General Service Cap: How does one wear it?

Heh, much the same way as a beret... and they weren't as obsessive about it in WWII as they are these days.

So cap badge over the left eye and pulled down to the right.

Some examples on this page (I just googled GS Cap)

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=GS+ca ... 20&bih=778

As you can see there were many crazy ways to wear it in WWII...

To confuse matters some regiments wore it the other way around.

Thanks for clearing that up Yith, I'll just have to decide whether I should continue wearing it the way I am or brave using these random methods.

How are you wearing it? Quite possibly it's a valid method!

Right now it's likes this. The badge is on the back of the GS Cap next to the rear seam. I doubt that's correct.

Be advised that this reproduction has an incredibly large front, it extends at least an extra inch approximately from the side, unlike the back where the badge is.

Heh, no that's definitely not right! Not far from what the polish did, but still not right for that!

What would you suggest, sir?

What I said above... don't worry about the shape, it's right.

Understood.

I too own a size 62 SoF GS cap. When new, they do look ridiculous, and are a real pain to try to get them to sit nicely. Mine looks pretty good now, after a lot of wearing and sweating in it! I helped the shaping process by getting the wool serge slightly damp (not wet! and certainly not hot water!), and pushing it over and down into shape.

To put it on, wear it centrally, with the rear seam dead-centre of the back of your head. Right now it'll probably puff out and make you look like some sort of crazy wood-dwarf from a Belgian folk story. Hold the headband to the side of your head with your left hand to stop it moving, while you grab the top of the cap and pull it over to the right and push it down onto/over your right ear, like a balding man combing over and smearing down heavily Brylcreem'd hair. The cap should stay in this position after regular attempts, especially if it's sweaty after a game of 'softing or made slightly damp as previously mentioned ^above^.

You could turn that guide into a story McVickers, thank you.

I think one of the problems with the SoF GS cap is that it isnt a GS cap but a tam o'shanter without the toorie.
That accounts for the high front and deep band.

I can see your point, I've spent the last hour messing around with it and it's not going very well.

I tried as McVickers said by using it rear seam at the back and the mess I ended up with sitting on my head would possibly make any World War Two veteran want to end my life in my anger.

At the moment I've been able to get something which looks relatively okay by moving the badge to the left seam if one was to hold the cap rear seam upwards, so now it looks okay-ish, but still not correct probably. I'll continue messing around with it until I get something good.

EDIT: And at one point it did look more like a Tam O' Shanter than a GS Cap as well.

Thank god I have an FS Cap too.

I've had success using a kettle to shape soft headwear. Blasting it with steam for 20 seconds lets you shape it easily on your head - just be careful not to burn yourself. Once it cools it will retain 90% of the shaping. If you knob it up, just blast it with more steam and start again.

Of course the best thing to do with a GS cap is to chuck it away and get a FS cap or a beret

Your suggestion's noted sir, however I refuse to get rid of my GS Cap, I've already got an FS cap along with a commando and para beret. It's not necessary to get rid of it, I'll continue to tame it's stubborn nature instead.

Well said, for some impressions they are vital.

Also, wearing it badly is par for the course. I've got photos of my grandad wearing his, and the entire unit look like a bunch of tits.

Same as the Heer schiffe then - both items that could make a bunch of Hollywood matinee idols look like a bunch of tits

It is a gloriously ridiculous piece of headgear. I found having a huge cap badge (RE) helps make it a bit more beret like. Nice and warm in the evening too.

Cheers
Martin

The lighter jungle issue version of the GS was known as the 'cap, ridiculous'.