British 1905 Pattern Cap
A pre and early war example
The 1905 Pattern Khaki Service Dress Cap was an important piece of headgear for British soldiers during the early 20th century. It was made of khaki-colored wool, which was a practical material choice for soldiers in the field as it blended in well with the surrounding terrain. The cap had a peak and a chinstrap that helped to keep the cap secure on the head, and a metal badge on the front that featured the regimental insignia for enlisted soldiers or the "King's Crown" for officers.
The cap was designed to be worn with the khaki service dress uniform and it was intended to provide protection from the sun and rain while on field service. The cap was a popular choice among British soldiers, due to its practicality and durability. It was worn by soldiers during World War I and World War II, and it was an important piece of equipment for soldiers on the front line.
As the war progressed, the cap went through several changes, these changes include its shape, the peak becoming more curved, and a new type of wool being used to make it. The 1905 pattern cap was phased out in the late 1940s and was replaced by the beret, which became the standard headgear for British soldiers.
The 1905 Pattern Khaki Service Dress Cap is now considered a collector's item and is highly sought after by military history enthusiasts. It is still used as a symbol of the service and sacrifice of the soldiers who wore it during the two World Wars.
This example in my collection is a pre-to-early war with the remains of the London maker tag inside and a 1909 date. It has the typical thin chinstrap seen on the World War One caps as opposed to the thicker chinstrap (if it was leather) seen in the post-war and World War Two caps.
To tell the difference between a WW1 and later period British 1905 soldiers cap, you should look for certain key characteristics. WW1 caps were typically made of a thicker, heavier material, such as wool, and had a slightly different shape than later caps. They also had a leather brim and a leather chin strap. Later caps, which were worn in the 1920s and 1930s, were made of a lighter material, such as serge, and had a slightly different shape than WW1 caps. They also had a cloth brim and a cloth chin strap. Additionally, WW1 caps often had a brass or metal cap badge with the unit's insignia, while later caps typically had a cloth cap badge with the unit's insignia.
A World War One soldier wearing a 1905 cap.