Just received my Commando beret this morning (along with a dagger badge from Mr Gadge - thanks for that mate).
Now, how do I wear it, and how do I shape it? Photos required please! 
You've got nothing to ein, zwei, drei, vier
Dunno about others, and its some time since I've worn a beret of a similar type (ie military wool), used to soak it in warm water, squeeze it out so the water doesn't drip everywhere and then put it on and pull gently to the required style.
you dont have to shape a 40s beret but it was done my some and looks bloodly awful without.
Put it in dead hot water, wring off the excess, stick it in cold water, wring off the excess. Hot water again, wring off.
Put it on your head and fold to the right shape, leave it on til it dries.
(do it while you have two hours free in a warm room)
Whatever you do dont let the leather sweatband get wet or it shrinks drastically.
I've done ths about a dozen times and now after the first 30 mins of drying i put the beret on a foam head i use to put hats on to display for sale for ebay, usually about £2 form a hobby store like hobbycraft.
http://amasci.com/amateur/irgoggl.html
that sort of foam head.
"I think we are in rats' alley - Where the dead men lost their bones."
Thanks for the guide Gadge. A picture of what shape it's supposed to be would be really helpful too, even though it probably seems really obvious.
Mine always makes me look like Frank Spencer so I'm keen to give this shaping lark a try.
see any of Yith or i's forum pics.
"I think we are in rats' alley - Where the dead men lost their bones."
I don't shape mine...
Just plonk it on my head, badge above left eye and pulled over my right ear...
Is the commando badge a cloth or metal one?
Metal. Beret now shaped - looks OK I think.
You've got nothing to ein, zwei, drei, vier
okay... if its metal then it should be the single dagger badge with either SS or commando on it.
It should also be backed on a pieces of black felt in the shape of an inverted triangle with the point cut off.
I found it best to attach my badge to this with a piece of plasticard or similar behind it for support and then sew the whole thing onto the beret. This means you've not irreparably damaged your beret in case you want to change insignia.
See this pic: http://picasaweb.google.com/Yithdit/FO1 ... 0591172274
Note that I have the officer's SS cap badge on in that photo and probably the badge should be more over my eye...
Note that in pictures the way a beret is worn is no where near as uniform as it is nowadays.
There was an old boy with 2 Commando beret badge on TV at the Cenotaph the other day-he was parading with RM Association, has Cdo Association been dissolved I wonder?
okay... if its metal then it should be the single dagger badge with either SS or commando on it.
It's just the dagger, with nothing else.
You've got nothing to ein, zwei, drei, vier