I've just aquired what I thought was a Forage Cap, but I now believe is correctly called a Field Service Cap by scavanging in the attic at my parents house today and going through boxes of interesting old tat, including my great uncle's war diary from Malta, but that's another topic.
So it got me wondering on what the deal is with service caps vs berets. Were berets strictly commando and para items in WW2 or did other units wear them ? And what's the correct use for the Service Cap. From what I can briefly discover it seems to be the enlisted man's headgear of choice when not in active service, but that's where I'm confused about berets.
FS Cap or forage cap is the headdress for soldiers and officers below field rank (Major). This is from 1930's to 1942. The GS Cap is then introduced to replace it. The FS cap was retained to be worn by many as it was preffered to the GS Cap.
The new fangled french beret comes into British Army use with the Tank corps. In black for them for active service use. On creation of the commando and airborne units in WWII green and maroon berets were specified. In 1942 when the GS cap was introduced the khaki beret was authorised for field rank officers for battledress in place of the SD Cap (peaked cap).
The khaki beret was also then adopted for all ranks in motor battalions of armoured divisions in North West Europe.
Essentially the FS Cap could be worn by a soldier from 1939 to 1945 depending on the unit he served in.
Yup, i really like FS caps these days they look *really* good if you're wearing them in a group.
GS berets on the other hand were called 'cap ridiculous' by the lads for a reason.
"I think we are in rats' alley - Where the dead men lost their bones."
