat was derived from the black Corsican hat (Korsehut)
The modern slouch hat, known for its wide-brimmed felt or cloth design, is derived from the black "Corsican hat" (Korsehut). The hat was initially used by the Austrian army during the Napoleonic Wars, specifically by 15 battalions of Austrian Jägers (skirmishers). The original design featured an upturned brim, a leather chinstrap, and a feather plume. While the regular infantry had limited use of the hat between 1803-1806 and 1811-1836, it was the skirmishers who primarily wore the Korsehut.
The slouch hat was introduced to Australia around 1885, although its military use can be traced back to Austrian skirmishers. It became a symbol of the Australian military towards the end of the 19th century and has been manufactured in the country for the Australian Army since World War I. The Australian variant of the slouch hat is worn with a Unit Colour Patch to identify the wearer's unit and has become a national symbol.
The slouch hat is also associated with the Koninklijk Nederlands Indisch Leger (Dutch East Indies Army) and is worn by Gurkha regiments of the British and Indian armies, although it is no longer used on active service. The 2nd Gurkha Rifles became the first Gurkha regiment to adopt the slouch hat in 1901, opting for the Australian version. The Gurkha terai hat is made by fusing two hats into one, creating a more rigid structure that is worn at an angle, tilted to the right.
In addition to its military use, the slouch hat has been worn by various groups and individuals, including colonial units of the British Empire, such as the Royal West African Frontier Force and the Canadian Yukon Field Force. It was also worn by Forrest, as mentioned in the "disreputable" description of his black beaver hat. The slouch hat has been a part of the uniforms of the Irish Volunteers and Nigerian soldiers in the 1960s, where it was known as "Banga Banga."
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The slouch hat is now a national symbol in Australia
The slouch hat has become a famous symbol of Australia and the courage of the Australian soldier. The hat was first introduced to Australia in 1885 when the Victorian Mounted Rifles adopted it as part of their uniform. The commanding officer, Thomas Price, had seen similar hats being worn by police in Burma. The slouch hat was initially worn with the brim turned up on the right side, to ensure it would not be caught during the drill movement of 'shoulder arms' from 'order arms'.
In 1890, military commanders from the separate Australian colonies met to discuss the introduction of the khaki uniform. They agreed that all Australian forces, except the artillery corps, should wear a looped-up hat of uniform pattern. The hat was to be turned up on the right side in Victoria and Tasmania, and on the left side in all other states to allow for different drill movements. The slouch hat became standard issue headdress in 1903, and since then it has developed into an important national symbol.
The slouch hat is also referred to as the '
During World War One, many troops in the Australian Light Horse decorated their hats with a plume of emu feathers. This tradition originated with the Queensland Mounted Infantry in 1891, who rode their horses alongside emus, plucking their breast feathers to place on their hats. The practice was granted to all units of the Australian Light Horse in 1915, who referred to the emu feathers as 'kangaroo feathers'. Today, emu tufts of approved design and dimensions are worn by all members of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps.
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The hat is also worn by the Gurkha regiments of the British and Indian Army
The slouch hat, also known as the Terai hat, is worn by the Gurkha regiments of the British and Indian Army. The 2nd Gurkha Rifles were the first Gurkha regiment to adopt the slouch hat in 1901, during the Waziristan Blockade. The hat was introduced by Lieutenant Bechar and consisted of several layers of cloth covered on both sides with puttoo or homespun tweed. It featured ventilating holes, a light puggaree, and a chin strap. The design offered protection from both the sun and the rain.
The Gurkha terai hat is made by fusing two hats into one, which makes the hat more rigid and is worn at an angle, tilted to the right. The hat was initially worn by Gurkha officers and soldiers, but British officers began to wear it in the 1920s. By the end of World War II, the hat was being worn by all ranks in most Gurkha Regiments.
The Gurkha regiments have a long history, dating back to the early 19th century when the British East India Company declared war on Nepal in 1814. The war ended with the Treaty of Segauli in 1816, and both sides decided to forge a friendship, leading to the formation of Gurkha regiments within the East India Company's army. The Gurkha regiments played a significant role in the First and Second World Wars, with over 120,000 Gurkhas serving in the First World War. During the North African campaign, the German Afrikakorps showed respect to the Nepalese knife-wielding Gorkhas.
Following Indian independence in 1947, a tripartite agreement between Britain, Nepal, and India resulted in the division of the ten Gurkha regiments between the British and Indian armies. Six regiments became part of the Indian Army, while the remaining four joined the British Army. The Gurkha regiments continue to serve with distinction in their respective armies, with the hat becoming synonymous with the Gurkha soldiers and their rich history.
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Frequently asked questions
The Austrian Army's hat is known as a slouch hat, which was derived from the black "Corsican hat" (Korsehut) used historically by the Austrian army during the Napoleonic Wars. The slouch hat features an upturned brim, leather chinstrap, and feather plume.
The slouch hat is typically made of felt, which is a thick, durable fabric that can provide some protection for the wearer's head.
The slouch hat is one of the trademarks of the Austrian Army, and it has been associated with the Australian military since the end of the 19th century. It has become a national symbol in Australia and is still worn today by the Royal Australian Air Force and the Royal Australian Navy.
Yes, the slouch hat is also worn by the Koninklijk Nederlands Indisch Leger (Dutch East Indies Army) and the Gurkha regiments of the British and Indian Armies.











































